THE \u201clife of the party\u201d at Torquay\u2019s Ocean Mist Aged Care residence on Grossmans Road has celebrated a massive milestone.<\/p>\n
Long-time Torquay resident and former nurse\u2019s assistant by trade, Florence Oxley, was surrounded by friends and family this afternoon to celebrate her 100th<\/sup>\u00a0trip around the sun, but while Ms Oxley\u2019s actual birthday takes place tomorrow (Friday, August 23), it did not hinder the occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone has made me feel very important, if I\u2019m honest I wasn\u2019t thinking too much about turning 100 you know, but it has been so overwhelming, the cards, the people wishing me well,\u201d Ms Oxley said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has made me realise it is a big age to reach and a lot of things have happened in those 100 years.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just extremely grateful for everyone putting in the effort.\u201d<\/p>\n Originally living on a farm in St Arnaud, Ms Oxley and her late husband George moved to Torquay in the mid-1970s after he joined the State Electricity Commission.<\/p>\n The couple became the talk of the town through their membership at the Torquay Bowls Club, with Mr Oxley leading the charge in getting the club its liquor license.<\/p>\n Known fondly as \u201cFlo\u201d, Ms Oxley is a mother to four children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.<\/p>\n She said the community and the people of the Surf Coast were the major factors for her settling here.<\/p>\n Ms Oxley moved into the Ocean Mist residence almost four years ago, before her husband passed away in 2022.<\/p>\n But Ms Oxley is appreciative to have made many new friends along the way, creating some of her fondest memories since moving in.<\/p>\n \u201cThe activities here are marvellous, I find it very active from everything including the drums to our music sessions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe place is nothing without Yvette, though, she keeps this place running and she\u2019s absolutely worth her weight in gold, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Among the new people Ms Oxley has met is the residence\u2019s lifestyle co-ordinator Yvette Watts.<\/p>\n Ms Watts said Florence is one of the most recognisable individuals at the aged care home, due to her memorable charm and enthusiasm for life.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing 100, she\u2019ll have a go at absolutely everything, we\u2019ve taught her a lot of things she never thought she\u2019d learn, and she really is the life of the party,\u201d Ms Watts said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s still lifting weights, still keeping active, she\u2019s everyone\u2019s friends, it\u2019s just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE \u201clife of the party\u201d at Torquay\u2019s Ocean Mist Aged Care residence on Grossmans Road has celebrated a massive milestone. Long-time Torquay resident and former nurse\u2019s assistant by trade, Florence Oxley, was surrounded by friends and family this afternoon to celebrate her 100th\u00a0trip around the sun, but while Ms Oxley\u2019s actual birthday takes place tomorrow […]<\/p>\n