IT is a very special day for Gawler’s Cora Sutch, who turns 100-years-old.
Cora has lived at Southern Cross Care’s Bellevue Court Residential Care for the past five years – having lived independently in Gawler up until then, and will be celebrating with close friends and family, this afternoon.
She will also have a party with extended family on the weekend, something her son Paul Sutch said she is very much looking forward to.
“She’s a loving and caring mum, grandmother and great-grandmother and just loves having family and kids around,” he said.
“She’s still very active and enjoys playing bingo; she likes to go out for outings and still makes sure to read the Sunday Mail every week.”
Cora was born at Tanunda to parents Frederick Koithan and Meta ‘Anna’ (nee Augusta), the second eldest of five.
She met her late husband Derek Sutch while working at a Rundle Mall department store – he worked in the floor furnishing section while she was a receptionist.
The pair were married in 1953 and lived for a short while in New Zealand and then the United Kingdom before returning to Tanunda with eldest child Paul, who was two at the time.
Younger sister Jackie soon followed and the family made a home for themselves in Gawler, opening the Derek Sutch Furnishers business in Murray Street, and later Tod Street, Gawler.
The family business operated for many years until the late 80s and was behind Gawler’s famous ‘Christmas tree’ that would light up on the corner of Reid and Jacob Streets every festive season.
Derek passed in 1993 and Cora continued to live in Gawler, having homes in Willaston and Hewett until moving to Bellevue Court, in Gawler East, just five years ago.
As for her good age, son Paul said it might be something to do with good genes.
Her father was 93 when he passed and two brothers made it into their 90s.
A sister, Brenda, is 94 and will be at the party on Saturday.