A KANIVA woman celebrated her 100th birthday in Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village on Wednesday.
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Family and friends of Hilda Rogers gathered to commemorate her milestone in the Horsham retirement home.
Mrs Rogers has lived at Sunnyside for five years after moving from Kaniva.
Daughter Janice Merrett of Horsham said her mother was overcome by the attention.
"It was rather nice," Mrs Merrett said.
"She has had a pretty hard life, like a lot of 100-year-olds I suppose.
"She is very well cared for at Sunnyside.
"After dad died, she was pretty ordinary.
"She is happier now; when her health got better she felt better.
"She has a lot of friends there and enjoys growing her orchids."
Gardening and cooking have been Mrs Rogers' passions.
"She has always been a good cook," Mrs Merrett said.
"As children we used to help her make cakes. She packed dad's lunches; she was a good housewife."
Mrs Rogers was born at Tungamah in the Goulburn Valley and worked in the office of a car repair shop.
She later met Laurie Rogers, a Nhill wood merchant, and they married and started a business at Kaniva.
Mrs Rogers was a member of the Country Women's Association Serviceton branch for about three decades, before Kaniva formed a branch.
Her other children are John Rogers of Hamilton, Bevan Rogers of Kaniva and the late Alvina Rogers.
Mrs Merrett said a secret to her mother's long life was hard work.
"She has only ever worked really hard," she said.
"She never had a lot of modern conveniences.
"She ate well and lived a healthy life."