WWII Veteran and Resthaven Resident Celebrates Centenarian Milestone

Happy 100th birthday to Mrs Aileen Hart, who celebrated her milestone on 4 January 2024, in her home at Resthaven Malvern. Mrs Hart’s daughter, Julie, says, "Mum was an only child, born and raised in Woodville, and went to the local school there."

"Her father - my grandfather - worked for the Hindmarsh Building Society, and she was very close with her mum, being an only child."

After completing her intermediate studies at Woodville High School, Mrs Hart commenced short-hand training, and found a typist role at the Vacuum Oil Company—the first Australian oil company to open in 1895.

"Mum and Dad (Robert) met there—he was working as a bookkeeper at the time, but it wasn’t long before he went off to war in a petroleum role in New Guinea."

"Mum was active in the war too, joining the Women’s Australian National Service to provide training to the military, right up until it ended in 1945. She was proud to serve our country."

During this time, the couple married at St Margaret’s in Woodville, settling down in a house of their own in the area.

The newlyweds soon welcomed their daughter, Julie, into the family.

Julie says, "We have always been very close, and I think even more so that we are both only-children and have that closer bond—the same as she experienced with her own mother."

After World War II, Mr Hart started up a family business as a butcher, while Mrs Hart tended to the home.

"Mum has always been a quiet and reserved person by nature. She always loved to read biographies, oftentimes saying 'a true story is much better than fiction.'"

"If she wasn’t reading, she was listening to classical music, or busy on the tennis courts—keeping her mind and body active was very important to Mum throughout her life."

Now, as Mrs Hart celebrates her centenarian milestone, she enjoys her quiet lifestyle at Resthaven Malvern, close to her daughter who lives nearby.

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