Muriel celebrates 100 years in Brisbane
Muriel Robertson has seen Brisbane grow and change from a place where a horse and buggy were a common way to get around to the wonderful modern city it is today.
Mrs Robertson, who turns 100 today, was born in her grandmother’s house in Bulimba and grew up in the north-side suburb of Wilston where she attended Wilston State School and married at the Wilston Methodist Church.
Her husband Jim was a Brisbane local as well, working as a grocer at Wilston. After they married in 1946 they moved to Samford Road in Enoggera where they built their home with E. Chapman and Sons. The house is featured in the book, Work faithfully performed… A history of E. Chapman & Son Pty Ltd, builders and contractors since 1869.
“We bought in Enoggera because that was where the tramline was,” Muriel says.
Muriel made lifelong friends in Brisbane and one of them still visits her at her home at Carinity Aged Care – Clifford in Wooloowin and attended her 100th Birthday Party.
“I met Jean working at the Presbyterian Hostel in Brisbane City where we fed hundreds of servicemen every night,” Muriel says.
“She still comes and visits me and we talk on the phone all the time.”
Jean says she moved to Enoggera with her husband around the same time as Muriel and they both became close while attending the Women’s Fellowship at the Enoggera Methodist Church.
“I grew up in Windsor so we knew the same people and we worked together during the War but we didn’t become close until we were both married. Our husbands were also good friends,” Jean says.
Muriel celebrated her 100th birthday early on Saturday with her four children and their families as well as family and friends. She credits her wonderful friends and family for her long life. But her family says it’s her love of food.
