The Canberra Times has been on a quest for Canberra's oldest woman ... and we believed we've found her.
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Gwen Smith remembers World War I, construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and pre-car days. She turned 108 on Thursday and only retired 14 years ago. Yes, you read that right.
Last week, students from St Vincent's Primary School in Aranda visited neighbouring Bupa Aged Care to celebrate the 102nd birthday of resident Freda Bishop.
Fairfax Media also spoke to 105-year-old Canberra centenarian Ellen Heath, as well as organ-playing Dorothy Rafferty who's turning the big 100 on September 25.
Similar to Ms Rafferty's advice, Ms Smith said her secret to a long, joyous life was always looking on the bright side.
"Never trouble trouble or trouble troubles you," the resident of Narrabundah's Mountain View Aged Care said.
Her daughter, Terry Ayres, attributed it to loving her family who "she just doesn't want to leave" and working extremely hard.
"I'm really not surprised mum has come to live to 108 because she was Australia's oldest secretary. She worked until 94 when she had a heart attack," Ms Ayres said.
She didn't work half-heartedly either, walking long distances to her Sydney office office until her mid-80s.
At 38 she had her first of three children, and now has seven grandsons, one step granddaughter and four great grandchildren – with a fifth and sixth on the way.
"She looked absolutely fabulous when I was growing up, no one believed her age," Ms Ayres said.
"They still don't. I asked for a day off work today for mum's 108th birthday. They all laughed and said last year you told us she was 107 and I said well she was."
Even her memory is impressive.
"She's still so with it," her grandson, Marcus Reeves, said.
"She always knows what's going on with the cricket, with current affairs and has never forgotten to call me for my birthday in my whole life.
"I always say she's likely to outlive me," he joked.
As of her most recent birthday, Ms Smith has lived 1296 months, 5616 weeks and 39420 days ... and she's still counting.
