Dougherty Villa resident Elsie Hale celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends last Thursday, 9 November. Elsie is pictured with her daughter Ivy Breen and her son- in-law Bob Beer. Image: Lynne Mowbray

  Lynne Mowbray There were birthday celebrations at Dougherty Villa last Thursday for resident Elsie Hale who celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends. Elsie was born at Southgate and had two sisters Nellie and Madge and attended school at Copmanhurst up until the age of 14. She has lived at Copmanhurst, Baryulgil and Bonalbo. Elsie was married in 1941 and had six children Fay, Pam (Dec.), Ivy, Gayle, Gary and Ann. During her working life Elsie worked as a cleaner at the Upper Copmanhurst shop and Ramornie Station and worked for 30 years as a cook at the Bonalbo Hospital. Among her interests over the years Elsie knitted socks for the troops during wartime and she loved gardening and playing tennis. She also enjoyed flower arranging and making bridal bouquets and wedding flower arrangements, with her favourite flowers being roses, carnations and lilies. Elsie later remarried William Alfred Thomas (Tom) Hale at the Registry Office in Casino. Over the years Elsie has volunteered many hours of her time to the community. At one stage she was on 14 committees at the same time; school P & F, Mothers Club, church, RSL Women’s Auxiliary, Hospital Auxiliary and Ambulance committee etc. Elsie has 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.