Centenarians lapping it up for charity

Amidst a blur of specially printed red T-shirts and red caps, former Wimbledon tennis competitor Bobbie Miller, Veronica Hunt and Mary Lees, all women of 102 years of age, did laps of the Narrabundah complex with their closest neighbours to raise funds for national and international programs.

While the sponsor promises are yet to be collected, chaplain for the Mountain View complex Major Sue Hale recalls last year more than $70,000 was raised in the ACT.

"This year we are contributing to two causes. Money will go to buy bush ambulances for villages in Malawi [Africa] and also to Streetlevel community centres here in Australia," she said.

But the greatest benefits can be felt locally at the home itself.

"Members of staff came to work on their days off, as well as volunteers, family and friends to help push wheelchairs and beds so that everyone that wanted to could participate," Major Hale said.

The oldest resident at Mountain View wasn't left out. Gwen Smith, 105, officiated at one of the course's trickier turns, while companion dog Molly took it easy, hitching a ride on the lap of 91-year-old Clara Hart.

Major Hale says there is great excitement in their little community after a special day like this.

"Doing something big together, where we all take part, and doing something for someone else is so important at this stage of life.

"It will be all we talk about for days around here."