Reaching 100 is a milestone in itself - but Albury's Mary 'Molly' Fulford has gone one better and overcome COVID to see in a century.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Mercy Place resident, who became the matriarch of her North Albury family after her husband Arthur died at 48, was surrounded by family and friends at the SS&A.
"It was a surprise," she said.
"I've seen people I haven't seen for years.
"I rang my son and I said, 'Now listen, am I 100?', he came back and said, 'I'm sorry to tell you Mum, you are 100'."
Mrs Fulford's sense of humour is well known among her carers at Mercy Place, as is her footy tipping skills.
"I call a spade a spade," she said.
"I like the footy tipping and cricket, but I watch the races more, that's my Saturday afternoon."
Mrs Fulford was born in Yarraville and left school in Coburg at 14 to work in a factory making corsets, before her skills were required to make ammunition bags as World War II began.
Her son Dennis said she "jitterbugged through World War II" and met her to-be-husband, Arthur, during the war.
"Dad walked into a milk bar and put his arm around her - she told him to nick off but he persisted," he said.
"From there, they started dating and were married on the 30th of July at the St Ambrose Church at Brunswick."
"They had five children - there was Diana, the eldest, Les and Wayne who have passed away, myself and Roy.
"We were all born in Albury."
Mr Fulford said his grandfather owned a farm in Yackandandah and a dry-cleaning business, which brought his parents to the Border.
His sister, Dianne Tautz, said Mrs Fulford had worked at the Woolworths Variety Shop in Dean Street for 21 years and pulled the family through difficult times.
"They were bringing up a family and Dad was away five days a week, so Mum was working and was a strong hand," she said.
"Her sons died within eleven months of each other."
Mrs Fulford was living in Kemp Street when she had a stroke and moved into Mercy Place Albury in 2013.
She contracted COVID-19 during the facility's outbreak and "was quite crook", but her family said she was cared for well and Mrs Fulford's carers at Mercy were among those attending her birthday at the SS&A.
IN OTHER NEWS:
They joined extended friends and family, and only some of 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren - the youngest having arrived just last week.
Mrs Tautz said her mum remained in good health and good spirits - always giving people cheek.
"She's always loved a party," she said.
