One of Narara’s favourite residents, Betty Child, celebrated her 100th birthday with balloons, banners and bubbles on November 11.
Ms Child is known to have always been an active member of the community, becoming the matriarch of the street she lives in and never missing a barbecue for a big occasion.
Born in the United Kingdom in 1920, she has since lived a life of adventure, serving in World War II from 1939 driving military vehicles for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the British Armed Forces.
After making the voyage to Australia in 1988, Ms Child involved herself in many community groups and spent time volunteering at Niagara Park Primary School.
She also joined The Chat Group, which is a group of seniors who meet at the Community Centre at Niagara Park shops every week and occasionally go for lunch when enough funds are raised.
Sadly, there are only a few members left of this group, and Ms Child is unable to venture too far from home these days.
But her entire neighbourhood family in Narara was excited to celebrate her with gifts, merlot and a few sneaky sambucas.
Ms Child said she didn’t want a royal letter to mark the occasion as she said the Queen “has so much to do and so much on her plate”.
Jacinta Counihan