Dot celebrates 102nd birthday

Happy birthday Dot: Grafton woman Dot Edmonds celebrated her 102nd birthday yesterday surrounded by family and friends.

THE introduction of radio, television and electricity, the mass production of cars, the Great Depression and two World Wars – a lot has happened in the world since 1908.

And Grafton woman Dorris ‘Dot' Edmonds has lived through it all.

Celebrating her 102nd birthday yesterday, Dot was still loving life and keeping up with her favourite pastimes – singing, dancing and playing cards with friends.

Dot celebrated the occasion with a morning tea at her St Francis Aged-Care residence yesterday surrounded by what she said mattered most in her life – her friends and family.

Born in South Grafton on September 2, 1908, Dot spent much of her life moving around the country as her late husband, Roger, a pipe-layer, followed the limited work available during the Great Depression.

She eventually settled back in Grafton and said she loved the Clarence Valley lifestyle.

“I love the river and the boats and things,” Dot said.

“I went up the river on Saturday in a ski boat, it was lovely, a really nice day.”

She said her main passions in life were singing and dancing, something she acquired a taste for at a young age.

“I love singing and dancing; I've been singing and dancing since I was five years old and I'm still going,” she said.

She also loved playing cards with friends and said she often came home to the aged-care centre late at night after long card sessions.

Dot said her secret to a long life was staying active.

“I'm going all the time, I never stop,” she said.

Dot's son, Bob Edmonds, was present yesterday and said he was proud to be celebrating his mother's birthday.

“It's great to be here today, we love her to death; she's a lovely lady,” Mr Edmonds said.

“Unbelievable she is; just growing up with her, she's always taken good care of her family.

“She's always provided for us, right through the Depression; even then there was always food on the table and a bed to sleep in for us kids.”

Dot planned to spend the rest of her birthday going out to lunch with her family and then having a relaxing afternoon at home.