Phyl Bylund of Tamworth and Joan Bull OAM of Moonbi have reached their latest milestones within a couple of months of each other.

And while 101 is nothing to sneeze at, both partied a little more modestly than when they reached the big century.

In 2018, about 100 friends and family members threw Ms Bylund a surprise party at Hallsville, complete with a stretch limo and a mayoral welcome.

This year, things were a little calmer on January 24.

“Last year it was a big show, but not this year: I stayed home and just had a few people drop in and plenty of phone calls,” she said.

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“Someone gave me a cake and someone brought me a few little gifts and all the rest of it, but I didn’t aim for that – I thought it was big enough last year.”

Mrs Bull, according to her daughter Margie Rankin, returned on November 10 to the scene of her 100th birthday with a lunch at Carmen’s restaurant on the outskirts of Tamworth.

“It was just the family ... probably about 40 and that’s only her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a couple of cousins,” Mrs Rankin said.

She said her mum seemed to be “in it for the long haul; she’ll probably still be here when she’s 106.”

“We told her we’d take her to the Macca’s party room next time, she thought that would be alright; she’d get a burger there.”

Mrs Rankin said that, apart from failing hearing and eyesight, her mum was “doing really well”, to the joy of her five living adult children.

“She’s very, very alert; we can’t pull the wool over her eyes. She has a better memory than we do,” Mrs Rankin laughed.

Ms Bylund, who still lives in her own home, said she still enjoyed crafting, doing her own shopping and going to the odd CWA function, but the heat was knocking her around.

“I don’t remember, in all the years that I’ve had, ever experiencing a season like we’ve had in the last 12 months,” she said.

When The Leader wished her a very happy birthday, she chuckled: “Thank you – I don’t expect to have another one until next year.”