By MIKE MATHER in Rotorua
A true "lady of the land," Mona Scott turns 100 years old today.
A Rotorua resident of 35 years standing Mona, who lives at the Whare Aroha Home and Hospital, was joined by five generations of her family to celebrate the milestone on
Saturday.
With seven children, 20 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren, Mona has created a legacy any mother would be proud of.
Her birthday was shared by one of the youngest of her great-great-grandchildren, five-year-old Amy Jones.
Born in Napier in 1905, Mona and her husband Walter married and lived in Mangaweka during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
They later bought a dairy farm in the Manawatu community of Bainesse in the later half of that decade, her son Bruce said.
In 1953 the couple moved to a farm in Tokoroa.
Walter died in 1959 but Mona carried on farming until 1970, when she retired and moved to Rotorua.
A stalwart of the Country Women's Institute and several gardening circles, Mona also had a keen interest in the hunting and horse-riding activities of Walter and their children, Bruce said.
"She was a great housewife and a true lady of the land."
She is also the first resident of Whare Aroha to celebrate a 100th birthday.
As well as celebrating with her family she received congratulatory messages from the Queen, Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins and Senior Citizens Minister Ruth Dyson.
