Angela’s century-old advice of kindness and perseverance

Bolton Clarke Willowdale residential care home has celebrated its first centenarian with a surprise party.

Angela is now the newest member of the Centenarian Club and says her birthday festivities spanned multiple parties with family, friends and the Willowdale community.

Angela’s story started in Italy when she was born on 30^th April 1925, growing up under the rule of Mussolini in the decades before World War II.

“My father was in Brazil when I was young and he was in prison many times because he was against Mussolini,” Angela said.

“When I was 15 years old, I went to work at a restaurant near my village near the border and we had the Russians and Germans passing through, but the restaurant owner looked after me as if I was a part of his family.

“It was a horrible time, everyone was killing each other because you are this, or that, but I was in a safe place.”

During the war Angela was in Germany when she was approached by an Australian official offering her and other women job opportunities in Australia.

“They came and talked to us about moving to Australia to work but it had to be just us – no children or partners.

“So I came, and I worked in Marrickville Hospital with sick people and lived with a lady who taught me many things like sewing.

“After that I worked in fashion and in a pharmacy before I retired when I was 70.”

Angela spent the rest of her time in Sydney and says she has loved learning new things from all the people she has met along the way.

Now, after celebrating her 100^th birthday, she says the greatest lesson she has learned is kindness.

“I think it’s important to be nice to each other – it doesn’t matter where you are from you need to be understanding.”