In Edna Fisher’s lifetime, there’ve been two world wars, television and the internet arrived, and 28 different Australian prime ministers held office.
Last week, the lifelong Wyndham resident celebrated her 106th birthday. Although born in Brunswick, Edna’s family moved to Werribee when she was just a few months old.
She grew up on the old Metropolitan Farm, also known as Werribee Farm, where her father worked, going to primary school at Cocoroc, then to Werribee for secondary school.
“There were no cars around Werribee then; we used to drive a horse and buggy from Werribee to Geelong, over the hill. It would take a long time.”
After her schooling, Edna left Werribee to teach at a school near Swan Hill.
“Back then we taught everything, not just one subject,” she said. “We also taught the whole school, not one grade.”
She returned to Werribee in the early 1930s, and met a young man by the name of Ernest Henry Fisher.
“There were only a few people around Werribee … we knew everyone then. I think I met him at a dance.”
The pair married in 1934 and lived in Werribee, raising two children, Elaine and Rae. Mr Fisher died in 1964, on the couple’s 30th wedding anniversary.
Edna celebrated her birthday on November 30 with her family as well as fellow residents at her Wyndham Vale nursing home.
And her secret to living 106 years? “Don’t tell fibs.”
