Two of Australia’s much loved icons have just celebrated their 100th birthdays, one is Ginger Meggs, who made his debut 100 years ago in the Sunday Sun, and the other is Cobar’s May Higgins who turned 100 on Sunday.
Those who know May Higgins, know what a truly amazing lady she is.
At 100, May still lives in her own home and, while she does have a bit of help around the house and garden from family members, she is still very much independent.
May (or Shelia May Manns as she was born on November 21, 1921 in Wrightsville, and delivered by Nurse Punch) was one of 14 chil-dren.
She married Norm Higgins in 1943, during World War 11, and the couple had six daugh-ters.
May said Norm never felt “outnumbered” by the females in his house and very much loved his daughters.
The Higgins family were involved in the community with May and Norm helping out with the town marching team and later the swimming club.
May still attends the Cobar Swimming Club’s presentations each year to award the Norm Higgins Overall Most Improved perpet-ual trophy.
With six children, May said she was kept busy as a housewife and she also took in some sewing which she enjoyed, along with handi-craft work.
These days May said she’s had to give up sewing as her eyesight has deteriorated but she still likes to knit and is kept busy with orders for her knitted coat hanger covers for family and friends. As Norm’s health deteriorated in his late
50’s, May became his nurse and she looked
after him at home for three years before Norm
died at age 60.
May said she’s grateful to have had a mostly
enjoyable life (apart from losing her husband
and two daughters too early to illnesses).
She lists her family, that also includes 10
grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren (plus
another on the way), and seven great, great
grandchildren, as the best things in her life.
Her 100th birthday this week has been a
“mini family reunion” with most of her family
joining her at the Empire Hotel on Saturday
for her 100th birthday lunch (May was one of
the last to leave on Saturday night).
There were more celebrations and cake on
Sunday for her “actual birthday” and May was
still celebrating when we spoke to her on
Monday.
May said she’s seen a lot of changes in her
life, some good (“bitumen roads, but they’re
all falling to pieces now” and washing machines
beat the old copper she used to use in
the back yard) and some bad (the pandemic).
Apart from a few aches and pains, May said
she hasn’t had too much to complain about.
May said she didn’t have an actual goal to
reach 100.
“I just thought I’d go along as I am and I’ll
continue to go along as I am.”
Those plans include continuing her weekly
outings with the family for dinner at the Empire
and having a “doctor approved” gin each
night to help her sleep.
