Born Daphne May Davis in Richmond, Victoria, on January 16, 1919, Daphne Dudgeon is better known in her now home-town of Mallacoota as Nan.

Now Nan has more than a century of living under her belt and last week celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at the Mallacoota Golf and Country Club.

Nan worked at the Newman’s chocolate factory in Melbourne during the 1940s where she produced handmade chocolates. She went on to work at Dudgeon & Arnell cigarette factory where she worked as a tobacco sorter.

It was at the cigarette factory that Nan met her husband, Arthur Royston Dudgeon.

The couple had two children a daughter, Christine, and a son, Royston, who died young.

The Dudgeon & Arnell factory was taken over by Dobie, George & Son in the early 1950s and later absorbed into the Phillip Morrisconglomerate.

Christine said her mother was a hard worker who loved to cook.

Nan looked after her three brothers, who never married. One of them lived with Nan all his life.

Nan has lived with Christine and her husband, John Condon, for many years, initially in Tyabb and for the past 12 years in Mallacoota.

She continues to enjoy her daily can of beer at three o’clock and her favourite shortbread creams.

Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, dropped in to visit Nan on her birthday last Wednesday. He wondered if her daily 3pm can of VB might just be the secret to a long and healthy life.

PICTURED: Nan Dudgeon celebrated her 100th birthday last week at the Mallacoota Golf and Country Club with her daughter, Christine Condon, Helen Jaques, Denzil Kent, John Condon, Frank De Groot, Alaine Kent and Carolyn De Groot.