BIRTHDAY celebrations last week at Dianella Village saw resident Elizabeth (Betty) Sorraghan another year older and another year wiser.
Betty celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by friends and caregivers; one a friend of 54 years.
Betty was born in Essendon in 1920. Betty’s parents raised their twin girls on a cattle farming property near Beveridge.
“We were Betty and Biddy,” Mrs Sorraghan said.
“Mum dressed us in the same clothes. She did all the knitting.
“Biddy and I, we’d double-dink [to school] no reins. He was a retired horse, and we just tapped him [on]. We’d open the gate, slide off, and he’d wait for us in the paddock.
“We had lots of good neighbours. We were a close family, and mum could play all the instruments.”
Biddy also played the piano well and tickled the ivories at the local dances where Betty met Matthew Sorraghan. They fell in love and married at the Beveridge church, afterwards honeymooning in country Victoria.
Together, they raised Anna and Patrick and later moved to Bylands as the farm life was finishing.
Betty joined in on local tennis games, dances, and continued to saddle up. The children went to Assumption College in Kilmore. Now she has three grandchildren and over seven great grandchildren.
Betty moved into Dianella Village some years ago and says she is well looked after.
Congratulatory messages also came from King Charles and Queen Camilla as well as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell.
Happy 105th birthday to you, Betty!
