Meet Werribee’s newest centenarian.
Ruby McLachlan, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, still has a twinkle in her eye and a spring in her step.
Mrs McLachlan, who lives at Bapcare Wyndham Lodge, was born in Dundee, Scotland, the eldest of six children.
As a young girl, she had to step up and play a leading role at home after her mother was widowed twice at a young age.
“She was left with six of us, and some of that was left on my shoulders,”
Mrs McLachlan said. “I was 11 and a half, and she’d depend on me.
“When I think back, it was a big responsibility. I used to always say to my mother, ‘I’m not having six children!’
“Sometimes, when I go to bed at night, I look up and I say, ‘Are you looking after me for what I’d done when I was young?’”
Mrs McLachlan met her husband, Andrew, through her uncle. She and Andrew would go out dancing together.
“He was a very good man,” she said. “He couldn’t dance though!”
They moved to Australia in 1960 because of Andrew’s work as an engineer. They were married for 66 years before Andrew passed away, aged 91.
Mrs McLachlan has one daughter and two grandchildren.
She celebrated her 100th birthday with a party among family and friends.
Mrs McLachlan said she was thrilled to have received a birthday card from the Queen congratulating her on the milestone.
“What’s the secret [to making it to 100]? I wish I knew myself! It’s up to God, it’s a blessing,” she said.
