Farm life is the secret

Marire rest home residents and staff joined together to wish Linda Wiggins a very happy 105th birthday on Tuesday September 17. The sprightly 105 year old, who looks a good few decades younger, still lives at home with her daughter Lynette, and son-in-law Robin. She visits Marire twice a week on the daycare programme.

"It's farm life," says Linda, when asked the secret to her amazing good health, "and I like to keep doing things".

"She still gardens," says Lynette, adding that at 103 Linda went swimming on a regular basis. Linda says when she was born, at St Helen's hospital in Auckland, a photograph was taken for the newspaper of "my father nursing me," and she has fond memories of her early life. "I cared for my brother, looking after him, until I went to school." She adds that she helped her father milk cows by hand every day as well.

"I've had a lovely day and am looking forward to my next birthday."