MORNINGTON Retirement Village resident Beryl Spencer celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by friends and family.
Born in Wandin Yallock, near Lilydale, where her younger sister Edna, 98, still lives and drives her own car, Spencer studied typing, shorthand and business studies at Box Hill Technical College, and worked as an administrative typist at Wakes mail orders in Melbourne for 11 years.
It was “a handsome young man”, carpenter Melton Spencer, who she chose to marry in 1949.
The married couple then moved to Bendigo, where Melton worked for the railways for 33 years.
The Spencers had four children Christopher, now 70, Roland, 69, Roger, 67, and Linda, 61.
Over the years Spencer has won awards for her cooking at agricultural shows, with favourites being the ginger fluff cake and the Rice Bubbles cake.
Twenty-two years ago, she moved into the Shearwater Apartments at Mornington Retirement Village for extra support and to remain independent.
Spencer says she enjoys knitting, doing her own shopping, and the connections she has made with staff and residents.
“All the people here are like a second family,” she said.
Her advice for a happy and long life are: “Eat healthy, keep busy, exercise and keep your mind busy.”
First published in the Mornington News – 3 October 2023
