Jean Dickinson has been writing amusing verses, poems and observations about life for almost 70 years.
The Hoppers Crossing resident, 89, has written about everything from health battles to being a grandmother and living at Heathglen Retirement Village.
Last year, on the advice of her daughter, Dickinson sent her verses to a publisher in England in the hope they would be compiled in a book.
Next month her dream will come true with the book, In My Dotage, to be released on March 14.
“I never really thought of myself as a writer,” Dickinson says.
“My husband was my teacher over the years because he had a better education than me.
“The book is little verses written about things that have happened, friends and neighbours.
‘‘I was at home until 50, looking after the children, and the verses just came to me from time to time.”
Dickinson and her husband Douglas moved to Hoppers Crossing in 1995 to be closer to their son, having lived in New Zealand for 40 years.
A few years later, after Mr Dickinson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given 18 months to live, the pair moved in to Heathglen Retirement Village.
After the couple’s health worsened, they moved back to New Zealand to spend time with the rest of their family.
“We had been told Douglas only had 18 months to live, but he didn’t die,’’ Dickinson says.
‘‘Instead, he developed diabetes and eventually we decided to come back to Melbourne because we felt we had better care here.
“My favourite verse that I have written is a thank-you to a specialist for all his help.”
Dickinson, who turns 90 in April, hopes to keep writing the verses because people seem to enjoy reading them.
“My aim has been to cheer up and entertain people.’’
