Bently Wood Aged Care resident Irene Ronan, the mother and mother-in-law of Yarrawonga identities Dr Clyde Ronan and Lindy, will turn 101-years-of-age on Sunday, December 8.
“A bit alarmed, shocked, at the prospect of turning 101”, Irene “can't imagine” what the secret was in getting to this unanticipated advanced age, but did confide that she smoked part of a cigarette once and spat the rest out.
“A social drinker - a shandy after golf. Typical diet of a dairy farmer- meat every day, bountiful in-season vegetables and fruit from the garden, milk/cream/butter/cheese/junkets/custards,” she said.
“Eggs didn't come in cardboard boxes and had to be collected, and chooks were killed by the men and at some stage in the gruesome process handed to the women to be further prepared and cooked.
“Small meals. Cakes and biscuits as necessary, but not the whole packet thank you, and usually healthy things made at home anyway. Lots and lots of exercise.”
“Make of that what you will, but don't try to tell her that she got it all wrong,” son Dr Ronan said.
“Despite significant illness, an economic depression, and a world war, Mum has had 'a fortunate life', and lives on.”
Irene Mary Jewell was born in Ascot Vale on December 8, 1923. Her home was to become Granya, near Tallangatta, a small farming community, with a dwindling gold mining industry.
Irene’s father had been a carpenter in Melbourne and had relatives in Granya so they moved to a small farm.
Her mother had been a school teacher in Melbourne but went along with the adventure. Irene went to the Granya State School where she completed the Merit Certificate (Year 8). Somebody saw the usefulness of an extended education for a smart girl, and she was sent off to stay with an aunt and attend the Box Hill Girls School.
She was up there with the brighter kids in her class finishing fifth in her exams in 1937, but after one year was missing home too much and went back to Granya.
Irene returned to Melbourne to take up an apprenticeship in dressmaking at Incleys on Collins Street, near the Regent Theatre, 'the most expensive ladies outfitters in Melbourne', and stayed with her grandmother in Hawthorn.
“Mum enjoyed the drama of getting the latest fashions out for the wealthy ladies as haute couture and in time for the races or balls, based on what was being worn in Paris at the time,” Dr Ronan said.
“Mum’s dressmaking apprenticeship started on the eve of 'Pearl Harbour', and she also learned embroidery and beading.”
The four-year apprenticeship and life in general was somewhat interrupted by war, and dress material became hard to obtain so Incleys eventually closed. The apprenticeship was finished at Myer.
Smarter in city ways, stylish of presentation, a bit more sophisticated, she returned to her family in Granya before war’s end.
“Imagine if you will, this stylish young woman being found in the Fernvale Hall by my dairy farmer father in a 'broom dance'!” Dr Ronan said.
“There followed a tough economic period and a prolonged courtship and engagement with housing problems back then too, until they were able to be married in 1947.
“Mum won a CWA special prize for 'best garment' for making her own wedding dress, which she later removed the arms from and modified into a ball gown.
“Dad and his father had returned to a run-down family farm at Noorongong, and with the women, rebuilt it into a good little dairy farm.”
Irene had a new career, as a farmer, had two children and was a mother as well.
The boys were apparently easy to look after, and she made the clothes and food. She had a few health issues along the way, but this hasn't stopped her getting to 101, with only one kidney. There must have been good doctors helping, and country hospitals.
Mum was a socially well integrated person in her community and took on a number of leadership roles including president of numerous organisations (school, hospital, golf, Probus) and participated in everything from committees, to selling raffle tickets, and 'collecting' for Red Cross or the hospital.
Irene said life was made easier by having a good husband, parents-in-law next door and good kids!
“She understands the benefits of her children going to university and volunteered that it was a 'great day' when I was accepted into Medicine at Monash University (and I suppose also when I surprisingly graduated many years later) and enthusiastically mentioned that my brother was a good footballer.
“He attended the University of New England and studied Rural Science and went on to work as a rural economist,” Clyde said.
Not satisfied with a hole-in-one at golf in Tallangatta she did it again after retiring to Albury. She lost Dad a few years ago.
Irene moved into aged care in Yarrawonga on July 1 this year. “She keeps me informed on a number of issues and has a pretty good memory,” Clyde said.
There is a telephone beside her bed, a book and a newspaper, trimmed down to the essentials. The bedside clock gets wound daily. There is now a big vase of flowers too, from her loving son Clyde and daughter-in-law Lindy.