Edna Finch celebrated her 100th birthday in Warrnambool on Sunday.
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She attributes her achievement as a centenarian to an active lifestyle: "I worked on a dairy farm with my husband and anything I could do, I did it," she said.
"You have to have humour, love and a healthy life."
Ms Finch was born on February 21 1921 in Warracknabeal to Doris and William Ezard and had three brothers.
She had nine children and enjoys 24 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.
Her early life was touched by war; her father served in World War I and later her husband Frank and her brother served in World War II.
"My father was one of the first to return," she said.
"They all helped fight for their country, it made me very proud."
She recalled walking over two miles to school in Warracknabeal at six years old, sometimes in 40 degree heat.
"My brother was five and we would walk along the Mildura to Melbourne railway line.
"I remember one day I came home without my slate and my father asked where it was. When I said I'd left it behind he said he would come with me to get it.
"I'd stashed it in a bush near the school, I said I wasn't going to carry it home and carry it back again, it hasn't got a handle on it.
"He said don't worry I'll make one, and he put two on the end with ribbons."
She left school at 16 to help her father on the farm.
"I could have gone to the Emily McPherson school in Melbourne but dad wouldn't let me go, he said he needed me," Ms Finch said. "I was a farmer."
She married her husband Frank Finch on January 1 1941 after meeting at a local town dance.
They ran a farm together in Warracknabeal before moving to Cooriemungle in 1952 to run a sheep and cattle farm.
Daughter Jenny McGlade, the youngest of the nine children, said her mum was a hard worker all her life.
"She was a wonderful mum, she was old-fashioned but strict at the same time," Ms McGlade said.
"She didn't take no rubbish from anybody, tough as old boots she is.
"She hasn't always had perfect health but she's always been determined."
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