KEEPING active has been attributed to a long life by Yackandandah's' long–time resident Edie Dryden.
The 107–year–old celebrated her incredible milestone birthday three weeks ago, when around 30 close family members and friends joined the centurion for a country spread for lunch at the community centre.
Edie's 99–year–old brother Keith travelled from the Mornington Peninsular for the special occasion.
"We had a good old chinwag where we talked about our childhood days and Keith is seven years younger than me," Edie said.
Edie said she has a wonderful and supportive, caring family.
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Born in 1915 at her home in Wandin on October 16 during WWI, Edie one of eight children, grew up in the Great Depression years and married six years before WWII began.
"My father was an orchardist and had a strawberry farm and was also a builder," she said.
"I lived in Wandin until I was three years old and then we went to the seaside town of Rosebud where I grew up and attended the primary and high schools there."
"I used to write stories when I was a kid at school," she said.
Edie's son Bob said her stories had been published in different magazines such as 'New Idea' and 'Reader's Digest'.
The 107–year–old said she met her late husband Edward (Ted) in Rosebud and married in 1933 at Frankston's St Francis Xavier Church.
"When we were first married, he worked for his uncle who had a dairy farm and he used to deliver milk by horse and cart," she said.
Together, Edie and Ted had six children, with Edie enjoying her role as a mother but left devastated when her daughter died at a young age.
With a move to Yackandandah in December 1960, Edie and Ted bought – then ran – the local bakery for 11 years.
"I also had to work hard when we came up here because we bought the bakery," Edie said.
"It was a country bakery and mixed business, and my husband had the van and used to deliver around the area."
"Initially my son Ted (Jr) was the baker until he moved from Yackandandah where his brother Bobby, who had retired from the Navy, then took over the baking."
Keeping active, Edie said she has lost count of her dozens of art and craft activities.
"One of the best ones I think was China painting that I did for many years starting before I came up here," she said.
Edie played bowls, belonged to the senior citizens club, participated in a Wodonga senior citizen's education centre where she pursued her love of craft including embroidery, making fur teddy bears and dabbling in watercolour painting too.
Edie lived independently until 101 years old and has lived in aged care for the last five and a half years.
She said she enjoyed the kids from kindergarten in the complex visiting the facility.
"They ride their little trikes and scooters outside and we have afternoon tea here and it's nice to see them."
Edie said she had received many letters from Queen Elizabeth since turning 100 years old but missed out this year as the Queen died before her birthday.
"But I received them from the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Premier and different members of parliament," she said.
"I have 19 grandchildren and 45 great, great grandchildren," she said.
Living in Yackandandah Health's aged care facility, Edie said she still exercises and plays bowls.
"I used to go to the quizzes which I liked but don't go now because my hearing has failed," she said.
Edie said she uses an iPad but does not have a mobile phone.
"I use my iPad for emails, just to look up different things and for the news," she said.
"I've always been busy and that's what I put down to my long life," the centurion said.
Edie said her mother Mary Emily Paterson (maiden surname) had been one of the first members of what had been known as the Royal Victorian Ladies Rowing Club.
