MRS Susan McFarlane.
DUNEDIN, May 15. Mrs Susan McFarlane, of Dunedin, celebrated her hundredth birthday on Wednesday. She is remarkably hale and hearty, and as active as many women 30 years her junior. Mrs McFarlane, who was born at Freecombe, a suburb of Arbroath, in Forfarshire, Scotland, was a daughter of Robert Edwards, who was employed on a local estate as a gamekeeper. On her marriage to Andrew McFarlane, she went to live in Perth, where her husband was a warder in the Perth Penitentiary. It was while Mrs McFarlane was at Perth that she met the late Queen Victoria. “I used to open the gate for her when she visited the gaol on her way to Balmoral Castle,” she remarked. With her husband, Mrs McFarlane came to New Zealand in 1878 in the sailing ship Canterbury, and they bought a house in Caversham. Mr McFarlane died many years ago. Both her father and mother lived to a good old age. Her rules for a long life are simply expressed: “A happy and contented mind; plenty of plain food; work hard; go to bed early and get up early.” -Grey River Argus, 20/5/1946.
Centenarian Sees Cavalcade
Dunedin’s oldest resident. Mrs Susan McFarlane, who will be 102 in May, was among the spectators who saw the Cavalcade of Progress at Dunedin last week. She watched it from her home at the foot of Maitland street without the aid of spectacles. -Press, 2/3/1948.
MEETING OF THREE CENTENARIANS IS CONSIDERED UNIQUE
(P.A.) Dunedin, March 28
Probably for the first time in the history of the world, three centenarians met over the week-end when Mrs. Susan McFarlane (Dunedin) and Mrs. O. Nielsen (Auckland) travelled by car 30 miles to Waikouaiti to extend birthday greetings to Mrs. George Williamson, who was 100 years old today. The combined ages of the three women totalled 302 years, and as they sat talking animatedly to one another they made a memorable picture. The meeting was all the more remarkable because it took place in Otago’s centennial year. Both Mrs. McFarlane and Mrs. Nielsen are 101, and they greatly enjoyed their drive into the country to meet the province’s youngest centenarian. Mrs. Williamson stayed in bed for the visit, and took it all with characteristic placidness and quiet enjoyment. She has excellent sight and good hearing, but suffers from rheumatism. For her birthday she received a cablegram from the King, numerous other messages of congratulations, several birthday cakes, and innumerable bunches of flowers.
All her family of two sons and five daughters were present for the birthday party, and her 92-year-old husband took a quiet pleasure in the proceedings. Last September Mr. and Mrs. Williamson celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. She is not too old to enjoy such occasions, and appreciated the significance of the meeting with two other centenarians. -Wanganui Chronicle, 29/3/1948.
TRAMWAYMEN’S GESTURE
CAKE FOR CENTENARIAN’S BIRTHDAY
The esteem which Dunedin's centenarian, Mrs Susan McFarlane, commands from many city tramwaymen will be again demonstrated when she celebrates her 102nd birthday on May 15. As was the case when she reached centenarian status, a birthday cake and a gift will this year be presented to her by some members of the transport staff. A well-known personality to numerous tramwaymen, Mrs McFarlane will receive with the cake a framed and sketched birthday card which will contain the signatures of between 60 and 70 members of the transport staff. The birthday party has been arranged by Motorman W. Summers, who will make the presentation. -Otago Daily Times, 6/5/1948.
Serious Illness Of Centenarian
Mrs Susan McFarlane, Dunedin centenarian, who was admitted to the Dunedin Public Hospital last week, has been placed on the dangerously ill list. Mrs McFarlane celebrated her 102nd birthday on May 15. -Otago Daily Times, 5/7/1948.
