Footy tipping is a tough gig at any age but at 105, Laurence Grovermann is scoring plenty of goals.
Mrs Grovermann is ready to line up for another season, defending her title as the reigning tipping champion at her aged care home.
Laurence, from Williamstown north of Adelaide, still follows the form of every team every week and couldn't be beaten in last year's resident-only comp, despite being the oldest tipper.
The youngest footy tipper in the comp at Wirraminna Care is 77 years old.
As well as footy and supporting her beloved Adelaide Crows, she still enjoys playing bingo and loves a good sing along.
And her secret to winning?
"I'm just lucky," she said although it also came out that no matter what, she always sticks with the Crows even though they only started winning towards the end of the season last year which, she said, made it tricky to make finals.
Many other residents in their 80s still refer to her as Mrs Grovermann.
It's not because of her tipping prowess, but because of the respect she garnered as the town's postmistress for nearly 40 years.
I'm just lucky.
Happy birthday was the tune when she recently celebrated her 105th birthday, scoring a visit with Aged and Community Care Providers Association chief executive Tom Symondson.
"Meeting people like Laurence is incredibly humbling and keeps us focused on the things that matter most - caring for and supporting older Australians," Mr Symondson said.
"Laurence has led an amazing life. As a child she experienced the dynamic decades of the 1920s and '30s and the Great Depression years.
"She epitomises resilience, having survived rheumatic fever as a child, and going on to work tirelessly in various roles to eventually operating her own store and post office alongside her husband - all while raising a family."
Centenarians like Laurence represent a growing cohort of older people leading the charge of Australia's rapidly ageing population. According to the 2023 Intergenerational Report, the number of people aged 85 years or more is expected to more than triple and those aged over 65 will double in the next 40 years.
Bearing a bouquet of flowers, Mr Symondson and the association's South Australian state manager Liz Behjat were delighted to meet Mrs Grovermann during their visit to members in the Barossa Valley and Murray Bridge regions.
Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
