Congratulations to Elsie Heard on turning 100.

Elsie still lives independently in our community with some support from Blue Haven Care.

She moved to Kiama 15 years ago from St Peters in inner-city Sydney and has no regrets, despite her family still being up there. “I left because of the high rise,” she says firmly. “I just couldn’t stand it any more.”

Born in Balmain during the First World War, Elsie worked in a trade that no longer exists – that of a cardboard box coverer. “It was a difficult thing to make boxes pretty,” she says. “Not everyone could do it well.”

Her secret to a long life? “Be kind to people and eat plenty of fruit.”

Her birthday was celebrated at the Sea Side Group and at a lunch put on by Kiama Leagues Club, where she is their oldest, and one of the most popular, members.