No drinking, no smoking and living life to the fullest, with a few rounds of golf, is Jess’ secret to a long and happy life.

Jess marked her 100^th birthday in Ballarat Health Services’ PS Hobson House on Wednesday with daughter Pam and fellow residents.

Up early, Jess made sure her hair was done nicely for such an important day.

She is looking forward to a special party this weekend with her whole family, including three grandsons – one from Queensland – and seven great-grandchildren.

Born in Creswick on April 27, 1916, Jess is the youngest of six children. Jess was three years old before meeting her father, a Gallipoli soldier, on his return from war.

Her family walked together to a dance in Barkstead each Saturday night.

Jess married Frank after WWII and they settled in Newlyn – he was a builder and she was his bookkeeper.

They loved holidays in their caravan and travelled extensively across Australia. This included a lot of visits to daughter Pam’s farm in Lismore. Frank died in 1975. Jess moved to Ballarat a couple of years later.

Jess said the main message she wanted to get across on her birthday was a ‘thank you’ and ‘hello’ to all she has met on her journey so far.