Centenarian Keen To Leave Hospital
Munching an apple, Mrs Susan McFarlane, Dunedin’s centenarian, was pleased to see visitors at the Public Hospital yesterday. Removed from the “dangerously ill” list, and now classed as only “seriously ill,” Mrs McFarlane is looking forward to leaving the hospital and going home again. At 102 years of age, she does not take kindly to “being shut up in this place.” Among her visitors yesterday were her two sons — Mr J. McFarlane, of Dunedin, and Mr A. McFarlane, of Christchurch — and Mr W. Summers, one of her special friends on the Dunedin Tramways.
Mrs McFarlane has not lost her appetite. After Mr J. McFarlane had peeled an apple for her yesterday, she munched away at it with obvious enjoyment. She was only sorry that there were no peppermints. Mrs McFarlane will eat peppermints at any time — even when she is on the “seriously ill” list. -Otago Daily Times, 8/7/1948.
Mrs McFarlane Deluged with Peppermints
Although she is still classed as seriously ill, a report from the Public Hospital last night said that Mrs Susan McFarlane, the Dunedin centenarian, was improving. Her longing for her favourite peppermints has been satisfied, for yesterday the office staff at the Hospital received what were described as “stacks” of peppermints and minties from some of the hundreds of people who are taking a close interest in the health of Dunedin’s oldest resident. Numbered among the parcels was an offering from a well-known city manufacturer. Mrs McFarlane was reported to be well enough to sit up in bed and enjoy some of her favourite sweets. -Otago Daily Times, 10/7/1948.
FEELING WELL
HOME NEXT WEEK
VISIT TO MRS McFARLANE
Mrs Susan McFarlane, 102 years old and very much alive, will probably be allowed to return to her home about Tuesday or Wednesday, of next week, according to an official report from the Public Hospital. “I shall be home next week for sure. I have been here long enough,” she said emphatically, when her friend, Mr W. Summers, accompanied by a Daily Times reporter, visited her. Sitting bolt upright in bed, wearing a pale blue cardigan and with her bed jacket fastened at the neck with a favourite brooch, Mrs McFarlane claimed to be feeling “as good as ever.” Like most elderly people, she has a decided preference for her own fireside, in spite of the care and attention which are lavished on her by the Hospital staff. Her chief reason for wanting to go home, however, is that her son, Mr Joseph McFarlane, “needs someone to look after him.” She is also concerned about the effect of her absence from home on her parrot. “He misses me badly when I am away. He just puts his head back and screams,” she said.
Mrs McFarlane has, in spite of her illness, managed to keep up to date in the matter of news of family interest, and discussed the doings, of some of her grandchildren at length. With obvious interest she received messages of greetings from a number of friends, and asked Mr Summers "to give them my love when you see them.” She inquired after several of her acquaintances among the tramwaymen. “They are good boys,” she said. It was apparent throughout the brief visit that Mrs McFarlane was more concerned with members of her family than with her own welfare, her reasons for wanting to go home being a positive indication of this. Since Mrs McFarlane was removed from the “seriously ill” list she has not lacked visitors. Her sons, Andrew and Joseph, again spent some time with her yesterday afternoon, and other callers have included the Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, and two clergymen whose names Mrs McFarlane could not remember. “They are all very good, but I will see them at home next time,” she said. -Otago Daily Times, 17/7/1948.
Mrs Susan McFarlane, Dunedin’s centenarian, was again placed on the seriously ill list at the Public Hospital at 3.30 p.m. yesterday and at 9 p.m. her name was transferred to the dangerously ill list. -Otago Daily Times, 22/7/1948.
Deaths
McFARLANE. — On July 22, 1948. at Dunedin, Susan McFarlane, of 15 Maitland street, loved mother of Joseph, Norman, Herbert, Andrew, Minnie and Margaret; in her 103rd year. — The Funeral will leave our Chapel, Clark street, on Saturday, July 24, at the conclusion of a service commencing at 9.45 a.m., for the Southern Cemetery.
— Hugh Gourley, Ltd., funeral directors. -Otago Daily Times, 23/7/1948.
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