Mercy Place Albury resident Evelyn (Billie) Trebley celebrates her 100th birthday
Evelyn (Billie) Trebley can't explain the reason for her long life.
"I don't think I've got a secret, I just live," she said.
"All I can say is I'm very grateful for where I am.
"Extremely blessed."
Mrs Trebley turned 100 on Tuesday, with her home at Mercy Place Albury decorated by cards, balloons, flowers, banners and photos to mark the milestone.
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Born the youngest of five Gamble children on March 19, 1919, she grew up in Culcairn.
Mrs Trebley worked as a sales assistant and enjoyed interacting with customers.
"I'm just such a tiger to talk," she said with a laugh.
As a youngster, she learned elocution, a sought-after talent in a small community.
"If there was a concert on in Culcairn, it was, 'Just ask Billie, she'll recite'," she recalled.
"Always had a bit of a yearning to get to Albury.
"Then I married a railway man and he got a transfer to Albury, so I had my wish there."
Her future husband Loch - "Loch, you're taking a big gamble," they'd joke - came from Cookardinia, north east of Culcairn.
"He used to ride a push bike that 20 miles in to see his girlfriend, so I think it must have been true love," Mrs Trebley said.
CENTENARIAN: Evelyn (Billie) Trebley, nee Gamble, grew up in Culcairn and moved to North Albury with her husband Loch in 1965. Picture: MARK JESSER
The couple raised three children, Glen, Graeme and Julie, and shifted to North Albury in 1965.
They had been married for 72 years when Mr Trebley died almost five years ago, just after the couple moved into Mercy Place.
Mrs Trebley now has six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren and takes pride in their strength and health, something she's had all her life as well.
Her preferred mode of transport tended to be walking or riding a bicycle as she'd never learned to drive.
"I had brothers who wanted to teach me and then my husband wanted to teach me, I said I've got no confidence and there's enough bad drivers on the road without me," she said.
"So I tagged along or used the old legs - I think it might have been a good idea because they're still going pretty well.
"Even if they are a little slower than they used to be."
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