SWAN Hill resident Florence Plant has marked another milestone by recently celebrating her 104th birthday.
Despite the low-key celebrations, it was a stark contrast to her 100th birthday, which was hampered by lockdowns during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.
“I had to get special permission to travel from Geelong to see Mum,” daughter Margaret Storey said.
“I had to use a mobile phone and talk to her through the window.
“It was so hard not being able to give her a hug but she made the best of it.”
According to Ms Storey, it’s this outlook on life which is responsible for her longevity.
“She was a no-fuss, no-frills mum,” Ms Storey said.
“She was very hardworking, resilient and adaptable.
“If something needed to be done, Mum would do it.”
Growing up in the height of the Great Depression, Mrs Plant was raised on the outskirts of Bendigo.
She obtained her teaching qualifications upon finishing school and took up a posting at Manangatang East – a move which would see her spend the rest of her life in the Mallee.
It was during this time that she met her future husband, Don.
Mrs Plant’s maiden name was Green and during their courtship phase Don often joked that he would make her a “Green Plant”.
Jokes aside, that become a reality, and the duo went on to have five children.
The war years were difficult as Mr Plant enlisted for World War II just weeks after they were married.
Despite the hardship and starting a young family during the war, with Mr Plant returning only between deployments, the family forged ahead, making the most of the situation.
After the war they purchased a farm 13 kilometres west of Manangatang, where Mrs Plant embraced farm life.
Whether she was tending to the sheep, catering for the shearers or completing chores around the house, Mrs Plant wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
She remained active in retirement and was heavily involved in golf and bowls, competing in various tournaments, which enabled to her to travel.
In later years, her favourite pastimes included caravanning around Australia, knitting and catching up with family and friends.
With a good sense of humour, Mrs Plant enjoyed heading north every winter “for a dose of vitamin D”.
“Mum and Dad would spend three months at a time in Hervey Bay,” Ms Storey said, noting this was her mum’s favourite destination in Australia.
Following Mr Plant’s death in 1999, Mrs Plant remained independent until she moved to Alcheringa at the ripe age of 96.
With her best friend by her side, the transition was not a difficult one and Mrs Plant continued to have many adventures alongside Myrtle Hooper, a fellow centenarian who died in 2021, aged 108.
“They met through bowls and were friends forever,” Ms Storey said, noting the friendship spanned five decades.
“They loved getting out and about.
“Every bus trip out of Swan Hill, they were on it.”
Today, Mrs Plant has 44 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, and while her life has slowed down a little in some ways, she’s not one to complain, taking each day as it comes.
“She’s had a long hard life but a happy life,” Ms Storey said.
