Mrs Emmaline Grace Burge, known by all as Grace, celebrated her 100th birthday at the Australian Hotel in Young last Monday.
Surrounded by family and friends the group came together with the now Octogenarian to reminisce and enjoy what has been a very interesting, and at times heartbreaking, life.
Grace was born in Young on October 28, 1924.
Grace's parents met following the end of WWI with her father, Jim who came from New Zealand moving to Australia and enlisting in the first World War. He was highly decorated, having been a part of the Lighthorsemen.
Grace's mother was born and raised in Sydney, however she ended up in Koorawatha following the death of her own mother, which also just happened to be where Jim was working when he came back from the war.
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The pair got married at the church in Bendick Murrel and settled on a block at Wirrimah where they started working. They had four children, the eldest being Stephen, then Grace, then Colin and the baby Rob, who was in attendance at Grace's celebration.
Grace grew up in Wirrimah and being one of four, and by her own admission, a tom boy, she would climb trees, play footy with the boys, she rode her horse around.
When Grace turned 14 she was allowed to leave school and left the day of her birthday, only telling her mother when she arrived home and told her.
She stayed at home and worked on the farm, milking the cows, separating the milk, helped with the chores. She went to dances, played tennis and enjoyed card nights.
Grace was asked to go to Taralga to look after her Aunty who was ill, it was while she was there she met a young farmer, Roy Burge.
Romance blossomed between the pair before they got married and lived together on Roy's farm near Taralga. During that time Grace was the president of the Ladies Bowls, played tennis, was part of the community and they had two sons, Stephen and Peter.
Stephen was born in Young with Grace's good friend, Evelyn Hamilton, making a cover for the pram. Evelyn's then four year old son, proud of himself, gave the blanket to Grace, with the then four year old, Barry Maloney, also attending the event last week.
Evelyn and Grace had both grown up together at Wirrimah, having gone to school together.
Not long after Stephen was born, Grace's younger son, Peter was born. The boys grew up in Taralga, playing football, Peter drove Stock Cars at Goulburn and then tragedy struck the family with the death of Stephen.
Stephen unfortunately lost his life due to a car accident, which was an incredibly difficult time for the family.
Some years later, Peter was out mustering sheep when his horse came home without him, leaving him injured and needing care, something Grace still does today, almost 50 years later.
It was very hard for Roy and Grace to come to terms with the loss of one son and the shock of their other son being irreparably injured, however, typical of the couple, their strong spirit got them through the hard times.
As Peter's rehabilitation and recovery continued, it was starting to get hard for Roy to run the farm on his own, so they leased it out before eventually selling the property and moved to Goulburn where Peter learned to drive a car again, learned to talk again and continued his recovery.
In 1982, Grace, Peter and Roy returned to Young.
33-years-ago another tragedy struck when Roy passed away, with Grace missing her husband, each and every day. She said that every afternoon the couple would have a glass of wine and prepare dinner together and that it was the simple things that they loved.
She said she was Roy's girl and that he would do anything for her.
Grace's family thanked the local carers who have taken care of the 100 year old and her son Peter and in turn locals commented on how Peter and Grace have touched the hearts of so many.
Grace attributed her long life, happiness and sassy spirit to her husband and children, she said that her son, Peter, was her reason for still being here and going as strong as she is.
On behalf of the Young Witness, we join with the Prime Minister, Member for Cootamundra, the Governor General, the Premier, Member for Riverina and the King and Queen of England in wishing Grace a very happy birthday.
