Moving well into 100th birthday

POINT Lonsdale resident Carmen Ward has marked her 100th birthday with balloons, cupcakes and an exercise session, reaching the milestone late last month while part of Bellarine Community Health’s (BCH) Mobility Plus program.

Ward, who retired to Point Lonsdale in 1984 with her husband after living in Melbourne, has been attending BCH’s weekly Mobility Plus Exercise program for the past four years.

She credited the routine as vital to staying active and connected.

“We’re mainly sitting on our chairs, and standing up, but nothing too strenuous. We’re all older. But it keeps you going, and it’s nice to come and see other people,” she said.

The mother of four received congratulatory letters from King Charles III and other dignitaries to mark her 100th birthday but remained modest about the feat.

“Well, I think it’s just another day, and I’ve told my friends and people around that it’s over now, and I’m just here, and I’m very fortunate, and we just keep on living,” she said.

Ward included an exercise session as part of her 100th birthday.

Ward attributes her longevity to good genetics, noting her mother lived to 90 and an aunt to 99.

However, her commitment to staying active and engaged has clearly played a significant role in her quality of life.

While she has made some concessions to age, including using her late husband’s walker for safety on uneven surfaces, Ward continues her daily walking routine and lives independently at home.

“I remember doing meals on wheels a few years ago, and I’d go into these homes down here and here were these poor old things sitting in the chair all day, not moving at all. And I thought, that’s not the way to live,” she said.

She encouraged others to find ways to stay active and said she would keep going with the Mobility Plus program for as long as possible – “Because it keeps you mobile, and you’re meeting people, and it’s just another day out.”

BCH’s Mobility Plus program provides gentle, chair-based exercises designed for older community members, helping participants maintain strength, balance, and social connections.