MORNINGTON resident Olga Viken celebrated her 105th birthday on 19 May.
At 105, Olga still makes her own breakfast, has a daily routine, and lives alone in the Mornington home she has owned for the last 55 years.
Olga spent her birthday surrounded by flowers, balloons, neighbours, and members of Melbourne’s Norwegian community. She had an open door on her birthday and had more than 20 visitors come through to celebrate her.
“It was just fabulous,” said Olga.
“And the police were here, and all my friends were here, you know. It was just fantastic.”
Olga’s neighbours, Derek and Pat Birchall, who keep Olga company on the weekends, helped host the party and prepared finger food.
“Because when people drink, they need to have something to eat,” said Olga.
Among the visitors were members of the Mornington Police Senior Community Register, where Olga is the oldest member, and local MP Chris Crewther. Pat said Olga was quick to offer Crewther a few suggestions about politics.
“The first thing she said was ‘You’re after my money, aren’t you?’” said Pat.
Despite her age, Olga has never lost her quick wit or sense of humour. Her greatest frustration is not mobility or illness, but her hearing.
“My hearing is not good at all because I have been working in sewing,” said Olga. “They gave me good hearing aids, but they can’t do any more.”
Olga said her daily routine remains incredibly important to her. She begins each morning with a shower, cereal, and on the weekends, a cooked breakfast prepared by her neighbours. One of her favourite meals is eggs and bacon, which she remembers being unable to afford while growing up in Norway.
“When I first come to Australia and I had eggs and bacon, I thought I had come to heaven,” said Olga.
Olga was born in Norway in 1921, before migrating to Australia in the 1950s after waiting years for approval to join her husband, Norwegian war hero Eivind Viken. She arrived and spoke little to no English but took lessons and eventually learned the language.
Olga worked sewing clothes while her husband worked on engineering projects around the country.
Now, more than 70 years later, Olga said leaving her home country was a challenge, but that there were also positives.
“People come to Australia because they want a better life. I didn’t come for a better life, but I did love the climate here,” said Olga.
She said she now loves living in Mornington and can’t believe she has been living there for 55 years.
“Geez, that’s a long time,” said Olga.
“No wonder I’m old.”
Olga remains in contact with her family back in Norway and has returned three times over the years, including after her husband’s death in 1999, when she took his ashes home. Eventually, hers will rest there too.
“I’m going to be buried in the same grave he is,” said Olga.
For now, Olga is going to stick to her daily routine, eat lots of steak, bacon, and eggs, and rest after a busy birthday week.
“I can live for many years to come because there is nothing wrong with me,” said Olga.
“I just keep going.”
First published in the Mornington News – 2 June 2026
