What made Lucia Fornasiero's 106th birthday all the more special today was that her grandchild, Chris Davey, made it across the ditch to be there.
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Mrs Davey was Lucy's first grandchild, and they have shared birthday celebrations nearly every year.
Despite Tuesday's travel bubble pause throwing Mrs Davey's return plans into disarray, she was glad to be with her Nan again.
"My birthday is the day before, so for all of my birthdays, we've been together," she said.
"I was just devastated that I missed her 105th birthday last year, so I was determined to be back this year.
"We're not going to be able to get back on Sunday as we had planned, but you just have to be prepared.
"Nan was devastated when I first told her we were going to New Zealand, and in a moment of weakness I said, 'Don't worry Nan, we'll come back once a month to visit'.
"And we did for five years ... until COVID."
Mrs Davey was among a group of close family and friends celebrating with lunch at La Maison.
"I Skype with her everyday from New Zealand. She often touches the computer," she said.
"Tonight we're going to Skype our relatives in Italy. It's amazing how she keeps up with technology."
Mrs Fornasiero was born in San Daniele del Friulu, about 90 minutes from Venice, and came to Australia with husband Emilio.
They arrived in Albury in 1938 and originally planned to stay for two years only, but the war intervened.
The "Forno family" were established in Albury by the time migrants from Europe began arriving in Bonegilla and the couple helped many adjust.
Mrs Fornasiero now lives with her daughter Maria Evans, Mrs Davey's mother.
"It was difficult last year because we could only have five people in the home," Mrs Evans said.
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"She has lived through two world wars ... and with the language they were using around COVID, she was worried there was going to be another."
Mrs Davey said family meant everything to her Nan, who gave "a look of determination" when she heard of the record being set at 111 for Australia's oldest person.
"She is very competitive," Mrs Davey said.
Mrs Fornasiero was ecstatic to have her family with her on her special day and declared her Tiramisu birthday cake as "beautiful".
