IT’S not often that you hear of two residents turning 100 in the same week, but that’s exactly what happened recently at Grange Residential Care Services as Joan Blain and Ethel Murray both celebrated their 100th birthday milestones last week.

Ms Blain reached triple figures on Friday, December 8 while Ms Murray had reached the impressive milestone just five days earlier on Sunday, December 3.

The pair enjoyed a birthday party on Thursday and were accompanied by family members, residents and all of the lovely staff to commemorate their special day.

Ms Blain said reaching 100 was special and unexpected and she thanked everyone who made her birthday celebration so memorable.

“It’s been a great day, I’ve been manicured and hair dressed … there’s a lot of people here today, to get both of us (turning 100) is quite amazing,” she told The Spectator.

“I never thought I’d get to this stage.”

Ms Blain took a trip down memory lane touching on some of her early recollections living on the farm.

“I left school and came home, my father passed away and I was on the farm with my mother until I married, then we went over to a soldier settlement in Caramut,” she said.

“I had a reasonable farming life, some ups and downs with prices and everything so it’s been a funny hundred years.”

Ms Blain and her late husband Allan retired to Warrnambool but a family connection eventually brought them to Hamilton.

“We came back up here because I had my nephew here, Robert Lovell and his wife (and) we didn’t have any relatives in Warrnambool - when you get to my age, you need relatives,” she said.

“I’ve been in here five years now and I’m proud of the establishment, my late husband passed away here so it’s part of my life.”

Ms Blain hasn’t let age stop her from keeping her mind active as she continues to have a keen interest in a number of things.

“(My advice is to) keep interested in things, keep interested in life and what’s happening,” she said.

“They laugh at me (here), I’ve still got a share portfolio and every morning I get the paper and read what the shares have done for the day.”

Ms Murray told The Spectator that she had also had a wonderful day, adding that the occasion seemed “untrue”.

“It’s been quite a nice day so far … I am looking forward to it (the cake),” she laughed.

Ms Murray has contributed to many organisations throughout her 100 years, starting her volunteer work way back in 1949.

She started at Hamilton Red Cross and then volunteered with the North Hamilton Hospital Auxiliary, back when Western District Health Service (WDHS) was known as the Glenelg Base Hospital – she continued to volunteer for seven decades.

“I suppose it is (a long time) … the company (was the best thing), it definitely wasn’t work, it was fun,” Ms Murray said.

Ms Murray used to milk cows and ride to school on a horse, but the world has changed in the decades since then.

“We lived a very plain life when I was young and that was years ago wasn’t it, (it was a) very different life back then,” she said.

“There’s quite a few favourite memories from Coojar Lane.”

Ms Murray reflected on her life and gave a tip of advice to the younger generation on how to live a long and healthy life.

“Look after your health and don’t abuse it,” she said.

The Grange residents sang happy birthday with great enthusiasm before the birthday ladies cut into the cake.