DAISY Holmes has touched many lives over the years, but on Monday it was her turn to celebrate, marking her 100th birthday.
An impressive women with a remarkable record of commitment to her community, the Nyah West local has been a member of the Country Women’s Association for 70 years.
Daisy spent last weekend celebrating her milestone surrounded by friends and family.
On Saturday she was joined by family for a meal at Swan Hill Club, with the following day spent with 70 family members and friends at Nyah District Memorial Hall, where memorabilia from her life was on display.
On Monday, a morning tea was held at Jacaranda Lodge, with Daisy sharing her birthday with fellow resident Valma Smith who turned 87.
Daisy said there were a few things that kept her going.
“Keeping my mind active and not dropping off to sleep because you can’t think of anything to do,” she said.
“Do what you can, while you still can and be thankful, that’s my motto.”
Daisy said it was lovely to have people visit her and send her birthday cards for her special day.
“It’s lovely to see the children too, they’re all growing up all the time,” she said.
“My son rang me this morning because he couldn’t be here today (on Monday), but he’ll come later on (from Sydney).”
Daisy has two children, two son-in-laws, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Daisy was born in England on November 25, 1919, to her Australian father, James, and British mother, Elizabeth.
Her mother died when Daisy was three months old, and her sister was three.
The next seven years were spent under the care of their grandparents.
James remarried, and the the family moved to Australian in December, 1928, with Daisy celebrating her ninth birthday on the boat on their way to Australia.
In her later life, during World War Two, Daisy spent time in the army based in Alice Springs working as a shorthand typist.
It’s a time she remembered fondly.
“The best friends I ever had were in the army, we had good times together,” she said.
Keeping her mind active, and with CWA being such a huge part of her life, last year Daisy entered and won the CWA’s 2018 State Literature Competition in the short stories (up to 500 words) category with her story 1928.
“I wrote my grandmother’s story; when she was a little girl Christopher Columbus founded (the United States of) America,” Daisy said.
“They wanted people to come over from Europe and fill up all the open spaces, and so they sent the letters to different families, to see if they would come.”
Daisy’s grandmother made the move, with the family residing in Florida, later moving to England.
A life member of Booren CWA group, based in Swan Hill, Daisy is also a member of Swan Hill Nyakora (afternoon branch) and has previously been a member of the Nyah CWA.
Daisy, who has written 21 plays for CWA, said her highlights with the association was the music, drama, and writing competitions.
Daisy’s daughter Lorraine Matthews said people had stopped her in the street complimenting her on how “amazing” Daisy still looked at 100 years of age.
“You touched the lives of a lot of people,” Lorraine told her mother.
Lorraine’s fondest memory of her mother, was a time in Daisy’s life when she was busy being involved in a number of community organisations.
“There is one memory I must say, in her heyday of CWA, choir, Red Cross, (Nyah) Hall Committee, church, you nearly had to make an appointment (to see her),” Lorraine said.
While, Daisy’s granddaughter Katrina Copping said she loved listening to her grandmother’s stories.
Daisy received birthday wishes from Queen Elizabeth the Second, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia David Hurley and Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks.
The centenarian also received flowers from Legacy (an Australian non-profit organisation established in 1923 by ex-servicemen).
