Edna celebrates 106th birthday

Edna Brown, one of the region’s oldest residents, has celebrated her 106^th birthday.

Members of her family , pictured above, gathered at Embracia Age Care Home in Burpengary on Thursday and more were expected at the weekend.

Mrs Brown has seven children, 20 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren.

“It’s just a light lunch today,” said one of her four daughters Betty McQuillan, “mum doesn’t like fuss being made.”

Fantastic player

Mrs Brown (nee Sweedman) was born in Windsor on September 23, 1915 and in January 1931 won a dance competition with Cecil Brown.

They married soon after and set up home in Eagle Farm.

Mr Brown worked in the timber industry and died 47 years ago. Mrs Brown loved working with children in hospital and also liked knitting, crochet and lawn bowls.

She is a “fantastic poker player”, said daughter Betty and once got down to the last five, from more than 160 entrants, in a competition at Norths Leagues Club, Kallangur.

Loves fishing

One of Mrs Brown’s other loves was fishing and would often cast a line off the old Hornibrook Bridge, between Sandgate and Clontarf.

She was one of the first residents to move into Embracia at Burpengary when it first opened four years ago.

Betty said her mum has never drunk alcohol or smoked, rarely wears glasses and likes going on trips, playing bingo and doing word searches.

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