Tamworth’s latest centurion celebrates 100th with 46 descendent

Ivy O'Brien turned 100 on Tuesday, December 11. Over the weekend, her 46 descendants will come together for the first time to mark the momentous occasion.

They’ve travelled from as far away as Western Australia and Brisbane to join Mrs O’Brien in her South Tamworth backyard. In total there were her five children, 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

And the secret to Mrs O’Brien’s longevity? 

“I don’t let life get me down that much,” she said.

“You’ve got to get on with it.

“I’ve got a good family and I think that makes a lot of difference.”

Born in Gunnedah on December 11, 1918, Mrs O’Brien has always lived in the region, growing up in Breeza until she was 12, before moving to Boggabri.

She and her husband bought a property out at Maules Creek, and later moved out to Wee Waa. She came to Tamworth after a horse accident, and she’s been here every since.

Mrs O'Brien still gets on the indoor green for a roll twice a week and celebrated her birthday with her beloved Cable Avenue Indoor Bowls Club on Thursday.

Her daughter Kate said her mother “wins more often more not”, however Mrs O’Brien was more modest.

“I win a few, lose a few – I just lost a moment a go,” she said with a chuckle.

During her time, Mrs O’Brien has seen “a lot of changes “.

“I use to drive a horse and sulky when I was younger, you’d get a nice horse and away you go,” she said.

“The first wireless we had at Breeza, it was run by a car battery and we use to have to send it to Werris Creek to get the battery charged so we could listen to the news.

“It was like a big cabin, a lovely piece of furniture. You can imagine how often you’d have to have a battery sent away to get charged.”

Kate said her mother was never ideal, and always crocheting or making something.

“My grandmother always told me ‘the devil finds work for ideal hands, so go on and get something to do’,” she said with a laugh.