Nambour resident and mother of seven sons Eileen Smith turned 100 on May 21 and celebrated with all her boys at Nambour Bowls Club.

“Mum has been a resident of Nambour since 1951 and all credit to her still has excellent clarity on all of those years,” said son Tim Smith. “Dad, who passed away some 14 years ago, was from Barcaldine and Mum from Rockhampton.  They moved to Nambour in 1951 with five children (all boys) in tow and settled into town quite quickly.

“Dad was a motor mechanic and worked for various companies over the years and Mum was mostly a stay-at-home Mum.  Although, over the years she worked as a ginger and strawberry picker when those farms were close to town.  One of the ginger farms where she picked is now the site for the Nambour PCYC.  Mum also gave voluntary time to Vinnies for many years.”

Mr and Mrs Smith had two more children after arriving in Nambour, Tim and David.  

“Most of us are still on the Sunshine Coast, and we all attended the celebration. The party went off well and my mother thoroughly enjoyed herself. Many generations attended from as far away as Canberra in the south and Mossman in the north.”