By Kath Gannaway
Growing up in Healesville, going to the local dances, family, hours enjoyed in the garden were just some of the lovely memories Enid Richards shared at her 90th birthday celebration.
Enid, whose parents were local butcher Alex Christie and Doris, was guest of honour at an afternoon tea to celebrate her 90th birthday on Saturday, 21 July, at Healesville RSL.
Enid said she grew up at her grandmother’s house in Farnham Road before the family, including her only sister, Juel, moved to Green Street right in the heart of the town.
“I was six years old when we moved,” she said. “Dad had a butcher shop opposite the Grand Hotel and then next to the Middle Hotel.
“We went to Healesville State School and as we grew up we loved the local dances. Both Juel and I loved to dance,” she said.
Enid and husband Dick, a past president of the RSL, had three children, Sandra, now deceased, and John and Pam who helped her blow out the candles on her birthday cake.
“90 is just another day … age has never bothered me,” Enid said of moving up a notch to nonagenarian.
A resident of Monda Lodge, she said despite some initial reservations, she loves life as part of the Monda community.
“Every day is a party there,” she said. The girls at Monda are just beautiful and I still get to poke a few things into the gardens there.”
She has a plan for the future too. “Grandma lived to 104 and mum into her 90s, so I think I still have a few years ahead of me yet.”
