Befitting a grand milestone, Emily Davis is having not one, but two parties to celebrate her 100th birthday.
The first was on her actual birthday, Tuesday, March 11, at the Altona North aged care facility where she lives.
The second, much bigger celebration, is on Saturday, March 15, at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) in Williamstown, where Ms Davis and her late husband Arthur lived for many years and raised a family.
Dozens of those family members will be there on Saturday, including two of her remaining sisters aged 90 and 97.
The third of seven girls, Emily is the first to reach triple figures, something that along with inheriting good genes, she attributes to resilience and hard work.
“If you can’t take the ups and downs of life, you’re out of it!” she declared.
As a World War II veteran, Emily certainly practised what she preaches.
Emily served in the army during the war and according to her son, Mark Davis, it’s an experience she still recalls vividly.
“She can remember her war service number from when she was in the land army,” he said.
“She says “I know my number” and she repeats it and that’s from 1940.”
After the war, she met fellow veteran Arthur, who she married in 1948.
They moved to Williamstown where they ran a milk bar on the Esplanade while raising six sons.
Later, Emily worked at the Williamstown High School tuck shop alongside three of her six sisters.
While Arthur died in 2003, Emily remained living in her Williamstown house until August last year when her advancing dementia forced her into a nursing home.
Despite this, Mark said his mum still remains bright and active, but just requires a little more assistance than she used to.
“Once you remind her of who you are her memory kicks in and she parks up,” said Mark, who like his mother, has a life long love of music.
“I play piano and if I play some old songs she gets triggered and starts singing along.”
A video compilation of Emily singing will be played at the RYCV party, as will a song penned in her honour by family friend Mike Brady.
The name of Brady’s song is unknown, but Up There Emily would be appropriate.
