By Shelby Brooks
Pat Chard (nee O’Neill) has celebrated turning 100, surrounded by family at McGregor Gardens Pakenham.
The birthday girl marked the milestone on 22 September with cake and cards from family, friends and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
“I’ve done well,” Pat said about her special day.
Pat was born in Coffs Harbour and was one of 15 children.
Her mother had moved to Coffs Harbour with her oldest two children to be a house keeper to a widower who had five children.
The pair later married and together had another eight children.
Patricia left school at the age of 13 and found work as a nanny looking after the local bank manager’s children.
Later, she gained a book keeping certificate at a local college.
The new family moved to Mildura when Pat was a teenager to work on a grape block.
When World War II broke out, four of Pat’s brothers joined up for service.
Pat, then 21, didn’t want to miss out on playing her part for her country.
She and her young sister decided to join the Air Force.
Pat was a Aircraft Woman at the Sale Air Force base, learning Morse code to serve as a telegraphist.
She worked there for five years and said overall the experience was enjoyable.
“It was a long time away from home,” Pat said.
Fortunately, all her brothers came back from the War.
After the War, Pat married Malcolm McKenzie and had Janet and Ken in Mildura before moving the family to East Bentleigh and adding a third child, Bob.
Unfortunately, Malcolm passed away in 1971 and Pat had to raise her children alone.
She remarried in 1982 to Fred Chard and was with him for 12 years before his passing.
Pat then moved to live with family in Hastings before arriving at McGregor Gardens Pakenham when she was 90.
Pakenham is where one of her son’s lives.
“Family is everything to her. She loves her three children, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren,” daughter Janet said.
