Mary Harrison has “no secrets” about how to live to 100 after celebrating the milestone with the Geelong Cancer After Care Group.
Ms Harrison celebrated with the cancer care advocacy and fundraising group on Tuesday, July 11, at Newcomb’s The Peninsula Hotel, close to a week after she turned 100 on Wednesday, July 5.
“It’s a bit overwhelming,” she said.
“I thought there might be a cake, but I didn’t think there would be so many people celebrating me.”
Ms Harrison said what she was most proud of in her life was her family and living long enough to meet her great-great-grandchild.
“I just lived life and that’s the best you can do,” she said.
“I was born in Bannockburn, and I eventually came to Geelong later on, and I’ve been in the district all my life.
“I have quite a few grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
“That’s been a bigger achievement than anything because I didn’t know it was possible that I would live to see that.”
Ms Harrison said she was a “very simple person” and couldn’t believe how many people had attended the event to celebrate her life.
“I almost want to cry,” she said.
“I’m very humbled because I don’t think I deserve it, and I don’t think I’ve done anything other than reared a family.”
Ms Harrison is a longtime member of the Geelong Cancer After Care Group, and the event was held on the same day Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre celebrated its 31st year.
She is still a regular at the group’s social gatherings and meetings, and her brother was a former president of the group.
