Living to see five generations

Great-great-grandmother turns 100

ROSA STUDHOLME

On a table in centenarian Rita Webster's Oamaru apartment stands a photo of five women, each representing a different generation of her family.

In the photo, she sits with her daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter and newborn great-great-granddaughter.

Mrs Webster, who lives in her own home and can still be seen driving around town in her car, turns 100 today and will celebrate the milestone with a birthday afternoon tea organised by her family at Annie's Victorian Tearooms.

Asked if she was looking forward to celebrating her upcoming birthday she replied: "I didn't want one."

Mrs Webster was born in Balclutha where her parents ran a small farm. Her father worked as a contract ploughman and a shearer.

She was the eldest of nine, with six brothers and two sisters. She and her youngest sister are the only surviving siblings.

She married her husband George in 1931 and the couple moved to Stony Creek. They had one daughter, Grace, who is now living in Wellington.

The family later moved to Dunedin where they started a lorry business. Mrs Webster took a job at the Roslyn Mill factory, which produced women's clothing and underwear. There was a break in production during World War II when the mill began producing military garments for the war effort, she said.

After 37 years in Dunedin, the couple moved to Duntroon. When her husband died Mrs Webster shifted to Glenavy, where she discovered a passion for salmon fishing.

She proudly boasts a tally of more than 180 salmon caught in the Waitaki River.

If anyone asked her where she fished, she would tell them "between the bridges", leaving them none the wiser – was it between the Kurow and State Highway 1 bridges, or between the State Highway 1 and railway bridges?

"You always kept your secret or else you lost your possie.

"I loved it. I loved fishing."

Her biggest catch was a "35-pounder", or 16 kilogram, salmon. Having caught the salmon she would can them on her home canning machine or smoke them.

Mrs Webster was recently recognised for her 80-year association with the Country Women's Institute. A cousin had taken her to a meeting when she was 16 years old.She remains a member of the Glenavy branch.

Mrs Webster has four generations of descendants with the recent arrival of a great-great-granddaughter.

"She's wonderful. She's a girl that will never want."

Her family had a history of longevity, with her cousin living until 103, she said.Mrs Webster said she was looking forward to opening the official-looking letters that have arrived in the mail, but wanted to save them for today's afternoon tea.

- © Fairfax NZ News