Wallarah Point Clare Community resident Alice Stanford celebrated her 104th birthday on December 17.
Born and raised in Aberdeen Scotland, Alice did missionary work as a Jehovah’s Witness with her best friend Jesse Kerr from her late teens until she was 30.
She set out for Australia the day after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll and was a passenger on the last ship to pass through the Suez Canal before it closed due to the war.
She docked in Sydney in 1953.
She married Ross Lark, happily settling at Milsons Point within sight of Sydney Harbour, raising her niece from the age of eight after bringing her out from Scotland.
Tragically Alice lost her husband at the young age of 49.
She later married Fred Stanford, living at Bathurst and in Tasmania before moving to the Central Coast and remaining committed to her church and its beliefs.
Alice remains mentally active and loves current affairs documentaries.
She also plays cards (and loves winning) and has a passion for puzzles.
Alice has remained a firm believer in naturopathy and maintains that it’s one of her keys to a long and healthy life.
She still enjoys trips to Soldiers Beach and to her favourite café in Toukley for coffee and a tub of hot chips.
Alice suffered a heart attack earlier this year but has made a full recovery.