A TAMWORTH woman who has lived through two world wars, the great depression and witnessed every invention of the 20th century celebrated her 100th birthday this week.
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Violet Dora Crowley was born at Emerald near Barraba on July 17, 1901. She is the eldest of eight children, five girls and three boys born to Edward and Rebecca Martha Simshauser.
When Mrs Crowley was six her father balloted for land and won a block at ‘The Downs’ Caroda where they moved in 1907. She was one of the first children to attend a one-room public school, which was established for children of the settlers, at Palaroo. Thirty children attended the school which was heated by a wood fire.
Mrs Crowley has very fond memories of those times and remembers the children playing football and rounders. The boys mostly played marbles and the girls played hopscotch.
After school, Violet helped her father dosing sheep, riding with the neighbours, doing housework and helping to look after the younger members of the family.
During World War I dances were held in the neighbour’s wool shed to aid the soldiers. Mrs Crowley enjoyed these nights and recalls the music which was supplied by violins, accordions and mouth organs played by talented locals.
In 1925 Violet married Charles Crowley and moved to a property “Gowrie” in Cobbadah. They had four children, Daphne Etheridge, Joyce Rae, Betty Rock and Bruce. Mrs Crowley taught her children through the correspondence school and enjoyed working on the property and as a housewife.
Mr Crowley died in 1968 at the age of 65 and Mrs Crowley moved to Tamworth in 1970. She still lives in her own home with assistance from her family, especially from daughters Joyce and Daphne and their husbands.
Mrs Crowley received letters with birthday wishes from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister John Howard, mayor of Tamworth Warren Woodley, premier of NSW Bob Carr, governor of NSW Professor Marie Bashir, governor general of Australia Dr Peter Hollingsworth, member for New England Stuart St Clair, member for Tamworth Tony Windsor and senator Sandy Macdonald.
Mrs Crowley celebrated her birthday last Saturday at the North Tamworth Bowling Club with her three daughters, Daphne, Joyce and Betty, son Bruce, her brother Vernal and her 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, as well as other family and friends.
Mrs Crowley thanked all those who celebrated the occasion with her.
Mrs Crowley’s family would like to thank each person who sent letters, flowers and birthday wishes for helping to make Mrs Crowley’s 100th birthday so memorable.
