The Torquay woman who was ahead of her time

TORQUAY’S Norma Kett has marked her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends, who gathered to celebrate a life that has spanned generations and quietly challenged expectations.

Born in 1926 in Ararat, Norma grew up in a family with strong public service roots – her grandfather was mayor and her father a postmaster.

In 1932, the family moved to Yackandandah, where Norma quickly stood out for her ability in mathematics and science, often finishing as dux of her year.

Her academic strength earned her a scholarship to University High School in Melbourne, before she went on to study science at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1949.

Norma’s daughter Margi Kett said her mother was “outside the norm of women in those days.”

After a year working in science, Norma returned to study at Melbourne Teachers College, training as a teacher. It was there she met her husband Jack, a recently returned RAAF pilot.

 

The pair married in 1951 and shared 53 years together before Jack’s death in 2004. They raised five children. The growing family now includes nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

While balancing family life and work, Norma discovered a passion for landscape oil painting in the 1960s, which would become a defining thread of her life.

Margi recalls childhood holidays spent on location while her mother painted, with favourite subjects including the Flinders Ranges, north-eastern Victoria and interstate scenery.

Her work eventually drew wider attention. She received a letter from Sir Henry Winneke, former Governor of Victoria, after he purchased several of her paintings for Government House, where they were later viewed by then-Prince Charles.

After moving from Melbourne to Bright, Norma turned her passion into a gallery she operated for 33 years, before relocating to Torquay in 2007 to be closer to family.

Looking back on her life, Norma said her highlights include “a wonderful education, and the opportunity to paint, marrying a wonderful man, and having five beautiful children”.

 

She now lives at Regis in Torquay, where her 100th birthday was marked with love, laughter and plenty of family around her.

Norma said her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and dogs bring her the most joy today.

Being a university-educated working mother was uncommon in her time, but her family say she set a lasting example.

“It showed us that women and men were equal,” Margi said.

Margi said her mother’s determination has always stood out.

“She sets high standards for herself and others,” she said.

To mark the milestone, Norma received letters from King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as the Governor-General, while federal Corangamite MP Libby Coker attended the celebration and delivered a speech.

With a century of life behind her, Norma’s advice remains simple: follow your dreams and try to make the world better for others.