Cheesecake, coffee and 100 years for Hella

Bolton Clarke Lexington Gardens resident Hella has celebrated her 100^th birthday, still busting a move in Zumba classes and regularly catching up with friends over a good coffee.

Born 10 July 1926 in Berlin, Germany, Hella marked her milestone with a special high tea joined by her family and friends.

Son Frank described his mother as fiercely independent with a warm heart.

“Mum has always been quite an independent lady yet still comes across as a very warm person – especially to those that know her well,” he said.

“She still really enjoys going to her Zumba and exercise classes, listening to music, socialising with her friends, reading the Bible and playing word search games with a slice of cheesecake and a good coffee.”

Growing up in Germany during World War II was challenging, with Hella experiencing the realities of war firsthand.

“Food wasn’t always easy to find and she returned home from work one day to find her parents’ three-storey apartment half destroyed,” Frank said.

Despite the hardship, Hella went on to meet the love of her life Walter. The couple married in June of 1951 and soon welcomed their daughter Heidi, followed by Frank a few years later.

“In 1957, we migrated to Australia and went through Bonegilla Migrant Process Centre – we still have the record.”

The family later settled in Melbourne, living in Footscray and Springvale. For many years, Hella and Walter returned to Germany each summer, an annual tradition they kept from around 1980 to 2005.

Now reaching her milestone birthday, the great grandmother credits her long and fulfilling life to her faith, staying active and maintaining strong connections with friends and family.

“Mum was always an active person. In her younger years she excelled at sports, playing European handball and running.

“She also had a lot of hobbies like stamp and coin collecting, and she really enjoyed camping and travelling.”

Her advice for a long life? Staying honest, working hard and be kind to others.