BORN-and-raised Riverland woman Dora Schutz celebrated her 100th birthday at the Waikerie Hotel on Saturday with about 50 friends and family members, including some who travelled from as far as Queensland for the special occasion.
Born at Light Pass on April 17, 1921, Dora Alma Schutz (nee Schiller) was the eighth child of Wilhelm Reinhold and Mathilde Anna Schiller (nee Pech). She grew up on a farm at Murbko and attended Pelican Point School, spending the majority of her life at Murbko, particularly after marrying Jim Schutz and moving onto their own block of land. Here she spent much of her time tending the cows and chooks, and raising children.
Dora and Jim had six children: Dawn, Alan, Grace, Ross, Stanley and Janice. They lived on their block at Murbko until making the move into a unit at Warrawee Lodge in Waikerie. Jim passed away in 2007, and a few years after, Dora moved into the Pioneer Haven, also at Waikerie.
Today, Dora has 15 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Dora was heavily involved in the Murbko Lutheran Church and its ladies guild. Church meetings were conducted in German, and she was the only one who was able to translate them into English.
A few years ago, at the church’s centenary celebration, Dora attended as the oldest parishioner and oldest living person baptised at the church. The youngest was her great-granddaughter, Meg.
Dora’s 100th birthday celebratory lunch was full of reminiscing and turned into dinner, and while the cake was unable to hold 100 candles, her grandson Nathan and his wife Deb presented her with 100 flowers.
Deb said “Nanna” was very excited and happy to see everyone, especially some people who had travelled quite a distance.
“Nanna is one of the most lovely, unassuming people who isn’t into a fuss being made about her,” Deb said.
“She even enjoyed the over-exuberant and loud great-grandchildren, exclaiming that they were lovely.
“She still loves a joke and has a laugh. When one teenage great-grandson gave her a hug as he left, she exclaimed, ‘Oh, I thought I would have got a kiss today’.
“There were tonnes of photos taken. The room was full of love and laughter and reminiscing.”
Dora received many letters of congratulations from dignitaries including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, opposition leader Anthony Albanese, SA Premier Steven Marshall, SA Governor Hieu Van Le, SA Energy and Mining Minister Dan Van Holst Pellekaan, Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone, and of course, Queen Elizabeth II.