By Shelby Brooks
Despite a 99 year age gap, an Iona matriarch has been bonding with her great great grandson since he arrived into the multigenerational family late last year.
Norma Allen (nee Wright), who turns 100 in August, has always had a close bond with her family, which includes three daughters, eight grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
She now shares a bond with Xavier Heylen, her great great grandson who was born 22 December 2021.
“I didn’t think I would live to see a great great grandchild so I think it’s marvellous and he’s gorgeous,” Norma said.
Xavier’s mother Jessica Lineham, Norma’s great granddaughter, couldn’t be happier watching her Nan interact with her son.
“It’s pretty special, obviously I didn’t imagine this would happen,” she said.
“It’s amazing to see Nan hold him and feed him, he’s so content with her which is really nice as well.”
Norma was born in Trafalgar in 1922 and lived a in Lake Charm and Moe before settling around the Garfield area when she married Richard Pitt of the pioneering Vervale family.
The pair and their young family moved a few times across the swap district, including Catani and Iona.
Norma said a secret to her long and happy life was having a sense of humour because “that will see you through bad times as well as good.”
“The sense of humour runs through the family,” she said.
A trait not inherited down the generations is Norma’s artistic abilities which include painting and poetry.
Those talents of Norma’s cumulated in a printed children’s book a few years ago, which Jessica is now enjoying reading to Xavier.
“I just wanted something for my grandchildren to keep. I had to learn how to use the computer and the printer,” Norma said.
Norma’s grandson Craig Lineham is amazed at her ability to pick up technology. She is quite nifty on the iPad and even is on social media.
“I’m amazed because she was born in 1922, there was no concept of any of that,” he said.
Most nights Norma and her daughter Marlane video chat.
“It kept up that social side during Covid which was critical,” Marlane said.
Despite the changing times, Norma still believes strong family values are important to keep a family together.
“Times were pretty hard when I was growing up but I think we lived in a good time though, no drugs or anything like that,” Norma said.
“I think it was easier bringing up children then than it is now.”
Although it may be hard to sometimes keep up with the comings and goings of everyone in her family, Norma is excited to hand out even more cuddles in August when another great great grandchild is due to arrive.
