Pingelly’s Florence ‘Ellie’ Parsons celebrates 102nd birthday and reflects on ‘fortunate’ life

Hailing from Pingelly and known for her baking skills, centenarian Florence “Ellie” Parsons has celebrated her 102nd birthday and reflected on her “fortunate” life while surrounded by family and friends. Ms Parsons had two birthday celebrations this year — one with the team at Baptistcare Kalkarni Residential Aged Care in Brookton and another with her family. She was born in Pingelly on August 14, 1920, to her parents Florence “May” and Walter “Clarrie” Hughes. She was raised on the family farm with her siblings Dulcie and Walter and attended the small one-teacher primary school Woodlands, arriving by horse and cart each morning. At the age of 15, she left school to pursue work on the family farm, where she met her future husband Robert Parsons, who was working for her father at the time. They were married in April 1941 and created a life together at their property at Sunny Brae in West Pingelly. They had three children — Beryl, Graeme and Colin. Ms Parsons remembers sewing her children’s clothes on a treadle sewing machine at night by the light of a kerosene lamp. During the working day, she tended to the livestock and chickens but she particularly enjoyed looking after her prized garden, which was overflowing with flowers, vegetables and fruit. Harvesting the fruits of her labour inspired her love for cooking and baking, which included regularly making jams, butter, bread and cakes. The flowers picked from her garden were exhibited in the annual RSL flower show. Ms Parsons’ children recalled that the only time they saw their mother cry was when they returned from church one Sunday to find a “big old cow called Shirley” had broken into their garden and destroyed the vegetable patch. The centenarian was an active member of the community, attending the Pingelly Uniting Church, working for the Pingelly Agricultural Society and joining the Pumphreys Country Women’s Association. The Parsons family tree has grown significantly over the years, with Ms Parsons now having seven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Her two sons, Graeme and Colin, still farm in the Pingelly and Wandering areas. Around Kalkarni, Ms Parsons is known for her baking skills. “I enjoy baking because it brings me joy. I love cooking and baking for everyone, not just myself and my family,” she said. “If I don’t bake every now and then I’ll go mad.” This year, Kalkarni’s chef Ravi Subbiah stepped in to prepare a birthday cake for the milestone celebration. The centre’s residential care manager, June Harwood, said Ms Parsons was a great example of living life to the fullest. “Ellie still embraces her hobbies and interests and enjoys participating in the various social activities here at Kalkarni,” she said. When asked for her secret to a long and happy life, Ms Parsons said it was about being grateful. “I have been very fortunate with good parents and a good husband,” Ms Parsons said. “I never expected a lot in life. “I enjoy talking to everyone and being kind. “The key is not to expect anything in life. “I was very happy with everything I had.”