Caroline leaves her century behind
SHE'S one of three sisters to cruise past her 100th birthday just as though it was no big deal, and yesterday a spritely Caroline Nicholls turned 104.
With a mind as sharp as a tack and her wit just as quick Mrs Nicholls celebrated her day with friends and close family at Akooramak.
"I'm having a big day today. I've got my two daughters with me and my good friends all here wishing me a happy birthday," she said.
"Look at them all, it's just fantastic!"
Mrs Nicholls has been at Akooramak for 23 years and said she loved the social lifestyle.
"I thought I was old when I got here in 1989 and I was only 80," she said.
Daughter Eve-Ann Springate said Mrs Nicholls' sisters lived to 106½ and 104½-years-old.
"It's definitely a family of long-livers," Mrs Springate said.
Mrs Nicholls' other daughter, Norma Wenham, said her mother had lived a calm and fulfilled life and was a "wonderful woman".
"She is still very bright and can remember everything," Mrs Wenham said.
Friend Dave Taylor, who helped celebrate her birthday, said Mrs Nicholls had so many stories to tell and much knowledge to share.
"She is just so lucid and there's not just patches of memory, it's everything," Mr Taylor said.
"She remembers World War One and World War Two and had brothers go off to both.
"There aren't too many people who can tell you the detail she can."
Mr Taylor was thrilled to celebrate such an exciting birthday with his dear friend.
"It's exciting, it's a milestone," he said.
"Virtually an entire era has gone by."
Mrs Nicholls celebrated yesterday with a morning tea and a cake big enough to feed an army.
"I'm having such a wonderful day," Mrs Nicholls said.
