TWO gracefully ageing locals with colourful stories enjoyed special birthday celebrations last week at the Glenelg House Residential Aged Care home.
Liela Dohle reached the grand age of 106 on Sunday, 15 May, while Veronica ‘Bobbie’ Gill celebrated her 99th birthday on Tuesday, 17 May.
Mrs Dohle was born in 1916 and, through much of the 1940’s, served as the only female bus driver for Ansett Motors, driving a daily return service between Hamilton and Digby.
At a time when few people owned vehicles and fewer women drove, she had applied for the position to help fill in for male drivers who had enlisted to serve in the Second World War.
In 2021, Mrs Dohle was honoured with an 80-year bar for her dedication to the Australian Red Cross, the first time the award was given in Victoria.
Mrs Gill was born in Macarthur in 1923 as one of 12 children and with two of her sisters, was part of a triple wedding in 1950 at St Malachy’s Church in the town.
While also known as ‘Verna’, she has been called ‘Bobbie’ since the age of 16 due to her bobbed haircut.
She lived on a family farm near Warrock’s Red Cap Creek and brought up seven children.
Mrs Gill has loved her golf and is a supporter of the Essendon Bombers as well as the local Casterton-Sandford Cats. The longevity of both women has been credited to their “hard work” – Mrs Gill cared for two of her uncles for many years while Mrs Dohle was involved in numerous sports including tennis, bowls and croquet.
