Celebrating Noreen's 100th birthday

Recently we celebrated the 100th birthday of Noreen, a cherished member of our Social Support Groups since 2011. 

Noreen brings warmth and joy to all who know her, and we were thrilled to be joined by her family, friends, healthAbility staff, Vicki Ward MP for Eltham and Mayor Cr Ben Ramcharan for a morning tea to celebrate this momentous occasion. 

Noreen's remarkable journey began in India, where she was born an Anglo-Indian with English and Portuguese ancestry. After her father's passing in 1934, she attended boarding school. Despite the challenges, she cherishes fond childhood memories, including an adventurous game of hide and seek that left her with a blue scar on her forehead from charcoal powder applied by family servants to stop the bleeding.

She trained as a nurse from 1943 to 1947, specializing in general nursing and midwifery. Noreen married Edwin Ray on January 10, 1953, and in 1986, she migrated to Australia. Noreen has 1 daughter, 4 sons, 14 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

In 2011, Noreen joined our healthAbility groups, and we’ve been grateful for her vibrant presence ever since. 

Happy 100th, Noreen! Your life story continues to inspire us all.