Susanna Freymark
Anne Bailey was surprised with a birthday cake at the Probus Club meeting today, Thursday, August 27.
Richmond Valley mayor Robert Mustow and deputy mayor Steve Morrissey were at the Casino RSM Club to celebrate Anne’s 100th birthday.
Anne has been part of the Probus Club for more than 25 years and she once was president of the club. Today it was president Mal Dolman who congratulated her.
Anne was born at home in Booyong, and was the youngest of six children. She rode her horse to Pearces Creek Public School and later she went to Lismore High.
“I had a good upbringing,” Anne said.
Horses were a big part of her childhood.
“My father had a draught horse called Nugget. He’d ride Nugget and then tap him on the back and send him home on his own,” she said.
“Before I started school, I sat on the gate and waited for my sister and brothers to come home so I could ride the horses.”
Probus member Leonie Condon described Anne as “the epitome of a real lady.”
“She is gently spoken and giving and a beautiful lady,” Leonie said.
Anne smiles at the description.
Anne still lives at home in Casino with her husband Kevin Bailey. When asked what she thinks has given her such longevity and health she said – “I use my legs.”
Anne was 18 when she became a cypher (decoder) assistant in the air force during the war. She joined up because her two brothers and sister were in the air force.
She was at Point Cook in Melbourne when the announcement came over the speaker that the war was over. That was 1945.
She was posted to Brisbane telecommunications for another 12 months before she left the air force.
She came home to Pearces Creek to help her parents on the farm.
She married Cyril and they had two boys. They moved to Byron Bay for a few years.
Cyril saw “green grass on the other side of the fence”, is how Anne explained the reasons for them parting ways.
“I was on my own,” she said.
“I came west and I’ve been here ever since, it was just one of those things.
She has always been in the CWA and when she went to Old Bonalbo she met Kevin.
Anne got her message from the King, the Prime Minister and local politicians.
She is grateful for her good health and to live in a safe area.
Her life approach is to care for others.
“That’s how we were brought up,” she said.
As people came to hug her and wish her well, Anne received each person with grace and appreciation.
Happy 100th birthday, Anne.