BERYL Carter is proof there is no age limit to keeping a cheeky sense of humour.
Today is her 100th birthday.
Remarking it was no marvellous feat, Mrs Carter said, “I’ve overstepped my due-by-date.”
“I never wanted to live a long life and we’re not long-livers so I’ve broken the mould by the sound of it,” she laughed.
Mrs Carter, who lives at Kerrisdale Gardens in Mackay, said she had lived a good life by the side of her late husband Bert, including 26 years at Noosa.
They were married for 72 years and had three children, nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Mrs Carter said many couples headed for divorce nowadays gave up too easily.
“I mean it’s not a bed of roses, let’s face it,” she said.
“You’ve got to bite your tongue a lot … pretend that you don’t notice some things.
“It’s a lot of give and take in marriage.”
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Though she said her husband had detested one of her secrets to a long, harmonious life.
“I love scotch with a ginger ale which my husband said was a filthy drink,” she said.
“Bert wouldn’t have it with ginger ale or anything … he went on with some pantomime when he tried it once and went, ‘Bleh’,” she laughed.
FABULOUS AT 100: Beryl Carter was celebrated by staff, fellow residents and close family at Kerrisdale Gardens for her 100th birthday. Picture: Heidi Petith
Mrs Carter said her favourite memory of their marriage was when he returned from the war on a ship with his troops, pulled rank and “forced his way on the train” to meet her at Roma Street Station.
The lovebirds met when Mrs Carter got a job at 16 years old where Mr Carter had worked as the sales manager.
“(He) asked my mother if he could take me out,” she said.
“She said, ‘Certainly not. My daughter does not leave this house until she’s 17.”
So he asked again on her 17th birthday.
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They later worked together at various businesses including their shop at Coominya and their strawberry farm at Nanango.
“My mum’s been a hard worker all her life,” their daughter Jan Miller said.
“When I was a baby … mum had to push me along in a pram while she picked strawberries.”
Beryl Carter celebrates her 100th birthday alongside daughter Jan Miller. Picture: Heidi Petith
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Mrs Carter’s granddaughter, Jody Euler, said her nanna was a “very strong minded lady” who was “not afraid to speak her mind” but was also always generous.
“She’s someone you can have a joke with,” Ms Euler said.
“There’s pretty much nothing you can’t tell Nanna.
“She’s also full of colour … it doesn’t matter what time of day or week it is, she’s sitting there all dressed up like she’s heading somewhere.”
After a drive-by celebratory parade this morning, Mrs Carter is heading out of Kerrisdale Gardens for the first time since the coronavirus restrictions began to spend time with her family on her 100th birthday.
