This year, she celebrated her 100th birthday with a joyous high tea, surrounded by family and friends. The highlight of the afternoon was Aileen herself, delivering a 10-page speech that was equal parts honest, heartfelt, and deeply grateful.
Among the many birthday honours was a congratulatory letter from King Charles. However, in true Aussie style, Aileen said the biggest thrill was a surprise video birthday message from Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield. “I love the Cats,” she said with a wide smile, proving that some passions stay strong no matter the years.
Born into a dairy farming family, Aileen’s early life was shaped by hard work and loss. Her mother died when Aileen was just five, leaving a hole that never truly healed. Daily life was gruelling: up at 5am to work at the dairy, followed by household chores and school.
One of her jobs was delivering fresh milk around Mansfield, long before bottles were common. “People left out jugs and basins, and I had to pour carefully from heavy 10-gallon cans into smaller containers. It was hard physical work, and sometimes I had no time for breakfast before school.”
Despite the hardship, writing became her outlet. Words offered comfort, and later a lifelong love of poetry.
Everything changed the night she met Les at a country dance. That meeting turned into a marriage of almost 60 years, built on love, resilience, and ballroom dancing. “When we met, Les had nothing, I had even less, but together we had everything.”
The couple became a fixture at local balls, winning awards as Belle and Beau of the Ball, teaching debutantes, and even judging competitions. Aileen’s love of dance passed to her daughters, with many evenings spent sewing sequins on costumes for competitions.
Beyond dancing, Aileen is a gifted poet and has written hundreds of verses. One of her favourites, about the 1946 Ashes, was signed by cricket great Keith Miller and is still a treasured memento.
She’s also a celebrated cook and baker who won recognition through the Country Women’s Association, and even made scones for her own milestone birthday. She shared her secret: “The minute you think you’re going to bake scones, turn the oven on. It must be hot.”
Aileen credits her longevity to wholesome food, physical work, and a strong sense of purpose – values instilled on the farm and carried through her marriage and motherhood. The favourite chapter of her life? “Probably when Les retired and we moved to Frankston during the 1990s. We both enjoyed good health, we continued to dance, and I was still baking slices and cakes. Soon our home was known as ‘the house of slice’.”
Though Les died 16 years ago, his memory is woven into every part of her story. Aileen recently moved into aged care, but she remains spirited, sharp, and surrounded by love.
