Orbost local Iris Paten celebrated her 100th birthday on the weekend, surrounded by family and friends.
Iris was born on December 5, 1924, in Yarraville, Melbourne.
She lived in Seddon with her parents and her brother Brian until she married David Paten on February 15, 1947.
Once married, Iris and Dave settled on a dairy farm at Bete Bolong near Orbost for the next 51 years.
In 1998, they moved into the township of Orbost.
Iris attended St Augustine’s Primary School in Yarraville and moved to St Aloysuis in North Melbourne for her secondary education.
Iris was a good student and enjoyed success while at school.
After her father passed away when she was only 14, Iris gained employment as a typist for the Commonwealth of Australia Aircraft Production Commission in Spotswood.
The Commission was established in March 1940 for the purpose of controlling the production of aircraft and aero engines in Australia.
While working, Iris continued to hone her skills by enrolling in shorthand and typing courses at Stotts Business College in Melbourne – she excelled in this field achieving close to full marks in all her tests.
Iris said she enjoyed her work and the financial independence that came with it.
When she was younger, Iris loved the pictures and dancing.
As a teenager, she would often go to a dance at the local hall several times a week with her cousin Doreen.
These young ladies were the best of friends and together they had a wonderful time growing up.
Doreen had moved to Melbourne from Orbost and it was through Doreen’s association with some Orbost lads that Iris met Dave.
The story has often been told as to how Iris met Dave – a true love story that endured the test of time.
Iris and Doreen were meant to be going to the pictures as was their usual practice on a Saturday afternoon, however, on one occasion unbeknown to Iris’s mother, they decided to go to Luna Park instead.
The girls were only 16 at the time and it was there they met up with some Orbost lads who were doing compulsory Army Reserve training in Melbourne.
Doreen introduced Iris to Dave and they hit it off.
This fortuitous meeting was the commencement of a long romance over a period of about eight years as they corresponded by letter until their marriage in 1947.
A romance that lasted for 64 years – Iris always speaks of her relationship with Dave as a happy one where she felt ‘blessed’ and would not change a thing about her past life.
Farming was a far cry from the bright lights of the big smoke; however, Iris and Dave’s relationship was such that it endured the ups and downs of farm life.
Iris embraced her life in the country by connecting with the local church and the other women who lived in the district.
Iris has always had a positive outlook on life despite the many challenges the early days in Orbost presented to a young woman from Melbourne.
Electricity was not connected to the farm until 1966 and life proved difficult as the farm would be ravaged by floods one year and droughts another – all challenges endured with optimism that things would get better.
Iris loved gardening and the Orbost Garden Club provided many years of connections with the community and the social gatherings were ones very much valued.
Iris later joined the croquet club and enjoyed the social aspect of this activity for many years.
In more recent times, the Slick Chicks social activities run by Orbost Regional Health became the highlight of the week for Iris.
She always enjoyed the daily visits from the carers.
Iris celebrated her 100th birthday at Maddocks Gardens with friends and carers from Orbost and with her family – a truly remarkable milestone for an Orbost local.
