Multiple generations of family members gathered at Centenarians Row on Thursday, April 20 for the plaque unveiling in recognition of their ancestors.
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Two groups of families attended as two plaques were revealed.
Centenarians Row is a row of Liquid Amber trees lining Boundary Street at the edge of Gloucester District Park. Plaques have been placed at the base of some of the trees, marking former residents of Gloucester who have reached the age of 100 years or more.
It was established by the Gloucester Tidy Towns Committee to remember the regions citizens who have reached the milestone.
Three surviving generations of Thora Adele Watson’s (nee Bebbington) family attended the event.
Thora was born on December 7, 1915 and reached the age of 100 years. She lived the last 30 years of her life in the Gloucester region.
Her children have mainly dispersed to other areas of the State, but all came to town for the celebration.
One daughter Lyn Munro resides in Gloucester while her other daughter, Cheryl McDonnell travelled up from Sydney. Thora has two sons, Ian Watson, who lives in Dungog and Stephen Watson, who lives in Scone.
They were joined by Thora’s grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Gladys Easton (nee Higgins) was represented by two generations of her surviving family, all of whom travelled for the occasion.
Gladys was born in Gloucester on November 14, 1914 and spent a portion of her life in other parts of the country, before returning to the region.
She was 101 years old when she died.
Gladys has two daughter, Janice Simmons, who lives in Scone and Christine Williams, who lives in Newcastle.
She also has two sons, Bruce Easton, who lives in Forster and Ian Easton, who lives in Newcastle.
Most of her children were able to attend the ceremony, with only Ian unable to attend. They were joined by some of Gladys’s grandchildren.
Members of Gloucester Tidy Towns and MidCoast Council were also present for the unveiling. Gloucester Tidy Towns members, Norma Fisher spoke briefly to the crowd acknowledging and honouring both women and their families.
After the ceremony, family and friends were invited back to the Gloucester Senior Citizens Centre to enjoy some morning tea.
These plaque have added to the already 19 residents who will be forever remembered in Centenarians Row. The first tree was planted in 2003 and the oldest remembered so far is, Elizabeth Louisa Young, who died at age 105.