Merriwa Resident Turns 100

Merriwa is not a community for passing up a celebration, and one resident recently gave them 100 reasons to plan a party.

On Sunday August 12 TransCare community bus client Mavis Marsden Lynch celebrated her 100^th birthday with a series of surprises from the community she has called home for 46 years. It started when her hairdressers brought out a cake and they had a little party in the salon on the Friday and when she met up with the TransCare bus to head home she was given a bunch of flowers by driver Chris Gill.

Mavis Marsden Lynch being presented with a bunch of flowers from TransCare bus driver Chris Gill to celebrate her 100th birthday.

On Saturday she enjoyed dinner at the Merriwa Bowling Club and on Sunday, after mass, the church ladies put on a morning tea with yet another cake that was supplied by the Merriwa bakery. The following Tuesday Mrs Marsden Lynch was anticipating a quiet lunch with some of her friends from bowls but was floored when she opened the door to the back room of the Merriwa Bowling Club.

“I nearly fainted on the spot,” she said of opening the door to find around 80 guests there to celebrate with her. “I got such a shock. You can’t keep a secret in Merriwa, but that was one big secret they did keep.”

It was at this event that Mrs Marsden Lynch received letters of birthday wishes from local and national dignitaries, as well as a congratulatory message from Her Majesty The Queen. Mavis has enjoyed having her son John visit her for two weeks from the UK for her birthday, and has extended her appreciation to the community for helping her celebrate.

“It is such a friendly town, everyone is helpful if you need it,” she said. When asked what she feels is key for reaching such a milestone, Mrs Marsden Lynch said without question it is staying active. “I feel better when I get out, that is what keeps me going, getting out.

Mrs Marsden Lynch gave up her licence two years ago and has been a regular user of the TransCare bus service for some time. “I don’t know what I would do without the TransCare service, I appreciate it so much,” she said. “The courtesy of the bus drivers is just fantastic.”