By ALANA MITCHELSON
DROUIN’s New Year’s Eve-born Shirley Granger celebrated her 80th birthday 80 days into the new year.
The former nurse and Star News Group proof-reader had about 30 guests at her Warragul gathering including some friends and family who travelled from as far as New Zealand and Tasmania for the special occasion.
She wrote a welcome poem on each of the guests’ place-cards.
Ms Granger’s daughter, Janet Granger-Wilcox, said her mother has always been quite adventurous.
“She’s one of the more active 80-year-olds.
“She’s very energetic and still active in a number of community groups. She’s very community minded,” Janet said.
“She’s involved with a choir in West Gippsland and volunteers at one of the local nursing homes.
“Two years ago, she travelled alone to Asia for the first time in her life at age 78 and went on a tour in Vietnam. She loved it.”
Janet described her mother as a “bit quirky”.
“She’s always loved reading and writing and it’s been a big thing in our family. Newspapers have always been something I’ve grown up with,” she said.
“When she resigned from Star News Group, she did so in poem form. She’s a funny one, my mum.”
Ms Granger met her husband, Ben, of almost 50 years at a friend’s wedding. They had both been members of the bridal party.
Having grown up as a city girl, Ms Granger was faced with the challenge of adapting to country life at her husband’s farm in Iona.
As a newly-wed, she would wrestle with the fire lit oven and get dinner on the table for all the farmers.
“Mum came from a very well educated family,” Janet said.
“Mum’s parents were missionaries and they were very strong on work ethic. I think that’s something that’s always flowed throughout our family.”
Ms Granger has two children, Janet and Neil, and three step grandchildren.
