A milestone 100 at the Shearwater Serviced Apartments

Born in Wandin Yallock (near Lilydale) in 1923, Beryl grew up with three sisters and attended Wandin Yallock State School.

Her younger sister Edna (98) still lives in Lilydale and, impressively, still drives too.

Beryl studied typing, shorthand and business subjects at Box Hill Technical College and worked as an Admin Typist for Wakes Mail Orders in Melbourne for 11 years.

She married a “handsome young man”, Milton Spencer, in 1949.

Milton was a carpenter and “loved his footy”. The married couple moved to Bendigo, where Milton worked as a foreman for the railways for 33 years.

Together they had four children; Christopher (now 70-years-old), Roland (69), Roger (67) and Linda (61).

Beryl loved raising her four children, looking after the garden, cooking and knitting, and she must have done something right as her adult children now visit almost every day for lunch! 

Over the years Beryl has won a number of awards at the local agricultural shows for her cooking, with the favourites being the ginger fluff cake and Rice Bubbles cake, both of which her children would request for their birthdays.

Twelve years ago Beryl moved into the Shearwater Serviced Apartments at The Mornington Retirement Village for a little extra support to remain independent.

She still enjoys knitting and goes shopping alone three times a week using the village bus, but loves the food cooked by the chefs and the connections she has made with the staff.

“All the people here are like a second family,” she says.

Her family, friends and the staff gathered to celebrate Beryl’s 100th birthday in September and to hear her words of wisdom for a long life.

“Stay healthy - eat healthy, keep busy, exercise and keep your mind busy,” Beryl said.

Southern Cross Care has vacancies in Victorian retirement communities including The Shearwater Apartments. Click here or call 1800 852 772 for more.