Turning points: Sep06 - Vi Robbins

Whether they’re involved in charity work, fundraising or conservation, these four women have found that helping others and making a contribution to the community has enriched their lives.

Vi Robbins, 104, enjoyed a long career and a happy marriage. Life changed dramatically when Vi’s husband died, but the great-grandmother has continued to lead a fulfilling life by staying active and helping people less fortunate than herself.

“I was the eldest child in my family: there were three girls and two boys. My mother and father died in their seventies, and one of my sisters lived until she was ninety-four, but they’ve all passed on now. I don’t know why they’ve gone and I’m still here.

“I was twenty-nine when I married – Ted was a wonderful husband. We went through the Depression and two world wars together. I worked at Nestlé for more than thirty years. I was supposed to retire at sixty, but in the end I stayed until I was sixty-five. It was a good company to work for and I enjoyed my life there very much.

“When my husband retired we were going to do all sorts of things, but he just wasn’t well. He had heart trouble and died when he was sixty-seven. That was a big change. He used to do all the driving – I never learned to drive. We used to have some nice trips in the car. I do miss him.

“I’ve been on my own for a long time. I had my daughter Gail with me until she got married, and since then she’s never been all that far away. Gail is my only child and I have four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“I know many people who are old, but not nearly as old as I am, and they don’t do very much. They say they’re just going to sit back and enjoy being old. I don’t enjoy being old; I like to do things. You can’t just live in four walls; you have to get out and enjoy yourself.

“I think you should always try to help those people who are less fortunate than yourself. You’ve got to think how lucky you are every day. In this country we are very lucky. Look at all the things that are happening overseas; there’s so much trouble in the world. They fight for everything; they don’t talk about it or try to work through things.

“Once a week I volunteer at The Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney – it’s only in the clerical side; I don’t do anything special really. I’m also a member of the Soroptimist club, which is a worldwide organisation for women in management and the professions. We work through community service projects to raise the status of women and advance human rights for all. Soroptimists promote equality, development and peace.

“After the 2004 tsunami, Soroptimist clubs around the world put their monies together and now we’re in the process of rebuilding a village in Aceh, Indonesia. It’s a wonderful organisation and I’ve been a member for fifty years.

“Gail is my social secretary. She’s marvellous to me – she’s always on the other end of the phone and she’s always putting meals in my freezer. I cook my own meals as well, but it’s very nice to go to the freezer and find dinner is already there.

“I’ve always been active. I think exercise is really important and I used to walk everywhere. I don’t walk as much now, but I still walk a bit. And I always eat proper food; I don’t like junk food.

“I like to read a lot. I’d rather read than watch television, unless there’s something that’s really worth watching. I watch the news, but there’s nothing very exciting on television these days, not happy things. I always like to see the happy side of things, no matter how bad things seem at times.

“I’m very fortunate, I’ve never been sick in my life. I had my first operation last year when I had a pacemaker put in: I was 103 and they told me I was the oldest patient in Australia to get a pacemaker.

“I don’t like the idea of going away to a retirement village – it’s good to be around things you know and I know everyone around here. I’ve got a lot of young friends who are in their seventies or younger. I love the young ones.

“The best part of my life so far? The young part of my life I enjoyed very much. The worst part was losing my husband. But I’m very fortunate. I’ve had a good life, I really have.”

 

 

Words: Karen Spresser and Josephine Brouard. Photography: Scott Hawkins. Styling: Nicholas Sholl. Hair & make-up: Yolanda Lukowski.