Ballina woman honoured for life of service as she turns 102

BALLINA resident Nan Swan has marked her 102nd birthday, capping off a life of quiet resilience, military service and community contribution.

Born Nancie Josephine Costello at Lake Cargelligo in 1923, she contracted polio at the age of 12 and was unable to walk for several weeks.

A young doctor working with Sister Kenny — the renowned bush nurse — prescribed a strict exercise regime.

“Good faith and many prayers” helped her recover, and she regained her ability to walk.

“You just got on with it back then,” Ms Swan said.

“I came from a big family, and I think that helped. My faith has always been very important too.”

In 1943, Nan and her friend Maria enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Women’s Services.

She didn’t disclose her history of polio.

After four weeks of training at Bacchus Marsh outside Melbourne, she was posted to huts that slept six women, with basic camp stretchers and freezing conditions.

“We wore our heavy great coats just to walk through the donga to the showers at 6am,” she said. “I even slept in mine.”

Because of her health history, she wasn’t assigned to nursing duties and instead began delivering mail around the base.

She later became a switchboard operator at the 13th General Medical Hospital in Heidelberg, and then at Concord Hospital in Sydney.

“My job was to put the plugs in to connect the caller,” she said.

“Mostly it was a doctor being told what ward he was needed in.”

It was at Concord that she met her husband, Jim Swan, and the pair married in 1947.

Jim served in the Royal Australian Air Force and was discharged in 1961 with the rank of Warrant Officer.

In 1979, Nan and Jim moved to Ballina to help their daughter Celia with her business.

They had been married 52 years when Jim passed away in 1999.

Nan continued living independently in a Swift Street unit until 2023, when she moved in with Celia.

“She was still getting awards from senior gardening competitions until the last few years on Swift Street,” Celia said.

“She’s still very independent and she’s my brains trust at home.”

Nan also volunteered with St Francis Xavier church and was active with the Ballina and District Ex-Service Women’s Association.

In 2022, she was featured in an Anzac display at the Sydney Cenotaph alongside 30 other women from NSW who served during World War II.

“The great-grandkids were really taken by it,” Celia said.

“It was like having another superhero for the younger ones.”

Nan received acknowledgements from Pope Francis, King Charles, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and others on her 100th birthday.

“She never complains, never speaks unkindly of anyone, has a deep sense of humour, and displays a strong belief in her faith,” her family said.

“Nan’s love of, and for, people make her a privilege to know.”