By CAROLINE STRAINIG
FOR most of us, the early 1900s are something we have read about in books or seen in grainy black and white newsreel footage.
But for Alice Fanny Fountain the pictures are alive and the words are cherished memories.
Born on 11 September 1913, Alice celebrated turning 100 on Monday with family and friends at a special morning tea at the Garden Village retirement community in Port Macquarie.
In remarkably good health and with a memory many younger people would envy, Alice had no trouble recalling the milestones of her life and her eyes grew misty as Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peter Besseling read them out.
He also presented her with a congratulatory certificate on behalf of council and some photos of a tree council has planted in Hennessey Park to mark her century.
Born in Birchip, Victoria, Alice has lived through some interesting times and massive changes, from an age where a horse and cart were the main means of transport to the advent of the modern motor car, electricity, telephone and television, not to mention the internet and social media. Along the way she married, raised a family, and although her much-loved husband Clive and four children have passed on, she now has five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
In her younger days she worked in retail, initially in the family’s general store in Birchip, then part-time in Coles in Melbourne.
When she moved to Tocumwal, Alison worked in a drapery department and continued her career in men and women’s fashion in Seymour.
When Clive returned from World War II, they moved to Hay in NSW where Clive managed a stock and station agency and Alison worked as a librarian. She was also the organist at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
Three years after Clive’s death, Alison moved to Garden Village in 1981, one of the village’s first residents. Travelling around Australia took up a lot of her earlier years at the village, including a visit to WA for the wildflower season, a trip on the Indian Pacific, and trips to Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Rockhampton to visit family.
She moved into the Garden Village’s hostel, Westerweller, only 21 months ago, remaining remarkably independent until then.
“I just get on with every day and try and make the most of it,” Alice told well-wishers, when asked the key to such a long and healthy life. Being positive was also an essential tool in living a happy life, she added.
Her hobbies include music, reading, cards, mah-jong and knitting. Alison has been the chapel organist and continues to attend musical events with her friends and is also one of Garden Village’s singers who entertains the nursing home every fortnight.
Alison considers living as the wife of a stock and station agent in outback Hay and raising her children as her greatest achievements.
Special surprise guests at her birthday celebrations on Monday were her two ex-daughters-in-law, Clare Fountain and Deirdre Fountain, who flew in from Rockhampton and Sydney respectively for the occasion.
“She was a really great mother-in-law,” Deidre said, as she hugged Alison.
Centre staff took it in turn to read out the many congratulatory messages from well-wishers, which included one from now ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the NSW Governor, Marie Bashir.
***OPTIONAL SIDEBAR BOX ***
WAY BACK WHEN IN 1913 WHEN ALICE WAS BORN
* Andrew Fisher was Prime Minister of Australia
* The first Australian banknote was issued in 10 shillings, one, five and 10 pounds
* Canberra was officially named by Lady Denman, wife of Governor General Lord Denman
* HMAS Australiana was commissioned in Portsmouth and sailed to Australia to become our Australian flagship
* Norfolk Island became an Australian Territory under the authority of the Australian Commonwealth
