Not many Australians can say they have received special birthday wishes from the Queen and King in the past six years. But Yarrawonga’s oldest resident Jean Mathieson, who turned 106-years-of-age on Monday, can say that! The Woods Point resident is pictured here with family members Debra Tierney-Mathieson, wife of grandson David, Saskia Vogels partner of son Lynn Mathieson, Corrie Mathieson daughter of Lynn and granddaughter to Jean, son Lynn Mathieson, son Scott Mathieson, Bernadette Thomas partner of Scott, great granddaughter and daughter of Corrie Harriet Alexander, and Ginny Alexander, great granddaughter and daughter of Corrie.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Yarrawonga’s oldest resident Jean Mathieson turned 106-years-of-age on Monday and proudly displayed letters of congratulations from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth upon her 100th birthday and from His Majesty King Charles for her 105th and 106th birthdays.
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“I’m surprised I’m still here and in good health,” the Woods Point aged care resident told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Woods Point is good and I’m in good hands here.”
Jean attributes her long life to “keeping good health”. “Once retired I kept myself busy gardening.”
The biggest change she has witnessed relates to transport. “Everyone now has a car,” she said.
The Woods Point aged care resident was born in Rochester, grew up at Carag Carag, near Stanhope and also lived in Kyneton, Shepparton and Stanhope.
Jean was her mother’s only child, but had several half brothers and sisters from her father’s first marriage. He was the son of an American adventurer who migrated in the mid-1800s to try his luck at finding gold when it was discovered in Victoria.
Jean lost her dad at age 10 and her mother at age 21. She married Max Mathieson in 1941 and had two sons, Scott (now living in Geelong) and Lynn (Shepparton, who played cricket with Yarrawonga Rovers in the 1990s).
Max was a cheesemaker, and managed factories in Vic and South Australia, before taking up a job with the Gas and Fuel in Melbourne.
The family moved to Morwell, in the Latrobe Valley, with that company around 1956. The boys were schooled in Morwell.
Jean was influential in school committees and mother’s clubs. She moved to Shepparton in 1971 where Max was involved for a short time at Dookie Agricultural College engaged in boiler room maintenance, prior to retirement.
Jean lost her husband in 1996 and remained home until her 101st year before taking up residence at Woods Point on April 4, 2019.
Yarrawonga’s 106-year-old Mathieson with sons Lynn (left) and Jack.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Her sons think the world of their mother. Scott and Lynn said they were very thankful their mother has lived such a long life, that she continues to enjoy good health and enjoys residing at Woods Point.
“She has been a wonderful mother to us, still is, and we hope she continues to have good health,” Lynn and Scott said.
Jean is a much-loved resident at Woods Point according to Bentley Wood Aged Care’s nursing director Marita Seamer. “Jean has lived here with us since April 2019 when she came into care as a spritely 100-year-old,” Ms Seamer said.
“Jean does not believe there is a key to longevity – she said she has been lucky with what she has been given.
“Jean spends her time reading and doing puzzles. She used to sew, knit and bake when she was younger – a real homebody.”
Jean is the oldest resident at Woods Point and one of four centenarians living at Woods Point.
She is Yarrawonga’s oldest resident and destined to become the town’s oldest ever when she turns 107. Mrs Lucy Little passed away on June 26, 2000 just one week shy of her 107th birthday.
