Memories of a different time

By Lia Bichel
DRESSED like a queen with a cloak and tiara, Berwick resident Evelyn Kiely celebrated her 100th birthday in style with more than 200 friends and family last week.
Mrs Kiely’s son Brian travelled from England with his wife Roma to attend the birthday bash at Melville Grange Seniors Home, where she was celebrated with speeches, presents, and a written blessing from the Queen and the Prime Minister.
Mrs Kiely said she did not know what all the fuss was about.
She said she felt much younger than 100, and attributed the youthful feeling to her active lifestyle.
“I wake up at 6.30am and don’t go to sleep until it’s at least 10pm,” she said.
“I don’t sleep in the afternoon because I don’t like to waste the day.”
During her busy days, Mrs Kiely makes and sells her own jewellery, shops at local stores and exercises daily at the seniors home.
If she had her way, she would still participate in weekly swimming sessions at the local pool.
“I used to go to aqua aerobics until I was 98,” she said, “but I was told I had to quit because of health and safety reasons.”
Mrs Kiely said that age may limit her physical abilities, but it has not affected her memory.
She said she remembered what life was like when she was six years old and likes to tell people stories of her many experiences over the past 100 years.
“My first memory is from when I was six. I remember going to school and learning how to spell the word puppy, and thinking it was such a lovely word,” she said.
“When I got home to my grandmother’s house, I wrote it all over the walls.”
Mrs Kiely said she also remembered how excited she used to be when the ice man showed up at her house to chip everyone ice, and how Sundays were her favourite day of the week.
“Sundays were a big celebration,” she said, “with music, singers, and a lot of food.”
Mrs Kiely said she remembered the happiest day of her life, when she married her husband William George Kiely in 1935. He died 65 years later and she still wears his wedding ring.
She also remembered tragedies throughout the years, such as the Great Depression in the 1930s.
“I remember it was so sad, people struggling to keep their houses, but people were so kind and everyone shared.
“If anyone had anything – food, money, clothes, they would share it,” she said.
“But everyone was so much kinder; there was a sense of community.” Mrs Kiely said she was glad to have grown up during the past 100 years and would not trade in any of her experiences.
“I was brought up in different ways to people these days. It was just a different time,” she said. I lived the simple life, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”