‘Live life as it comes’, says Grace Ormsby as she approaches her 100th birthday
A Murray Bridge resident reflects on her experiences over the past century.
This post was contributed by Resthaven Murray Bridge.
A Murray Bridge resident has shared her reflections from the past century – and some noteworthy advice – in the lead-up to her 100th birthday on February 12.
Grace Ormsby remembered a busy start to life, growing up on the family farm at Snowtown with her sister and brother.
“My father was a World War One veteran and met my mother when he returned from service,” she said.
“He went on to work for the Snowtown council, and my mother and us kids tended to the home, looking after our three cows, chickens, and our dog, Jim.”
When Mrs Ormsby wasn’t busy on the farm, she attended her local school until grade seven, when she found full-time employment as a cleaner.
After a busy work week, she traded her uniform for a ball gown.
“My friends and I would dress up in our best frocks and attend all the dances we could get to,” she said.
“We particularly enjoyed when there was live music – most places had a pianist back then.”
At 22 years old, Mrs Ormsby relocated to Adelaide, where she began working in a boarding house.
“I met my Terence then, and we married only a year later,” she said.
“I quit my job and we found a family home in Kilburn, where we raised our son and two daughters.”
Mr and Mrs Ormsby made the move to Murray Bridge 25 years later, when it was just the two of them again.
“We weren’t big travellers, although we enjoyed a trip to Melbourne and Perth once,” she said.
“We were happy to stay home and watch the footy and cricket together.”
Now Mrs Ormsby resides at Resthaven Murray Bridge, where she continues her love of spectating.
What did she have to say about reaching her milestone birthday?
“I don’t have any secret to health and longevity,” she said.
“I just wake up in the morning and live life as it comes – you have to let things happen as they will.”
Although she didn’t have any tips on reaching 100 years old, she did have a message to “the young ones”: “let them work it out like we did”.
Many happy returns, Mrs Ormsby.
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