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Kyabram resident Queenie Dixon turned 100 on February 17 and when asked about her life she replied simply ‘‘It’s been a long journey’’.

Queenie was born in Nathalia in 1913 and lived on the Goulburn River at Kotupna.

She attended Kotupna State School and after leaving school remembers life was tough, with few opportunities, during the Great Depression of the 1930s and then World War II.

She lived with her parents on a dairy farm and worked on the farm, while her father also worked as a channel maker.

Dancing was a very popular way to socialise at the time and Queenie enjoyed attending dances at Wyuna Hall as well as card parties and playing tennis in the Nathalia Tennis Association.

She moved to Kyabram in 1966 and got a job at the hospital where she was later put in charge of the domestic staff.

‘‘I enjoyed working at the hospital, there was a really good atmosphere among the staff,’’ she said.

While working at the hospital she met Mavis Maxwell, who volunteered when the hospital needed a cook, and they have remained close friends ever since.

Queenie had four children, Trevor, who died last year, Colin, Murray, who lives in Kyabram, and Lois.

She has lived at Warramunda Village for more than 20 years and still lives independently.

‘‘I’ve been very happy here and all the people have been marvellous,’’ she said.

Queenie was a keen croquet player for many years and is a life member of Kyabram Croquet Club, where she was club secretary from 1980 to 1993.

She only took up the game in her sixties but was still playing socially when well into her nineties.

‘‘I got interested in croquet after I retired from the hospital,’’ she said.

‘‘A neighbour, Mrs Fegan, was responsible for getting me into it and she also gave me my first mallet.’’

The club held a special birthday celebration in her honour last week and representatives from other clubs including Rich River, Shepparton, Numurkah and Mooroopna all attended.

Queenie is also a long-time member of Kyabram Senior Citizens Club and enjoys playing cards, bingo and good company at the club.