Murray Bridge’s Addie Paschke turns 90 years old

This story was contributed by Resthaven.

Staff and residents at Resthaven Murray Bridge have come together to wish Adeline “Addie” Paschke a very happy 90th birthday.

“I never thought I’d get to 90,” she said as she cut the cake: a strawberry and cream sponge baked by the Resthaven cook.

Born on January 10, 1934 at Eudunda Hospital, the future Mrs Paschke lived at Neals Flat for the first three years of her life before moving to a small farm in Aldgate Valley, and then on to Lobethal.

The youngest of six children, she had twin brothers and three sisters.

She attended Mylor Primary School, then Lobethal Lutheran School, and went on to Oakbank Area School for a further three years.

Soon after, she got a job working as an office assistant at Klose’s Supermarket, where she stayed for six years until she was married.

On January 9, 1954, she married Mel Paschke at Lobethal.

Together they had three children: Karen, Janelle, and Peter.

Their first home was at Mount Barker, and the couple ran their own transport business.

Mrs Paschke also found a job working at the ANZ bank in Mount Barker, but in 1963, the family moved down the hill, first to Cumberland Park and then Bellevue Heights.

“It wasn’t long before we realised we weren’t city people,” she said.

So they moved to Kadina, where Mr Paschke became the manager of MS McLeod’s, a bicycle and tyre store.

The family lived there for more than 17 years, with Mrs Paschke working part time for the Inspector of Schools, the education department’s district office and TAFE.

The large house block had many productive fruit trees and a large vegetable garden, so each year Mrs Paschke would make homemade jams, chutneys and tomato sauce.

“I enjoyed spending time in the garden and growing vegetables at each home we had,” she said.

She also took up sewing and knitting, making many of the children’s clothes when they were young, including costumes for the calisthenics competitions her daughters took part in.

“When the grandchildren came along I enjoyed making toys and rugs for them, too,” she said.

Throughout her life, Mrs Paschke has been active in the Lutheran Church, taking a role on community committees, participating in different activities and teaching the Sunday school, Christian education, ladies’ fellowship and ladies’ choir.

She was also a member of different community groups, including the Edwardstown Kindergarten, Kadina Primary and High School, Edwardstown and Kadina Calisthenics, Kadina Spastic Centre, Kadina Golf Social Club and Meals on Wheels.

Mr Paschke was very involved with the Lions Club and he and his wife hosted Japanese Lions exchange students in 1978 and 1982.

It was around this time that the couple journeyed overseas to Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the Greek islands, Norfolk Island, Canada, Alaska and Malaysia.

When Mr Paschke retired, the couple moved to Wallaroo North Beach, where he went back to coach-driving for Acacia Tours, and Mrs Paschke accompanied him as a hostess.

“We did many state and interstate trips together, which we enjoyed, and called them our working holidays,” Mrs Paschke said.

The couple retired to Harbor Village, Victor Harbor in 2003, and swapped caravanning for house-sitting.

“We would often house-sit in Caboolture and Hervey Bay, Queensland, visiting our son and grandchildren who lived in the state,” Mrs Paschke said.

“I always enjoy seeing my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; however, we had always lived quite a distance apart.”

On January 11, Mrs Paschke’s family came together to celebrate her birthday, with grandchildren travelling to Murray Bridge from Germany, Queensland, Sydney, Canberra and all across South Australia.

The party was held in the Resthaven Murray Bridge cafe.

Happy birthday, Addie.

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