Susanna Freymark
When Rene McFadden walked in to the Casino Golf Club today, Saturday, August 8, she thought she was simply having a quiet lunch with family to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Instead, the entire clan of family and friends had gathered to surprise her. She spent a lot of time hugging people before she could sit down.
Leanne Bienke is one of Rene’s 17 grandchildren and she said people travelled from South Australia, Western Australia, Sydney and Melbourne to be at the 100th birthday party – there were five generations of the family there.
Rene was born in Kyogle. She had eight children (two of her sons have died) and she was married twice. Her youngest child was 10 years old when she lost her first husband. Her maiden name was Volkhacht and she was previously Simpkins.
She still lives at her Casino home and she cooks all her own meals, Leanne said.
And she walks everywhere – she has all her life because she never learned to drive.
Rene attributes her longevity to walking.
“She’s a keen punter on the horses too,” Leanne said.
“She’s Nan and she’s a bit of a battler.”
Rene has overcome many obstacles in her life. She recovered from bowel cancer and when she was in her 80s she was struck by a car on the pedestrian crossing next to St Mary’s School, Casino.
“She had a brain hemorrhage and was flown to Gold Coast hospital,” Leanne said.
She recovered and kept on walking everywhere.
“She’s painted her house a couple of time,” Leanne said.
“She likes a beer and the races on a Saturday.
“She’s a legend.”
Happy Birthday Rene.