A once in a 100 year gathering was held in the Stawell Eventide Home on Tuesday as three centenarians came together.
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Rea Fox, 105, Bob McKee, 101, and Eileen Cooper, 100, sat together in Mrs Cooper’s room to reflect on their time in the home.
While quiet and fragile now Mrs Fox read the Stawell Times News like she has done for years. An article about her birthday celebrations last week caught her eye and her smile lit up the room. As she read the article word for word her hand hovered over a photo of herself and son Ivan.
Birthday celebrations have been a big deal for all three residents and despite happening almost a year ago Mr McKee will never forget his 100th birthday.
Mr McKee was surrounded by friends, staff and also family members who had flown down from the Gold Coast for his 100th birthday celebrations, when he was presented with his birthday cake last year.
With the candles lit and Mr McKee ready to blow them out for the 100th time, the fire alarm at Eventide was activated and residents had to be evacuated.
Volunteers from the Stawell Fire Brigade attended and the situation was quickly rectified, but not before Mr McKee took the opportunity to have his photograph taken with some of the volunteers in front of the fire truck.
The spritely centenarian was then finally given the opportunity to cut his birthday cake to commence his celebrations. He admitted to being a little embarrassed by the situation caused by the smoke from the candles.
Even now Mr McKee looks back and remembers his 100th birthday celebrations as a highlight of his time at the Eventide.
Later this month Mr McKee will have been living at the Eventide for 15 years.
Mrs Cooper is the most recent resident to celebrate the three figure milestone.
Cooper who is fit and healthy woke up early and made sure she looked the part for her photos with McKee and Fox.
When the time came she refused to take part.
With a cheeky smile on her face and a slight giggle she had staff organise the other residents to be moved into her room for the photo to be taken. Mrs Cooper had her photo taken time and time again, but refused to open her eyes.
Mrs Cooper’s daughter Faye lives in a cottage at the Evendtide’s and came to the rescue, but even she had little success.
During her time at the Eventide, Cooper has been a dedicated gardener and even now enjoys her time in the court yard. Mrs Cooper is often visited by her dog and her great great granddaughter Poppy.