FROM wartime England and running a seaside hotel to raising generations of family in Australia, Eunice Sweet has packed plenty of living into her first century.
ALEGESTER Lodge’s newest centenarian celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends last month.
Among the special moments was opening a birthday card from King Charles III, while local councillor Emily Kim helped mark the milestone by presenting Eunice with a bouquet of flowers.
Born in Sherrington, Buckinghamshire, about 80 kilometres north of London, in 1926, Eunice grew up in the English countryside and attended school in nearby Olney, a town famous for its centuries-old pancake race.
Her life changed during the Second World War when she met her future husband, Frank.
Frank was involved in reconnaissance work during the war, and Eunice’s father refused to allow the young couple to marry while he remained in danger.
They would have to wait until the war was over, finally marrying in 1945 and beginning a partnership that would take them from England to Australia.
Eunice and Frank initially continued living in Sherrington before eventually moving to Bournemouth, where they ran a hotel until retiring in 1986.
Along the way they raised two daughters, Katrina and Susan.
Katrina made the move to Australia in 1983, and after retirement Eunice and Frank followed in 1986. Susan joined the family in Australia the following year.
Algester became home for Eunice and Frank from 1986, although Eunice and her family later spent some time living in Tasmania before she returned to the community.
Frank passed away 23 years ago, but the family they built together has continued to grow across Australia and beyond.
Today, Eunice is the proud matriarch of a remarkable family spanning five generations, with two children, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren — and another great-great-grandchild on the way.
Family members now live everywhere from Algester, Brisbane, Cooktown and Townsville to Launceston in Tasmania and London in the United Kingdom.
Eunice moved into Algester Lodge on her 97th birthday three years ago, making her 100th another special milestone shared with the community there.
Across her century, Eunice has developed plenty of talents. She is an accomplished knitter, sewer, crocheter and embroiderer, as well as a talented cook.
She and Frank also shared a love of growing orchids.
From a childhood in Buckinghamshire and a wartime romance to a new life on the other side of the world, Eunice’s 100 years tell a story spanning countries, generations and extraordinary change.
And with another member of the fifth generation already on the way, the Sweet family story continues.
