She’s a top Sheila

By Jane Gardner

Sheila White will turn 100 years old on 29 April and she’s still going strong.

She lives at home, still drives to Ballan for her weekly shop and in addition to the ongoing deliveries of food from, “wonderful friends and neighbours,” still manages to cook the occasional corned beef.

“But I’ve gone off meat a bit these days,” Sheila says.

Born in Ballarat in 1923, Sheila grew up in Dunnstown with her parents Gertrude (a dress maker) and Benjamin Young (an engineer at the Dunnstown Distillery) and her siblings Geoff and Essie. Sheila was educated at Sacred Heart, Ballarat and after some years working at the Wallaby Box Company in Ballarat, met her future husband Tom at a Dunnstown dance. The couple married in 1949 and settled in Ballarat. They later built and moved into the house in Millbrook where Sheila still lives today. Tom worked at the Butter Factory in Ballarat, while Sheila was employed at the Queen Elizabeth Home as a pay clerk.

Throughout her married life, Sheila was an active member of her community, playing bowls and tennis.

“But I had a fall on the court when I was 70 and decided it was time to give up,” she said.

She was also secretary at the Millbrook School where her two children John and Glenda attended. In the 1970s she was offered a job running the Ballan TAB – or the ‘Tote’ as Sheila calls it – where she worked for 6 ½ years.

“I used to close up at 4pm, race home to get the tea on and get back in time to open again at 6pm.”

After an impressive 72 years of marriage, Sheila lost her beloved husband Tom, aged 93, in 2021. While she doesn’t suggest there’s any particular secret to her longevity, Sheila says she doesn’t drink alcohol, tea or coffee and (children block your ears) confesses that she doesn’t eat vegetables.

Aside from her “wobbly knees,” for the most part, Sheila enjoys good health.

“I can’t get to church anymore; but my neighbour kindly brings me communion here.”

Sheila’s walls and mantlepiece are covered in family photos. From a softly tinted oval portrait of her mother Gertrude hanging in the hallway, through to pictures of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, memories surround her. Some recent additions to her collection, include birthday cards and letters from The King, the Prime Minister, the Governor General, the Premier and the local Federal Member. It’s a who’s-who of dignitaries. But anyone who knows Sheila will tell you she’s the real dignitary. As strong and proud and clever as the best of them, Sheila White has earned the love and respect of all.

Sheila celebrated her 100th birthday with family, friends and her extended community at an afternoon tea in Millbrook last weekend and will have another party with her family on the 29th of April.