Narrabri resident Eveline Miller (née McCoo) celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, June 20, with a morning tea organised by Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young and attended by around 70 people including family and friends and the Whiddon residents and staff.

Eveline was born in Portadown, Northern Ireland in 1923.

She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force for four years in the 1940s during World War II, working in various catering roles.

The WAAFs was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force.

After her discharge from the WAAFs Eveline lived with her elder sister Maisie in Liverpool, England.

“The house had no kitchen, just a scullery with a gas ring and a fire in the lounge room”, she recalled.

Eveline was 30-years-old when she decided to emigrate to Australia.

“There were four of us in the cabin, two Mollys and two Evelines, but I was the only Irish one”, she said “I came to Australia for an adventure.”

When Eveline arrived in Australia she worked for the Norwegian Consul-General in Melbourne as a housekeeper.

She remained with them until they returned home to Norway and she ‘would have gone back with them if she could have’.

Eveline then decided to take a tour around Australia, but life’s path took a turn when she got to Narrabri.

She met Frederick (Jack) Miller, a local carpenter, who later worked for the NSW Public Works in Narrabri and decided to stay in Narrabri where she used her catering skills to work at the Tattersalls Hotel and the old Narrabri Hospital.

Jack and Eveline were married in 1967 and enjoyed a long and happy marriage until Jack’s passing in 2001.

Eveline moved into the Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young in 2014 and is much loved by her family and the Whiddon staff and residents.

Eveline has a cheeky sense of humour and always has time for everyone.

Eveline received congratulatory letters from King Charles and Queen Camilla, Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton and his wife Robyn, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs/Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh and the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly Greg Piper.

At the morning tea Eveline received numerous cards and gifts including a blanket, arranged by the Whiddon staff, with lots of her treasured photos on it.

She was very excited to see all the handmade cards, artwork and birthday wishes from the children from Narrabri West Public School and Pre-School, Narrabri Public School, St Francis Xavier’s School and Nurruby, Community Kids, Gumnut Cottage and Kogil Street preschools and childcare centres.

Eveline shared a beautiful birthday cake from Watson’s Kitchen with all the attendees.

The family said they would really like to thank the Whiddon staff for the enormity of their efforts in organising such a great morning tea and arranging the participation of the local schools, preschools and childcare centres.

The family commented that the Whiddon staff went way above and beyond with their efforts and they can’t thank them enough.

When asked what the secret to a long life is, Eveline laughed and said: “It’s the journey through life not knowing for sure as to what you’re doing.”

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