Tough cookie celebrates centenary
6 November
One week after moving into Bolton Clarke’s brand new state-of-the-art residential aged care building at Fernhill community in Caboolture, Edna Anna Curr celebrated another significant milestone - her 100th birthday.
Edna and her family gathered at Fernhill to celebrate the family matriarch, the first of their clan to reach 100 years.
“I’ve had a hard life,” said Edna. “A good life, but tough - I’m happy to be 100.”
Edna was born on 4 November 1920 and raised in the Somerset region at Mt Beppo, 20 minutes from Esk. After her mother died when Edna was just 18 months old, she was raised by her older sister Edie who had 11 children of her own.
She attended school at Mount Beppo, eventually meeting her first husband Ray Brown at the age of 18 and marrying when she was 20. Ray was 10 years her senior.
“It was love at first sight,” she said. “He was quite handsome.”
The pair moved to Sydney together and when Ray went to war, Edna stayed and worked in kitchens. Ray returned home on a hospital ship a changed man, and the pair eventually separated.
Edna remarried twice, first Jack Sewell in the early 70’s and then Ray Curr in the mid 80’s. They too were military men, serving in the Army.
She had five children but lost two as infants and a third later from cancer. Her family say she’s a ‘tough cookie,’ and incredibly resilient.
Even after enduring more than her fair share of life’s challenges Edna marked her 100th birthday with plenty of smiles and laughs. She was surrounded by flowers at her party, where Fernhill Residential Manager Ram Korla presented her with a special birthday gift - a commemorative Bolton Clarke Centenarian Club teacup, honouring her milestone.
“The cup is lovely,” she said.
Mr Korla said it was a pleasure to be able to celebrate Edna on her centenary.
“We are so pleased to welcome Edna to our Centenarian Club,” he said. “It is such a special milestone and all our team wish her a very happy 100th birthday.”
Edna is also joined by good friends from the Fernhill retirement village, where she first lived before moving into the co-located aged care community.
“It’s been a busy day!” she said.
“All this commotion! I’m ready for a stretch and a lie down!”
Edna is one of 166 centenarians Bolton Clarke is welcoming to its Centenarian Club in 2020.
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