Mavis (Muriel) the AMAZING at 106 Years Young!

Mavis the AMAZING at 106 Years Young!

Songs – Bing Crosby – ‘Don’t Fence Me In’, ‘ Pennies from Heaven’ , ‘Swinging on a Star’

I was so excited to meet awe-inspiring Mavis who is 105 years young. In Mavis’s words, “I am 105 years and 8 months old”.

Mavis is a SUPERAGER. According to CNN Health, a ‘SuperAger’ is someone whose brain cortex (which is involved in higher processes in the human brain and responsible for thinking, decision making, problem solving, emotions and memory) remains thicker and shrinks more slowly than people aged in their 50s and 60s.

Mavis is part of the Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation are people born in the 1900s and 1920s. The Greatest Generation lived through the Great Depression and WWII.

I had many wonderful conversations with Mavis. This is her life story.

I was born in Bathurst in October 1917. The name on my birth certificate is Muriel but I was always called Mavis. We we very poor and often had kangaroo tail soup and quail. Dad gave us a teaspoon of olive oil each day. He said it kept us healthy. I can still remember the big tin that the olive oil came in. I had a brother Jack and a younger sister Bobby. As young children we mostly played cricket. My job was to go find the ball if it was hit over the fence.

When I was 5 or 6 we moved to Rozelle. Dad had a barber shop, it was at the front of our house. I had to walk through the shop to get inside our house. I left school at 15 and got a job working as a shop assistant in the shoe department of McDowells. It was in George St Sydney. I mostly walked from our house to the ferry at Balmain. Sometimes if I could afford it, I would catch the tram to the ferry. I didn’t have many friends growing up, I think because our house was behind the shop. It was a lonely life. I did have one special school friend named Gladys. I would often go to visit her at her house.

At work I became friends with a girl who also worked in the shoe department. We became very good friends and decided to play golf at Manly. We didn’t have lessons and only had cheap clubs but it started a life long passion playing golf.

I met my husband Les while working at McDowells. He was in a different department. We got engaged and my brother Jack who worked at Saunders Jewellery store helped to make the ring. After twelve months we suddenly decided it was time to get married so the next week we were married. It was 1940.

In 1942 I had my first child Janice. Janice was very active, I think today she would be diagnosed as hyperactive. Les left from her Christening to go to Darwin as part of WWII army services. It was a lonely time and we barely had enough money for food. I couldn’t work for man power as I had no one to look after Janice. After the war ended we had two more children, Pat and Robyn. Robyn had encephalitis but eventually recovered.

I had 3 daughters, have 7 grand children, 21 great grand children and 4 great great grand children. My daughters all passed away from cancer. I looked after Les while he was sick. Les passed away before the girls so I was able to look after Robyn while she was sick.

Les was a good saver and we moved to Bexley North. I joined Kogarah Golf Club (KGC) and started golf lessons. So golf was always my main exercise. My handicap was 29. I gave up golf in my 70s. When the girls were grown we bought a holiday house on Tuggerah Lake. It is my home now. I like to potter around my garden and look after my indoor plants in the sun room. I can’t go down the back anymore because it’s too steep, but I like walking around my front garden.

I do use a walker now and I need glasses for reading. I like to read, I get books from the mobile library. I like to do word finders and read the newspaper and keep up with current affairs. I watch a bit of TV. It’s on most of the day but I am not sitting watching it all day.

I have never smoked and don’t drink alcohol. Dad once gave me a wine. It tasted terrible, like vinegar, so I never drank. My diet has been mostly simple homemade meals. Now I only drink bottled water and use bottled water to boil to make a cup of tea.

Les and I had a caravan. We travelled around Australia twice. I have travelled overseas. Our youngest daughter travelled to England with us. We also travelled to Japan, America and Canada. I enjoyed the travelling.

Les and I joined PROBUS. We made life long friends and went on many trips and outings. I still regularly see my friends from Probus. It has been an important part of my life.

I am still fairly independent. I shower myself and do my own washing. I put some things in the dryer but like to hang out anything cotton. I mostly have pre-cooked frozen meals so I just need to heat them up or foods that don’t need heating. I do like to have a sweet treat. A chocolate chip muffin bar with a cup of tea is my favourite. I had a full drivers license and handed it in when I was 102.

I do get home help and nursing services through Legacy. My grand children help out with jobs outside and take me out. I like to go to the hairdresser to have a perm and I use Vaseline Intensive Care on my skin. That’s all! I have lots of friends and neighbours and relatives who visit. My day seems to go quickly.

I haven’t had any major illnesses. In 1980, I had my knees replaced. I have had a few falls so I have safety rails and wear a neck safety devise in case I need help. I have had to call the ambulance a few times. They are very good to me.

I like listening to music. Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra were my favourites. I couldn’t afford to buy records but once there were tapes on sale so I was able to buy some.

I have a mobile phone but I am not too confident to use it. I just want a mobile in case the home phone doesn’t work. I think technology is a good thing but I don’t understand a lot of it.

I really don’t know why I have lived to be this age. The only thing could be the olive oil dad used to give us as kids.

My purpose now is to live to be 106. I used to go to church but now I can’t. I believe in what I learnt at church. I hope one night I can go to sleep and not wake up.

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Mavis’s story has had a profound impact on me. Mavis is exactly how I dream to be if I am to live a long life. I found I couldn’t stop looking at Mavis. I am grateful to Elaine who gave me the opportunity to meet, chat and become friends with Mavis.

Mavis is independent, mobile and cognitively alert. She can recall her past as well as recent events. Mavis is beautiful both inside and out, always smiling, happy and interesting to chat with.

Today as I publish this blog, Mavis is celebrating her 106th Birthday.

HAPPY 106th BIRTHDAY DEAREST MAVIS

Bingo Crosby – ‘ Thanks for the Memories’

Till next time- Keep on Rocking and Rolling

Kim