Olinda’s Ruby Black with daughter Marion Windsor celebrated her 100th birthday last week. 32853 Picture: Luke Plummer
By Tania Martin
RUBY Black attributes hard work and a love of gardening as the key to her longevity.
The Olinda great grandmother last week celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends.
Ms Black’s life-long journey began on 2 July 1909 when she was born in Mansfield.
She left school at just 14, when her mother found her a job at a hat maker in Collins Street.
But Ms Black didn’t last long.
She wanted to be a florist, but was never given the choice.
Ms Black then went on to work at several jobs, including as a fruit shop attendant.
She was married twice, but can’t remember much about her first love.
Ms Black first married in1930 and had two children, Coral and William.
But the marriage broke up and Ms Black moved back home with her parents.
She then met her true love, Bob, just before the start of World War Two.
The pair married in 1942 and later had daughter, Marion.
Ms Black moved to Kalorama in 1963 following the death of her husband and finally got the chance to explore her passion for gardening.
Daughter, Marion Windsor said her mum moved into a new house with no garden.
Ms Windsor said it was like giving a blank canvas to an artist.
“She made a beautiful garden and people used to and still do stop and take photographs, especially of the maple tree,” she said.
Ms Black she finally got her chance to explore the art of floristry in her own backyard.
She now lives at the Lodge Serviced Apartments in Olinda, and often shares her vast knowledge of plants and flowers with the staff and fellow residents.
The Lodge’s John Faull said her knowledge was just phenomenal.
“She loves to be taken in her wheelchair around the garden here, and when I do take her out she’ll tell straight away there’s a weed there,” he said.
Mr Faull said for years tourists had stopped to admire Ms Black’s beloved garden.
“It’s quite often you would see people and buses stop in the middle of the road to take photographs,” he said.
Ms Windsor said her mother’s biggest thrill was seeing her first rhododendron flower.
“She was so excited … it normally takes 11 to 15 years to grow and when it first flowered there were at least 36 individual blooms,” she said.
Ms Windsor said her mother’s key to a long life was to work hard.
“She’s hasn’t had an easy life and never smoked or was a drinker but she did spent lots of time in her garden,” she said.
But looking after her children, eight grandchildren and 13 great grand-children has been the highlight of Ms Black’s life.
She celebrated her centenary with a party at the lodge on Saturday afternoon.
