By Shelby Brooks
Being able to find humour through life’s ups and downs is what has helped Norma Allen through her 100 years of life.
Celebrating her 100th birthday at a small morning tea at Pakenham Meadowvale on Tuesday 8 August, Norma shared her secret to a long and happy life.
“The most important thing is to have is a sense of humour because if you have a sense of humour, it helps you through the hard days,” she said.
“There’s always something you can have a little bit of a laugh at.
“I’ve had some lovely friends over the years. When I’ve needed help, there’s been someone there to lend a helping hand.
“It helped to make my life a happy one.”
Norma’s birthday celebrations have lasted all week, with a big 100th birthday party on Sunday 7 August with more than 100 people in attendance, as well as a small event being held at Shanagolden on Wednesday 10 August.
Norma received birthday congratulations from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Australian Governor General David Hurley and Her Majesty the Queen.
Norma Allen (nee Wright) was born in Trafalgar on 9 August 1922 and lived there until she was eight years old.
Her family moved to Lake Charm to a dairy share farm, where they stayed for the next 10 years. The family then came back to Trafalgar to another share farm.
Norma’s father passed away when she was 20. Norma went to work as a cook at the Moe Bush Nursing Hospital.
Her next employment was at a glove factory, making gloves for the Airforce and Army.
On 29 September 1945, Norma married Richard Pitt, a dairy farmer, from Vervale.
Her daughters, Marlane, Valerie and Beverly, were born at Bunyip Bush Nursing Hospital.
Norma was very active in the community, with lona State School Mother’s Club, where her daughters went to school; she held the positions of president and secretary.
She was also in the Red Cross and CWA, where she held every position.
The farm was sold in 1966 and the family relocated to Frankston.
During this time, Norma worked at Waltons and Moores. This led to her having China painting classes and also teaching watercolour and oil painting, which she has a love of. This was done from a studio at her home.
Norma’s husband passed away in 1980. Norma met Tom Allen in 1982 and were married in 1986 and moved to Karingal.
They bought a block of land in Howard, Queensland, and built most of the house themselves. This was to be their winter retreat. Tom passed away in 1994.
Norma then moved to Catani and had a relocatable home built on the farm where her daughter Beverly lived.
After four years, Norma moved to a unit in Pakenham, where she continued her love of gardening. She remained there until a few months after her 90th birthday and in April, 2013, moved into a serviced apartment at Meadowvale Retirement Village.
Norma has always been interested in the “craft” side of life, with a passion for drawings and paintings, China painting, cake decorating (with a prize in the Royal Melbourne Show) and gardening.
Norma always managed to have a large garden wherever she lived, and when asked what she would like as a birthday or Mother’s Day present, when she moved to Pakenham, most times Norma would say a “working bee”.
Norma’s first great great grandchild Zavier was born in December 2021; her second, Arlo, was born on 26 July 2022. A third great great grandson is due in November.
