Today this amazing, gorgeous woman turned 106 years old. Her name is Mavis Freda Austin. Mavis currently resides at St Andrews Village Ballina, where she became a resident after having a fall at home where she lived independently until age 103.
She is originally from Cessnock but lived in Dubbo where she and her then husband ran a bakery and catering business. Mavis then became a single parent of 4 children working several jobs in Wollongong, cleaning and also at Nock and Kirby department store.
Mavis moved to Ballina to be closer to the ‘northern tribe’ of the family in her 90’s. Her eldest daughter Jennifer Austin (deceased) worked as a local journalist in Lismore – known as Jenny Rogers during that time. Mavis received birthday greetings from Anthony Albanese, the Governor General, and MP Justine Elliot. The King Charles letter is on its way and she received one from the Queen when she turned 100.
Mavis’s family who are local are Grandaughter Jane Ruane who is a Nurse and Num of the Renal Unit in Lismore Base Hospital, Jasmin Rogers who is a high school art teacher in Ballina and Blake Rogers who is a tradesman who lives in Ballina and works in Lismore. Blake shares her birthday and is 52 today. She has many other family members living in Sydney, Newcastle and overseas.
Mavis is always grateful for what she has and would give anything she has to anyone in need. Always good for a yarn and full of lessons and words of wisdom. The OG of gratefulness, kindness and compassion. She loves her family and feels she’s treated “better than the queen” What a little legend.
Happy Birthday Mavis from all of us at HOL
