Ella Wilson, believed to be New Zealand's second oldest living person, celebrates her 109th birthday with an original composition. Video / Andrew Warner
Ella Wilson had a song in her heart as she turned 109 today.
“I’m 109 today, 109 today,” sang the Rotorua resident, who is believed to be New Zealand’s second oldest living person.
“I’m lucky to be here, but it wasn’t easy,” Wilson told the Rotorua Daily Post.
The residentof Bupa’s The Gardens Care Home in Rotorua has lost her sight and hearing but was energetic for her big day.
Staff said she is the eldest resident to ever live in a Bupa care home internationally.
Wilson celebrated her birthday on Sunday with around 30 family friends.
“It was just lovely. They all enjoyed themselves and all had a jolly good time together,” she said.
A birthday afternoon high tea celebration was meant to take place at the care home on Wednesday, but it had to be cancelled due to an outbreak of gastro in the village. Bupa is planning a celebration next week for residents.
Ella Wilson is believed to be New Zealand's second-oldest living person. Photo / Andrew Warner
Wilson lost her mother to the Spanish Flu epidemic at the age of four and was then separated from her father and four brothers.
She left school around age 15 to become a seamstress. She recalls using a wash copper to boil her clothes and hand-ringing them before hanging them to dry.
Wilson said as children, they would hand-make bloomers and rompers from Champion-brand flour bags, which were made of muslin, to wear under clothing.
She remembers being a child and playing on a trolley cart built with friends.
“When I bent over, Champion Flour was right across my backside.”
“[In] those days if you bought flour you’d buy [it] in a good material.”
Bigger flour bags were made into aprons and pillowcases. She said every resource was looked after.
Her youngest son, 71-year-old John, said making it to age 109 was an “achievement”.
He recalled his mother participating in his sibling’s sporting events such as rowing championships, often making crepe paper leis for the children.
“It was all happy memories.”
He added her generation typically was not “handed life on a plate” and had to work for what they had.
“Through the Depression and Dad being away at the war [they learned] the value of money and importance of little things like food.”
John Wilson said his mother has always been good at managing money. If other residents in the home do not eat their peas at dinner, “she says they’re bloody stupid”.
