Barbara Miller celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends

Mrs Miller, who was living independently until last year, lives at the Regis Norwood where she has met many wonderful people and is receiving care while remaining in contact with her daughter Lynne Seaton, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs Seaton said her mother says the secret to her longevity is being surrounded by good people and having fun.

"She says a good husband, caring family and great friends are reasons for her living this long," Mrs Seaton said.

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"Her and my dad loved to walk and dance, enjoying the laughs and fun in socialising."

Born in South Shields, England, on October 10, 1921, Mrs Miller has lived through the Great Depression and WWII.

She was married to her husband Charles until he passed away 15 years ago.

"They danced together four nights a week and you never saw one without the other," Mrs Seaton said.

"The story is that mum and dad went out with groups of people, as they did back in those days, girls and boys meeting up in a social setting.

"They used to hang out at the beach a lot because they lived near the coast being in South Shields. They met through a mutual friend and it grew from there.

"They met just before WWII and then dad was in the army and they got married on a weekend he managed to get away."

Mrs Miller began working in the fashion industry with window dressing being her favourite activity. When the war broke out she started working in a munitions factory and her fiance and three brothers were off fighting.

One brother went missing and was presumed dead until he was discovered living as a Japanese prisoner of war and returned five years later.

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"One of her proudest moments was accompanying her parents, aunt and younger brother to Buckingham Palace where her father James Scott was awarded the George Medal for bravery, which is now on display at their hometown museum in South Shields, in the North of England," Mrs Seaton said.

After relocating to Tasmania following retirement Mr and Mrs Miller lived in Riverside and were married for 63 years. Following the loss of her husband, Mrs Miller kept herself busy.

"Up until five years ago, she looked after her own garden," Mrs Seaton said.

"Mum enjoys sing-alongs. She likes watching lawn balls but doesn't play, just views from the sidelines where she cheers for both teams."

While there will be family and friends in attendance at her birthday celebration, there will also be some people missing the occasion with many relatives living overseas.

"My daughter and her husband and two girls live in Malaysia," Mrs Season said.

"Unfortunately they won't be able to get here but we already have lots of plans for video calls and phone calls in between the festivities.

"Mum knows it's her birthday and she knows everyone is making a fuss, but she isn't giving it much credit.

"I don't think she feels a day over 50."

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