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Gwen turns 100

Whiddon Aged Care Maclean resident Gwendoline Kippen celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday.

Gwendoline Small (Gwen) was born on 22 June 1920 in Brisbane, Queensland.

She grew up in the Brisbane suburb of Banyo and attended Virginia State School some four miles away and rode to school each day by horse across fields and cow paddocks.

Gwen met and married soldier Murray Kippen (dec’d) in 1941 during World War II and post war settled in Sandgate, Brisbane where they raised their three children, Rodney, Roslyn and Graham (dec’d).

In addition to being Brownie Leader (Brown Owl) in the Sandgate Girl Guides for eight years, treasurer of the School Parents & Citizens Assn, foundation member and inaugural treasurer of the Sandgate Senior Citizens Assn., Gwen was actively involved in many charitable organizations.

Gwen has been enjoying her later years in Maclean where she is a resident of the Whiddon Group Retirement Village.

She has always been a keen supporter of many sports and she now follows her favourite cricket and football teams on TV, from the comfort of her armchair.

Gwen celebrated her 100th birthday with her son and daughter, showered with the messages from her many friends and relatives and presented with a congratulatory card from the Queen.