Family and friends of Jannetje Witte went to The Bays aged care home in Hastings to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Also at the afternoon tea on Tuesday 12 February were Hastings MP Neale Burgess, The Bays Healthcare Group CEO Elena Allen and other residents.
Ms Witte was born in Texel, Holland where she also met her husband Tony, who died more than 20 years ago.
The couple had four children, Margaret, Elizabeth, Rose and Theo, with Ms Witte working on farms to support their family during the Depression and World War II.
They migrated to Australia in 1951, living in a hostel in Sydney before moving to the Mornington Peninsula, where Tony worked as a motor mechanic.
Ms Witte enjoys playing the card game klavergas with her children and grandchildren who visit frequently. She also has a passion for animals, knitting and crocheting.
Ms Witte attributes her longevity to “keep on trying and having a go” and “all you need is love”.
First published in the Mornington News – 19 February 2019
