Centenarian shares memories from across the globe

At 101, Wantirna centenarian Maria has spent more than a century travelling around the world.

The Bolton Clarke at home support client celebrated her 101^st birthday over the weekend – although she is in disbelief that she has reached the milestone.

“She is so optimistic,” daughter Marina said.

“She keeps asking us, ‘are you sure that I’m going to be 101?’ and we have to keep telling her ‘yes, you were born in 1921!’”

Maria called Uruguay home from the moment she was born up until 1977 when she and her late husband migrated to Australia to join their daughter Marina. She continued to travel internationally until she was 90.

“My parents would always travel to Europe, especially northern Spain because that was where my father was from,” Marina said.

“When my mother was around 70, she said to my father that she wanted to go to Disneyland and so the two of them went without being able to speak English - they had a great time.

“They also went to London because she wanted to see the changing of the guards and the Queen, and when she turned 90 we took her to Bali!”

“My mother has always been a good knitter and an excellent cook. She is a very humble person and always puts others first.

“She also now adores her two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

“She always has five teaspoons of sugar in her coffee and an occasional wine with dinner, so maybe that’s the secret!”