Clutching a bouquet of flowers almost bigger than herself, Erina resident Marion Laycock Robey has celebrated her 100th birthday with a “ton’’ of memories about life on the NSW Central Coast.
The former Sydneysider, whose earliest recollections also include watching the Harbour Bridge being built from her bedroom window in the 1920s, marked her milestone with her closest friends and family at RetireAustralia’s Wood Glen Retirement Village recently.
Although she grew up in Sydney’s harbourside suburb of Bellevue Hill, Marion has always had a strong connection with the Coast.
She recalled long, fun-filled holidays with her family each year at a perfectly positioned house near the beach in Painters Lane at Terrigal.
“We Ioved every moment of it,’’ said Marion. “We spent six weeks of every summer here.
“The trip from Sydney would take eight hours, including a wait to cross the Hawkesbury River on a punt.’’
Although Terrigal looked vastly different in those days, the family’s accommodation was in the heart of the region and literally only minutes to the water.
These days, Marion is a well-known and popular resident of Wood Glen, having moved to the village from Wamberal almost 20 years ago with her husband Lance.
Although Lance has since passed away, Marion – who has three children, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren – still feels very much at home at Wood Glen, located in beautiful surroundings close to all of life’s everyday essentials.
“The people and staff really make it feel like home,’’ said Marion, who enjoys socialising with others at the village, playing Bridge and gardening.
“For me, one of life’s true joys – which hasn’t changed throughout the years – is being amongst great friends and neighbours, as well as family.’’
Wood Glen Village Manager Vanessa Fordyce said Marion’s 100th birthday was a special moment for the residents, who were all part of a close, supportive community.
“We’re renowned for our friendly atmosphere and everyone is made to feel part of the ‘Wood Glen family’. Marion’s birthday is another great milestone for our community,’’ she said.
She said one of the advantages of living at Wood Glen was that homes were designed to adapt to residents’ changing needs, giving them peace of mind for the future.
Wood Glen is across the road from Erina Fair shopping centre and close to local beaches, nature reserves, medical and other services and a wide range of shops, dining and entertainment options.