Marjorie Sculley may not be Altona’s oldest resident, but the centenarian has lived in the suburb longer than anyone else.
Mrs Sculley celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, but her official party with family and friends will be held on Saturday.
Her family moved to Altona in 1920 when her father, Harold, was involved in building Altona Primary School.
Mrs Sculley (then Marjorie Phair) is the school’s oldest-known former pupil and last year attended its centenary celebrations.
Her father died soon after she started school, leaving her mother, Harriet, to support the family by running the school tuck shop.
At 24, Mrs Sculley married Noel Richardson and they built their home close to the beach in Mount Street. Their son, Robert Richardson, a well-known Altonian and broadcaster on WYNFM 88.9, was born in 1940.
Noel died in 1985 after a long illness.
Mr Richardson said his mother loved attending church, first the local Baptist parish then later St Eanswythe’s Anglican.
“It was there she met her second husband, Ric Sculley, a local builder, and they shared a happy 17 years together, travelling to Alaska for the honeymoon then later to various places around Australia,” he said.
Mrs Sculley received congratulations from the Queen, the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Victoria’s Governor and the Premier.
Goya Dmytryshchak
