“Live every day to the fullest…”

By Lachlan Ellis

She shares her birthyear with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and a 90-year-old Gordon woman says there is no secret to a long life, just “eat well and live every day to the fullest”.

Noreen Patricia Barry (nee Winter) – who has always gone by ‘Pat’ – marked 90 years of life last week on Tuesday 19 July, and spent her birthday going out for lunch with her family, and answering many of the happy birthday calls she received.

Ms Barry said she was happy to make the milestone, and had lived in Gordon her whole life, never once considering moving elsewhere.

“It was wonderful growing up in Gordon. You knew everyone, we had lots of fun. I went to school here in Gordon…there were a lot of shops here in those days, we had a baker, a butcher, two greengrocers, two schools, two garages and two hotels,” she told the Moorabool News.

“I suppose the car’s done that, because everyone these days hops in the car to go to Ballarat or somewhere else now. But I love Gordon, even the weather…I’ve never wanted to leave. We’ve got a nice spot here and nice neighbours. I can’t fault it, really.”

Ms Barry has three daughters, eight grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren. She met her husband Bill at a dance when they were 17, and the two married when they were 20.

Bill passed away eight and a half years ago, but Ms Barry says she was very lucky to have the time with him that she did.

“Life was good raising the girls, they knew everyone and took the bus to school in Ballarat. Bill was the bus driver…the girls played netball, we were involved with the football club too,” she said.

“We were very fortunate to have that time together…we used to go caravanning after Bill and I retired, we went around Australia, then we went to Hervey Bay for a holiday every year for about 15 years.”

One of her daughters, Monica Eastwood, said Pat had always been a family woman.

“Mum’s a wonderful woman, a fantastic mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She’s a brilliant community person…she’s still involved in the church, she follows the local footy and washed hundreds of footy jumpers over the time when dad was President,” Ms Eastwood said.

“She’s such a kind, loving woman. And the amount of people that came to her birthday party on Sunday was incredible…she’s a bit of a local celebrity. At 90, to still be living at home, still cooking and baking, is amazing.”

Ms Barry has lived in the same house in Gordon for 50 years, which she and Bill built.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, heading up to Ballarat every week, and is involved with the Bungaree Senior Citizens.