Jean Sargeant and Coral Duncan have lived a lot of life between the two of them.
The Wongaburra residents turned 100 within a week of each other and partied with family and friends in Wongaburra’s elaborately decorated Rob Berg Room on 16 September.
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It was a musical occasion, with many partygoers singing along to Keith Dunn and a rousing impromptu singing performance by Wongaburra’s resident Scotsman, Sam Hunter.
One of the most impressive musicians in the room was Mrs Duncan, who at 100 performed on the accordion – an instrument she has been playing since she was 9 years old.
Cheering Mrs Duncan on was daughter Gina Overton, daughter in law Catherine Aylward and granddaughter Kym Stretton.
Mrs Sargeant’s special guests were son and daughter in law David and Lynne Johnson, who have been involved in the community for more than 40 years, particularly through Mr Johnson’s past roles as teacher and deputy principal at Beaudesert High.
In a moving speech, Mr Johnson earnestly thanked Wongaburra for looking after his mum so well since she moved there in 2016.
“Staff, volunteers and most of all residents have welcomed my mother. She’s made some wonderful friends here – I’d really like to thank all of you for being so kind to her,” he said.
Mrs Sargeant said turning 100 felt no different and recalled a full and rewarding life from the moment she was born in Allora on 15 September 1922.
Mrs Sargeant was raised by her aunt and uncle because her mother died a month after she was born. She has lived across Queensland from Morven to Caboolture, Toowoomba to Townsville (where she raised three sons), Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and during WWII she joined the RAAF as a telephonist.
Mrs Duncan was born locally on 8 September 1922, grew up on the family dairy farm at Josephville and continued to work in her garden until she was 95.
On her 100th birthday, she went fishing on the Broadwater and caught a flathead.
Her face lights up when she talks about her three children, 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.
“They’re all beautiful, every single one of them, and we had a big party at the Beaudesert RSL – they came from everywhere – Rocky, Mackay, Clermont and Roma,” she said.
