Incredible: Elsie McLellan turned 103 on January 16.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Elsie McLellan of Murrayvale Retirement Village turned 103 last week, with staff and fellow residents celebrating the special occasion in style.
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Ms McLellan was born in Kyabram on January 16, 1921, and has witnessed many technological changes over those 103 years.
During her photoshoot with The Free Press, Ms McLellan was surprised by the added attention and remarked that the sun was too bright for her eyes.
One of her nurses, Gemma Sheers, was on hand to talk about her extraordinary life and how she enjoyed her time in the residential community.
“Elsie is a much loved and cherished member of Menarock,” Ms Sheers said.
“She’s a part of the family.”
Ms Sheers was asked how they planned to spend the day celebrating the extraordinary life of Ms McLellan.
Fond memories: Elsie McLellan (centre) pictured with her sisters Jean Thomson and Mary Lee.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“Members of the staff and residents will be going out for lunch, and when we return, we will be having a birthday cake followed by happy hour,” Ms Sheers said.
Ms McLellan was part of a big family, with siblings Hector, Jean and Mary and step-siblings Isa and Roy.
At the end of World War II, Ms McLellan trained as a nurse at the Epworth Hospital, later running private hospitals in Brunswick and Essendon.
She retired in her mid-60s in Melbourne after her career in the nursing sector.
As her health declined, she decided to return to Kyabram; in 2007, she was a resident with Cunningham Downs before becoming a resident with Murrayvale for the past 16 years.
Ms McLellan enjoys her time at Murrayvale, where she is a regular at happy hour, taking part in music from the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
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