Margaret James celebrates her 100th birthday on Friday, December 5.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
If Margaret ‘Peg’ James were to place a candle on her birthday cake for each year, it would simply topple over.
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After all, the weight of 100 candles does add up.
Peg, born Margaret Anne Millington in Sherwood, Brisbane, reaches the milestone of a century on Friday, December 5 – a remarkable feat she attributes to not smoking or drinking.
Although her daughter, Barbie Castle, chalks it up to friendly sibling rivalry.
“I believe the reason is that her elder sister turned 100, and that gave her the impetus to keep going — she’s 101 now,” Barbie said.
Margaret James, née Millington, 25, served as a bridesmaid for her older sister, Dorothy.
Four siblings in total, all now in their 90s and 100s, and Peg grew up in Queensland.
Their childhood was very much shaped by their father’s career in banking, with the family living in the gracious bank manager’s residence attached to the Queensland Bank – a building still standing today and now home to a casino.
“He was the manager for all of Queensland,” Peg said proudly.
Life eventually led her south, first to Bendigo, where she met a man, Arthur James, with whom it was love at first sight.
Margaret James, née Millington, and Arthur James, pictured when they were courting.
The couple soon wed and shared 65 wonderful years together.
During that time, they moved to Shepparton, raised three children — Barbie, Tom and John — and later explored the country in restored vintage cars.
“Australia’s a lovely country to travel,” Peg said.
“There’s a heck of a lot to see — a tremendous amount.”
In memory and in company, fate paved the road to a lifetime of riches.
But now, it’s her family’s turn to take the wheel.
Peg insists she plans to celebrate her birthday “very, very quietly”, yet relatives are travelling from across states, deserts and coastlines to mark her milestone over two days, including her three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
The chances of her having a quiet celebration? Zero.
The chances that a cake wouldn’t buckle under the weight of a hundred flickering candles? Also zero.
However, one thing is certain: Peg will turn 100.
And even though she insists, “I don’t feel any different”, a birthday surrounded by loved ones makes all the difference.
Arthur and Margaret James with one of their eight grandchildren.
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