Hazel Gray celebrated her 100th birthday on November 5 with about 50 fellow residents during morning birthday party at IRT Thomas Holt Kirrawee.
Hazel was born in Bodalla (South Coast NSW).
As a child she lived in Moruya with her siblings Alan, Nancy and Morva and her parents who Hazel described as "quiet happy people".
Hazel worked in the catering department for the Air Force during the war, where she met her husband Arthur who was also in the Air Force.
They married in 1944 and Arthur went into building and they owned and operated a glazing business.
They had two sons, Terry and Mike, and Hazel stayed at home and looked after the children.
The family travelled around Australia in their caravan with Arthur finding building work along the way to extend and pay for their adventure.
Arthur suffered a heart attack and passed away when he was only 53.
At the age of 60 Hazel took up painting and really enjoyed the craft. She even started selling her paintings at markets. She said she knows some of her paintings are in America and London.
After her husband died Hazel lived at her son's house in Gosford. She later moved into a Retirement Living Village at Bateau Bay until she moved to IRT Thomas Holt Kirrawee.
Hazel never remarried but always had the support of family and friends.
She has four grandchildren, Belinda, Gavin, Ben and Natasha and great crandchildren Ethan, Lucas, Mya, Zane, Isabella, Hudson and Zoe.
