By KATH GANNAWAY
IT’S taken Warburton resident Rita Mentiplay a long time to get to 100, and she has made the most of every minute of it.
Rita turned 100 on Sunday 15 May, and finished a busy week with a birthday party with family and friends.
She was guest of honour at a surprise lunch by Upper Yarra Legacy Widows’ Social Club last week and on Tuesday 10 May got THE card from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second.
Australia is lucky to have Rita, and Warburton is especially lucky to have the Scottish-born lassie who arrived here in 1947 with husband David and daughter Greta. Their son, Sandy, arrived soon after.
Her ambition as a teenager was to go to Canada, showing from an early age a keen sense of adventure, and an independent mind, which have stayed with her all her life.
“David had to do a lot of talking to get me to Australia,” she said of her late husband, but said it quickly grew on her.
“I’ve been very happy here,” she said, adding that moving to Warburton in 1953, was the start of a new era in her life, a new way of life, and many, many friends.
After Dave worked in the town’s bakery for a number of years, the family, including Greta and her husband, Ken Miller, bought the bakery.
Rita had always been a hard worker, working in a linen factory after leaving school and at Warburton hospital when they moved to Warburton.
The bakery was the start of a whole new career.
“I got up in the morning and sliced the bread through the machine, then Dave would load up the van and I would deliver the bread all around the township,” she said.
Rita said she knew virtually everyone, and everyone knew her.
“Little kids especially loved the bread van,” she said. “We used to give them a bun … they would be just waiting on the baker’s van.”
Her connection with the town’s youngsters continued after they sold the bakery and she went to work at Warburton primary school. She was there until she retired at 65.
Rita also established strong community connections as a member of groups including the fire brigade Ladies’ Auxiliary, Ladies’ Guild of the Presbyterian Church, the bowling club, Legacy, RSL, and, more recently, the Adventist Church.
Surrounded by flowers and cards, Rita said she was a little overwhelmed by all the attention.
“Lunch with the Legacy ladies was such a big surprise,” she said.
Her Scottish heritage was recognised with a piper ensuring she made a grand entrance, and she had pride of place at the top of the table.
“It’s just not me at all,” she said of being the centre of attention.
The celebration on Sunday was equally wonderful, surrounded by family and friends.
As for Her Majesty’s birthday wishes, as an avid royalist, she was just chuffed to receive a card from a woman whose life has run almost parallel in time, if not circumstance, to her own.
Having worked hard all her life, raised a family, including 18 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, Rita says life has been good.
“I’ve travelled, made many, many friends, been here, there and everywhere with the bowling club … I’ve lived a full life,” she said.
