Narrabri resident Elaine Jones was happily preparing to celebrate the occasion of her 100th birthday on Saturday, October 22.
However, the celebrations didn’t get off to a great start, with state-wide flooding causing road closures and stopping several guests from attending.
Added to this, plans for the original venue, The Crossing Theatre, were diverted when the premises was put on standby as an evacuation centre, so new arrangements were made, and the event was moved to the Tourist Hotel.
Mrs Jones was able to celebrate her special day at the new location surrounded by family and friends.
Long-time friend Max Pringle recited a poem written especially for the occasion, and Elaine’s eldest child Brian Jones spoke of his mother’s life.
Brian’s speech follows:
“We’re here to celebrate my mum’s 100th birthday.
“Over the years, Elaine’s two major passions have been family and the community.
“Today, I want to talk about Elaine’s 100 years in decades.
“The first decade was the roaring 20s.
“But, as a child growing up at ‘Drumard’, Burren Junction, maybe not too much roaring for Elaine.
“Elaine was born in Wee Waa to Evelyn and Bob Slack-Smith, the youngest of 11 children, nine of them surviving childhood.
“So, she was called Babe by family and close friends all her life, and I would suspect now, would be the oldest Babe around.
“The 30s decade, including the Depression Years.
“School was at Burren Junction.
“Elaine and her primary school siblings drove themselves in a horse and sulky to Cubbaroo Siding, a distance of approximately three miles (or five kilometres) from ‘Drumard’ homestead.
“On arrival at Cubbaroo Siding, the horse was left to graze in the station’s holding yard while the children caught the train into Burren Junction for school.
“The same train departed Burren at 1.30 in the afternoon, so school was just a morning affair.
“In high school, Elaine set off for SCEGGS Darlinghurst in Sydney, which she loved, boarding with her aunt Fanny Holcombe, Evelyn’s sister, and catching trams and trains to and from school every day.
“The 40s decade. The war years and the start of the post-war boom.
“After finishing school, Elaine was back home to ‘Drumard’.
“Some family members and friends went off to war.
“Later in the decade, there were local dances and balls, and constant visitors coming and going at ‘Drumard’.
“To top off that decade, Elaine met Keith Jones from Myall, Pilliga, and they married on May 12, 1948.
“And another absolute highlight of this decade was me, born in November 1949.
“The 50s decade. The post-war boom continued. There was the baby boom, the Queen’s Coronation and a royal tour to Australia.
“Television arrived in this decade, and only one in 10 households had a car.
“Elaine and Keith had three more children, Doug, Main and Ann.
“In the early 50s, our family lived at ‘Woodlands’, Bungunya, between Goondiwindi and St George.
“We moved to ‘Glenleigh’, Collarenebri in 1957.
“The swinging 60s decade. Beatles-inspired music and a folk music revival. And the giant leap for mankind, a man on the moon.
“The 60s brought tragedy to our family when Keith died, and Elaine moved into Balonne Street, Narrabri, in 1960.
“With the enormous support of our grandparents, uncles and aunts, Elaine made a life for herself and all of us.
“In those days, holidays in Manly were a highlight.
“The 70s decade. A decade of rapid social change, economic and political upheaval, oil shocks, more bitumen roads in the bush, and coloured TV.
“For Elaine, it was a decade of children’s weddings and the start of grandchildren, becoming Grannie to eventually nine grandchildren, Craig, Reginald, Paul, Andrew, Katie, Megan, William, Felicity and Phoebe.
“In 1979, Elaine was chosen as Narrabri’s Citizen of the Year for her community work.
“Following the award, she continued her work within the community for many more years including the church, CWA, Narrabri Historical Society and Meals on Wheels.
“In the 70s, Elaine also travelled within Australia and enjoyed a trip overseas to the UK.
“The 80s decade. The America’s Cup and Crocodile Dundee. It was a time of great pop culture, including movies, music, TV shows, and toys.
“In 1984 Elaine moved into the Apex Retirement Units, later called Whiddon Self Care Units, in Dangar Street, Narrabri, where she is still living today.
“This unit experiences a constant flow of visiting grandchildren.
“The 90s decade. Advances in technology with the world wide web, the digital camera and smartphones.
“In 1999, Elaine received an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) for service to the community, something we are all very proud of.
“Some family members travelled to Government House in Sydney where she received the honour from the NSW Governor.
“We’re now up to the current era, the 2000s, the start of a new millennium.
“Grandchildren’s weddings started in the early 2000s, and Elaine became Grannie to great-grandchildren, of which there are now 20 – Dawson, Mackenzie, Lily-Rose, Rhyley, Lacey, Charlie, Toby, Ollie, Ruby, Indigo, Callum, Lucy, Georgie, Thomas, Emily, Hamish, Cecilia, Jacob, Norah and Wilfred.
“All this leads her celebration of one hundred years today, October 22, 2022. Happy birthday Elaine, Mum, Grannie and congratulations for an amazing 100 years.”
Back, Lily-Rose Baker, Megan Baker, Charlie Baker, Andrew Bowen, Phoebe Bowen, Ashley Ford, Narelle Bowen, William Bowen with Jacob Bowen, Alanna Bowen, Katie Bowen, Felicity Bowen, Wilfred Weis, Peter Weis, centre, seated, Hamish Bowen, Ann Bowen, Norah Bowen, Elaine Jones, Peter Bowen, Cecilia Weis, front, Toby Ford, Lucy Bowen, Georgie Ford, Thomas Bowen and Ollie Ford.
