By Wendy Williamson
The Yarra Valley Over-50s Friendship Club held a very special celebration on Monday 14 August.
The occasion was the 100th birthday of Beryl Medhurst, although the sprightly Beryl insisted it was “just another day”. As per usual, she participated in some games of indoor carpet bowls, before tucking into some birthday cake.
Beryl, who turned 100 on 12 August, is a founding and very popular member of the club, which has been going strong for 25 years at the Coldstream Community Centre. She attends regularly, travelling by taxi from her Croydon home.
Beryl attributes her robust health to drinking nothing but hot water and eating greens every day – often from the large vegie garden she maintained for many years, and now tended by her son, Les.
As well as a keen gardener, Beryl was for many years a dab hand in the kitchen. She began cooking for her family at 12 and went on to cook professionally.
Her vanilla slices and sponges were particularly popular, according to Les, who has only recently taken over the kitchen, now that his mother’s eyesight is failing.
Beryl has a large family, including five great, great-grandchildren. They came from all over Australia for her weekend birthday celebrations. Local MPs and the Governor-General sent best wishes.
Born in Wangaratta, Beryl grew up on a farm at Whitfield. It was Kelly country, and Beryl’s forebears had connections to the famous bushranger’s gang. She recently contributed a chapter to a book about Ned Kelly.
“Nana is quite the celebrity,” said Beryl’s proud granddaughter Leanne fondly. “She is having her portrait painted by some local high school students, and she has an invitation to attend Government House in September to celebrate this year’s centenarians.”
