ONE of Dunkeld’s beloved former residents, Olwyn Hogan, reached a huge milestone last week, as she gathered her loved ones to celebrate her 100th birthday last Sunday.

Olwyn celebrated her centenary at a function in Ballarat, together with relatives and friends who had come from around the country to make the occasion.

Olwyn, who had made Dunkeld her home for well over 60 years, now resides in an aged care facility in Maryborough, VIC, close to her daughter Bronwen and family.

Born in Ballarat, and raised on a farm at Rupanyup, she took up nursing as a young woman. 

At one stage, she happened to board with a Mrs Hogan at Willaura whose son, Des, later returned from service in World War II. 

Olwyn subsequently became another Mrs Hogan, the wife of former Dunkeld policeman, Des Hogan.

Des served as Dunkeld’s police officer for twenty-five years and Olwyn was a very efficient ‘deputy sheriff’ for all of that time, as well as becoming very active in local organisations such as Red Cross and CWA. 

She was also an accomplished pianist.

After Des passed away in 1986, Olwyn remained living in Dunkeld for a further 35 years.

Until recently, Olwyn’s physical fitness was extraordinary, however at Easter, a fall unfortunately resulted in complications which has confined her to a wheelchair. 

That has done nothing to affect her razor-sharp wit and memory, which was very much in evidence at her major birthday celebration.

When her ‘little brother’ Bob, aged 98, gave a speech at the celebration outlining Olwyn’s life, without notes, he mentioned that Des and Olwyn resided for a time in Casterton, prior to moving to Dunkeld.

However, Bob was quickly corrected- as Olwyn said it was Coleraine, not Casterton!

As always, Olywn was irrepressible, as she insisted on standing up to speak at the celebration, despite her disability.

Dunkeld was represented at the event by current and former residents John and Margaret Butler, Sheila Sawyer, her daughter Kerry, and Peter Flinn, whose late wife Helena was also a close friend of Olwyn.

Special greeting cards were also sent to Olwyn from King Charles and Queen Camilla, and from the Prime Minister.