Charlotte Foster
Caring

110-year-old woman reveals the secret to a long life

Perth woman Bridget Grocke, who has just celebrated her 110th birthday, has revealed the very Aussie secret to her longevity. 

Ms Grocke, who has lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Space Race, and the Information Age, is officially one of Australia's oldest residents. 

For sixty years, she has credited her old age to one glass of Emu Export beer everyday, as she chose a glass of the Aussie tipple over a slice of cake at her birthday party on Wednesday.

“If there was a whole heap of beer and I was asked which one is your favourite I’d have to say this,” she told 9News as she held a glass of bush chook in her hand.

“I’ve always known it. It tastes good. Cheers to Emu Export.”

Born in Western Australia on November 18th 1914, Bridget spent her early years in Kalgoorlie and moved all across WA as the family followed her father’s work as an engine driver.

Then at the age of 18, she took the leap and moved to Perth on her own. 

Ms Grocke spent her years working in fashion and customer service, also building her own family of four children with her husband, Jim, who she married at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Subiaco in 1942.

Despite losing her husband in 1985 and two of her children, Ms Grocke is surrounded by the love of her remaining son and daughter, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

Other than one of her beloved beers a day, Ms Grocke attributed her long life to her loving family, and her word of advice to younger generations was “if you’re nice to people they will be nice to you”.

Ms Grocke’s daughter Jan Robertson said her mother’s adventurous spirit and loving family had kept her young at heart.

“Mum was very easy going and she was strict, of course, but she always gave you the right path,” she said.

“She has always been well. The only thing she got done was her cataracts at 100, before that she hadn’t been in hospital since childbirth.”

Image credits: Nine News

 

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caring, beer, longevity