Sadie has Christmas, birthday and community all wrapped up

IF CHRISTMAS is all about family, then Wonthaggi’s ‘Sadie’ Hanley, who turns 100 on Christmas day this year, must surely be the personification of that.

Sarah Therese ‘Nanna Sadie’ Hanley (nee O’Halloran), born at Korumburra on December 25, 1923, celebrated her 100th birthday, ahead of the day last Sunday afternoon, in a room packed with family and friends at the Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club.

Among them were five of her seven children; Denis (dec), Peter, Philip, Terry (absent), Leonie, Patsy and Maritta; and most of her 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

But, as considerable as her responsibilities have been to her own family over the years, Sadie’s mothering efforts went well beyond that to “always having a house full of people” right through her life.

“We shared our mum with the whole community,” said third of the Hanley siblings, Philip, during the afternoon speeches.

He was recalling a time when he had to wait in line, with a group of other junior footballers, for a hug from his mum when Sadie had turned up with sandwiches and supplies for the long trip to Maffra.

“If there was one word I could use to describe mum, it would be accommodating,” said second son Peter.

“Shelter, food and companionship… everyone was welcome. We always had a few extras staying over.

“Yes, they can come to our place, everyone was catered for,” he said.

“We were taught kindness and care. Be a good person,” said number six sibling Patsy, “and I think we’ve been able to pass that on.”

In true school-teacher style, Peter Hanley gave the context to Sadie’s long life; from horse-drawn carts to electric vehicles, chalk and slate blackboards to smart phones, and penicillin to Medicare; from the Great Depression and World War Two to the Vietnam War and the worrying national conflicts of today… there’s been a lot.

But asked for her secret to longevity, the answer from Sadie was “nothing special”.

“I’ve had seven kids, so I’ve always been busy. Hard work, I’ve always worked pretty hard. Just good food, I’m not a health freak. And ice cream and chocolate, I do like those.

“A house full of people, morning tea always and getting involved in the community.”

Seems simple enough, and if you wanted an answer to the eternal question of how long is a good innings? Sadie Hanley has that too.

Honestly, she looks fantastic, mobile and still giving plenty of cheek.

“You’re from the paper, you say, we don’t want anything in the paper.”

If I could just have a minute, Mrs Hanley?

“That would be one minute too long,” she said, with the flash of a smile.

It won’t be the first time Mrs Hanley has featured in the Sentinel-Times, having been pictured with the entire playing group from the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club earlier this year, where she has long been a life member, when she was honoured as Number One Ticketholder.

And it may not be her last. Happy 100th birthday, Sadie Hanley.