Mudgeeraba centenarian celebrates 101st birthday
Gwen Cook missed out on her 100th birthday party in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions – so this year she got in early with her birthday celebrations!
The centenarian, who lives at the Carinity Cedarbrook aged care community at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast, turned 101 today but celebrated her birthday with family and friends late last week.
Gwen’s daughter Jan, grand-daughters Nicole, Lisa and Kristy and long-time friend Gayle visited Carinity Cedarbrook to be part of Gwen’s latest milestone – and to also celebrate Jan’s birthday on the same day.
Born Gweneth Cook in a hospital in Balmain on 30 March 1920, she was one of ten children – eight sisters and two brothers – born to her parents George and Elizabeth Paull.
During her youth in Sydney, Gwen worked in the retail industry. After marrying her husband, Herbert Cook, she worked in a dry cleaners.
The couple had three children – Kevin, Jan and Chris – and raised their family in Sydney.
A social tennis player, Gwen also played lawn bowls competitively in Sydney and then on the Gold Coast when she moved north around 30 years ago.
She was a very active until her late-80s, going to her nearby shopping centre and surf club and enjoying line dancing.
Gwen, who moved to Carinity Cedarbrook in 2019, has five grand-daughters, one grandson and seven great-grandchildren.
