Family key to life

By Tania Martin
CELEBRATING her 100th birthday, Amy Pearse of Avonsleigh attributed her long and healthy life to the loving support of her family and her active church life.
Surrounded by family and friends Amy celebrated her birthday just days before Christmas on Friday, 23 December.
Mrs Pearse was born in Stirling, Scotland. She was eight when her family moved to Australia.
Education was a big part of Amy’s life and she spent her younger years at the Presbyterian Ladies College in Melbourne, and at Melbourne University where she studied science.
Amy also studied at Dookie Agricultural College where she learnt how to grow wheat and olives, how to make olive oil and how to farm pigs and cows.
But what Mrs Pearse really wanted to do was draw and following this dream she obtained a three-year art scholarship at RMIT.
Mrs Pearse said the highlight of her life was when she met her husband, Len, who she married in 1935 at the Box Hill Presbyterian Church.
Len Pearse was an ordained Minister and soon after their marriage he took up an appointment at the Congregational Church in Castlemaine.
The year 1935 also saw the birth of the couple’s first child, Malcolm. Mrs Pearse also joined the Country Women’s Association that year.
Victor Harbour in South Australia was the family’s next port of call and it was there that their second child, Maureen, was born.
Returning to Melbourne in 1945, the Pearses lived in Camberwell where their third child, Kevin, was born.
Approaching retirement, Len and Amy purchased land in Paton Road, Avonsleigh, where the family joined forces to build a home.
Sadly Len died before they could retire to Avonsleigh. Mrs Pearce still lives in Avonsleigh with her cat, Cindy, and son, Malcolm.
Mrs Pearce said her longevity could be attributed to the loving support of her children and grand children, her love of gardening, and her active church life.
Well wishes from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister John Howard, Governor General Michael Jeffery, Victorian Governor John Landy, and Premier Steve Bracks were proudly displayed on Mrs Pearce’s piano for her birthday celebrations.