Au Cap honours oldest citizen on her 100th birthday
07.07.2009
Julia Rosine of Au Cap had double cause for happiness at the weekend as she celebrated her 100th birthday and was honoured as the district’s oldest citizen.
A day-long ceremony was held at the Vye Marmit restaurant with her adopted children, other family members and friends present.
Also there were special guests including members of Au Cap’s elderly citizens’ group, National Assembly member Marc Naiken and district administrator Doris Marengo, who had all joined in with the family to meet the costs and make the day a memorable one.
Mrs Rosine has lived at Au Cap for the past 36 years. She had a son who died but she also adopted four children, three of whom still live with her. Last year her husband Emmanuel passed away at the age of 94.
She needs a wheelchair to move around in since she lost a leg five years ago to a blocked vein, and has treatment for blood pressure and gout, but otherwise is generally healthy.
According to a family member, Mrs Rosine worked at various jobs, such as being a housekeeper, dehusking coconuts and collecting cinnamon bark.
On Sunday, she started her birthday by attending mass at the Pointe Au Sel chapel then moved to the Vye Marmit for the day’s festivities.
In the afternoon, just before she cut her cake, a cheerful Mrs Rosine said with a smile that it was all her hard work that had kept her healthy and strong so she could reach such an age, although she admitted she did not really expect to.
Mr Naiken presented her with a trophy, after which everyone sang birthday songs and passed on their good wishes.