The son-in-law of new Drysdale centenarian and longtime Cats fan Lorna Jones has an odd but apt nickname for her, according to daughter Lyn Payne.
“My husband calls her Joel Selwood because every time she has a stroke or a fall she gets back up,” Lyn told the Indy.
After decades visiting Indented Head and 56 years supporting Geelong, Lorna finally made the sea change to Drysdale last year.
On Tuesday she celebrated her 100th birthday with five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and daughters Glenys and Lyn, who live at St Leonards and Leopold respectively.
“That’s why we moved mum down, so she could be closer to us girls,” Lyn said.
Lorna lived in Melbourne with late husband Norman, who visited pubs across Geelong and the Bellarine Penisula in the early ‘60s as a liquor and wine salesman. He bought a holiday house in the early ’60s at Indented Head, where Lyn met future husband Colin at age 12.
Lorna has supported Geelong since cousin John Sharrock began playing for the Cats in 1963. Sharrock and her other favourite, Gary Ablett Snr, are long retired but Lorna still watches the Cats on TV.
She promised son-in-law Colin she would reach the century mark despite surviving multiple strokes and falls since moving to Drysdale.
“It’s a relief to reach 100 years old as I didn’t think I’d make it. My mum only lived to 98,“ Lorna said.
“I believe I’ve lived to 100 because I didn’t smoke or drink and just lived a good, clean life.“
