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Good things come to those who wait – even 100th birthday parties.
New centenarian Joan Ballentine reached the milestone on March 20 then joined her friends and the Women’s Section of the Warkworth RSA for an afternoon tea at the RSA in Neville Street on April 1.
Ballentine joked they’d forgotten her birthday in March but had made up for it.
“I like what the people here have done for me today – it’s been excellent,” she said.
“I got a letter from King Charles and (Queen) Camilla, also the Governor-General and the Prime Minister and various other ones. They had a huge lot of cards here. It’s been good.”
All the fuss was fitting as it’s Ballentine who is usually the one doing things for other people and has dedicated many years of her life to serving the Rodney community in a variety of ways.
Not least taking part in Women’s Institute activities and serving as the president of the local branch for several terms; fundraising for charities such as the Warkworth and Wellsford Hospice; and in her role as a member of the Red Cross and the Warkworth RSA.
In 2018 she was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her considerable efforts.
Ballentine said she fell in love with Warkworth when she used to holiday here with her children and husband, a World War II veteran who passed away in 2003.
“We stayed at the many beaches and took a fancy to Warkworth. After nine years we decided to retire here, which was around 1980. We just joined everything – the RSA and Women’s Institute and all sorts of things,” she said.
“My husband and I were very involved in the community but also travelled a lot overseas. We did house exchanges – once in England, and once in Canada. We were always busy.”
Now at Summerset Falls retirement village, life looks a little different for Ballentine, however she’s still getting involved as much as she can – it’s just on a slightly smaller scale.
“I join in with everything over there. We play indoor games and do quizzes and karaoke, things like that. I help a lot of the others. It’s very good.”
Ballentine said her aim now was to get to 101 years old.
“That’s my goal. I want to get my money’s worth out of my passport,” she said.
