MURIEL Welsh says she has been letting younger brother George Prolongeau have his moment. She already has her card from the Queen and a host of dignitaries, now it was George’s turn.
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The siblings share a birthday and George joins Muriel in the centenarian club. George turns 100 on Wednesday, the same day Muriel celebrates her 102nd birthday.
In a family twist, their youngest brother Bill (now deceased) would have turned 93 on Wednesday also.
They hosted a big party for family an friends at the weekend, sharing a huge creamy sponge cake (half iced pink, half blue). George said their secret to getting along with each for so long was space.
“We don’t live in each other’s pockets,” George said. “I call and check on her every now and then, and we catch up.”
The pair grew up in Sebastopol and, after each moving about for work, are each long retired in Ballarat, still living in their own home – George with Joy, his wife of almost-71 years.
George was most pleased with a letter and phone call from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, acknowledging his 100th birthday after having served in WWII. He also received a plaque from the Retired Ambulance Association of Victoria – George attended the first Ambulance training school in the state.
Between them, Muriel and George have five children, 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and Muriel has two great-great-grandchildren.
Muriel and George will celebrate their birthdays with family separately before catching up at Sebastopol Bowls Club, which is on the site of where their childhood house once stood.
MURIEL AND GEORGE’S TIPS TO REACH 100 YEARS OLD
MURIEL: “Plenty of sport. I played badminton and tennis, then lawn bowls, which I gave up when I was 97. I still live by myself and still cook for myself. We’ve always had homegrown veggie patches. I loved digging for potatoes, growing tomatoes and my own lemons.”
GEORGE: “I’m a Christian man and read a daily Bible passage. This is the 80th year I’ve been keeping a daily diary – I record the time I get up, the time I go to bed, things that have happened in the day and world events. I think it helps me keep a stable life. I’m happy, content and healthy.
“We’re just ordinary people who live responsible lives. We don’t drink, don’t smoke, we keep around good food. I go to bed at 8pm and I’m up at 7am – I’m never afraid of getting up early.”
