Moving into residential aged care at 102
While the average age of women moving into residential aged care is 85, Theresa Harvey made the move to Carinity Shalom Aged Care Home in North Rockhampton at the remarkable age of 102.
Born in Rockhampton in 1922, Theresa was one of nine children raised by her parents, James and Eleanor Hopkins (nee Nelson). Her earliest childhood memory takes her back to riding in the sulky with her mother, taking her father to and from work as a slaughterman and butcher.
Despite facing tough times, including the loss of her eldest brother to Spanish Flu and her father losing his job during the Great Depression, Theresa recalls her childhood with a sense of resilience.
“Mum couldn’t afford to give us a lunch for school, so we had to run home at lunchtime and then back again. It was exhausting, especially during the hot summer months,” Theresa said. “Christmas and birthdays were particularly hard for Mum, as we often didn’t have the same gifts as other children in the neighbourhood.”
Theresa left St Joseph’s School at Wandal when she was just 13 to help support her family. Her work life began with a nanny and home help role before moving to sales and later working as a domestic at the local hospital, where she scrubbed floors by hand and carried heavy trays up multiple flights of stairs.
In 1942, Theresa married Arthur Harvey, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage. Their wedding was simple yet meaningful – Theresa had saved enough ration coupons to make her own wedding dress, and the couple shared a brief honeymoon before Arthur was sent overseas during World War II. The couple exchanged daily letters during their four years apart, a time when communication was a lot more difficult than it is today.
Theresa worked in a canteen for US soldiers during the war, preparing large quantities of food, including ‘fries’ – a favourite of the American troops stationed in Rockhampton. After the war, she and Arthur settled in Rockhampton, where they raised four children and grew an extended family that now includes 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
“I’ve had a good life with few regrets,” Theresa said. “Though I miss my husband, who passed away 20 years ago, I’ve lived a long and fulfilling life. I’m the only one of my siblings to have lived this long, though a couple of my younger siblings made it into their 90s.”
When asked about her secret to longevity, Theresa shared with a smile, “I’ve always worked hard, kept busy, and never let life get me down. It’s all about staying active and having a good attitude. If you keep moving forward, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.”
Theresa is set to celebrate her 103rd birthday on April 28 and looks forward to marking the occasion at Carinity Shalom with family and friends.
