A PADDLE on Lake Wendouree was Isabel Keath's sole birthday wish on the day she turned 100.
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Isabel travelled with family from her home in Cohuna, on the Murray River, to Ballarat on the eve of her milestone.
Afternoon boat rides and picnics were fond memories from Isabel's childhood in Ballarat and she wanted to share such a moment with her six children and their partners. Picnic sandwiches included.
WATCH Isabel set sail below
Golden City Paddle Steamer crew ensured Isabel's wish came true, setting out at noon on Tuesday with Isabel staking the spot on the bow's point.
"I think this is the highlight of my birthday," Isabel said. "I had a big birthday party at the weekend and there were a lot of people so I just wanted my children and their spouses here today. Four of my children were born in Ballarat and I used to take them on the paddle steamer.
"I used to go around on the Golden City years ago. As a child we would go on the paddle steamer on holidays. You would come up to the lake on horse and buggy. We'd have picnics on the other side near where the toilet block is now.
"It is wonderful. The lake has altered a lot, it was all natural back then, but the whole place has been so well looked after."
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Isabel left Ballarat 65 years ago with her husband and children to go dairy farming in Cohuna, where she still lives independently in her own home with, as she says, a bit of assistance and a walking frame.
This milestone visit to Ballarat also featured a return to Isabel's first homes - the Lal Lal Street house she was born in 100 years ago and the house Isabel built with her husband next door. A knock on the door of the latter allowed Isabel a look inside for the first time in 60 years.
The only downside to Isabel's birthday return was being denied a chance to look at the begonias she loves in Ballarat Botanical Gardens, closed off as the city prepares for its annual begonia festival.
Golden City Paddle Steamer is a carefully crafted exact replica of the original Golden City, which had been ravaged by fire when extensive restoration works were all-but-complete in 2006.
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