General News
7 September, 2023
Maryborough’s Sheila celebrates 100th birthday
Surrounded by a crowd of loved ones, Maryborough’s Sheila Reilly marked her centennial on Tuesday — celebrating a century’s worth of wisdom with flowers and gifts. Born and bred in Melbourne, Sheila travelled to New Zealand later in life...
Surrounded by a crowd of loved ones, Maryborough’s Sheila Reilly marked her centennial on Tuesday — celebrating a century’s worth of wisdom with flowers and gifts.
Born and bred in Melbourne, Sheila travelled to New Zealand later in life, where she met her husband Edward Reilly, who was an ambulance officer at the time.
He was eventually stationed in Maryborough in 1972 and the couple began their life in the community, including breeding dogs (Boxers) together.
While Edward has sadly passed away, Sheila’s continued to live here ever since.
“I love Maryborough and the community here,” she said.
Having settled in the town all those years ago, for her there’s no better place to celebrate her 100th birthday — a feat she puts down to luck.
“It’s bewildering, really. I didn’t expect to be here for so long,” Sheila said.
“I’m thrilled to have my family and friends here.”
Among those who visited her on her special day, was her 92-year-old sister, Patsy Hocking, who also emphasised how content Sheila was in Maryborough.
“After her husband died, I asked her if she wanted to come back to Melbourne and she said no because she loved it here,” Patsy said.
“Sheila’s made friends in the town and they help her as much as they can. She’s got good friends and good neighbours.”
Looking back, Patsy said she cherished the bond she had with her sister through the course of their lives.
“We’ve been very good friends as well as siblings — we’ve never had a cross word in our life,” she said.
“Sheila would also always dress very nicely when she was younger, she was very smart and attractive.
“I am very glad that we could come up and have lunch with her and share in her birthday to celebrate all of that. It is a milestone. It’s special.”