Aunty Norma’s century

'Aunty Norma' Jackson - one of the greatest supporters of the Pakenham netball and football clubs. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Garry Howe

One of Pakenham’s most recognised and respected citizens, Norma Jackson, turns 100 on Friday 22 December.

Widely known as ‘Aunty Norma’, she hasn’t been in the best of health of late, but that won’t stop members of her immediate family gathering at the McGregor Gardens nursing home to celebrate the auspicious occasion.

Letters from King Charles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be opened.

Norma has lived 90 of those 100 years in Pakenham and 75 of those in three homes within a stone’s throw of each other in Main Street.

In 2013, aged 89, she received the Stan Henwood Award as Cardinia Shire’s top volunteer.

She was still helping out behind the canteen at the Pakenham football and netball, or at the Sunday market, well into her 90s.

Full story in this week’s Gazette.