Girls power along

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE resident Judith Blaskett couldn’t possibly contemplate having a 90th birthday party without her life-long friend Mary Munzie to help her celebrate.
And the same goes for Mary.
“I went over to Perth for Mary’s 90th in March and Mary was here for mine,” said Judith who turned 90 on 16 July.
“It’s been a wonderful friendship.”
Mary and Judith were born, just months apart, in a little mining village north of Kalgoorlie.
They started school together, kept in contact throughout their school days and cemented their friendship when they met up again at teachers’ college.
Judith said they maintained their friendship over the years with letters, holiday visits and a mutual love of literature, language and nature.
“We are soul mates,” said Mary who recalls among many, many wonderful memories, roaming the bush as children and returning home with bunches of magnificent wildflowers.
Mary was one of more than 90 family members and friends, including Judith’s son, daughter-in-law and two nieces, who helped her celebrate 90 wonderful years.
“I think perhaps it’s a privilege these days to reach 90,” Judith said.
“It was not always possible to do that years ago and I’ve been very fortunate to still be jogging along at this age.”