Gwendoline Hester Mclean - 101 years

Gwen speaks about her life with a calm certainty that comes from more than a century of living with purpose. At 101 years of age, and recently honoured at the My Guardian Centenarians Lunch, she reflects on her childhood in Ashfield, the lessons she carried from her grandmother and the deep joy she found in love and family.

Gwen was born in Ashfield and lived there for more than thirty years. She remembers a time when a dairy farm stood opposite her childhood home. Every morning she would walk over with a Billy can to collect the day’s milk for her mother. It is a simple memory but one that captures the rhythm and warmth of her early years.

Gwen shares advice from her grandmother, a loving but very strict woman who shaped much of her thinking. Her grandmother would tell her, you love many, you trust few and always paddle your own canoe. To Gwen this meant do what you think is right. It is a message that guided her choices and helped her build a life defined by integrity and compassion.

The happiest times in Gwen’s life were marrying her husband and the birth of her daughter. Her husband served in the Navy and she adored him deeply. She remembers their wedding day with vivid fondness. He arrived on the longest day of the year with a fortnight’s leave and she recalls sitting at the reception thinking it was the longest day of my life because I have been waiting for this day to come.

Her daughter has been a joy to her ever since and remains one of the most treasured parts of her story.

When Gwen reflects on her life, she speaks warmly of the people she helped along the way. She looked after her disabled brother both mentally and physically for seventy two years. She says this with no complaint but with a quiet pride in having done what she could.

Gwen believes the best thing one can do in life is to help others and she feels content knowing she lived by that principle.

Gwen’s life is filled with compassion resilience and love. Her story is a gentle reminder of how powerful kindness can be across generations. We are honoured to share her journey and celebrate her remarkable one hundred and one years.

On 23 October 2025, Gwen joined remarkable Australians aged 100 and over at the My Guardian Centenarians Lunch at NSW Parliament House. The gathering earned a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest gathering of centenarians and celebrated more than fifteen thousand combined years of lived experience.

The celebration also aligned with the national transition to the Support at Home program which will help older Australians access personalised care and greater independence. It highlighted the continuing importance of Home Care Packages for those who wish to live safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Gwen’s story reflects the importance of meaningful care understanding and companionship as people age. Many older Australians benefit from Home Care Packages or the new Support at Home program which offer personalised support to help them continue living well. Some residents also receive additional help from organisations such as My Guardian a trusted aged care and disability provider that helps older Australians maintain independence with tailored in home care.

These supports together with family love and community connection ensure that remarkable people like Gwen continue enjoying the memories and moments that matter most.

In the spirit of Australia Day, we acknowledge the people whose lives quietly shaped our country. Her journey reminds us that Australia’s identity is built not only through milestones, but through lived experience, love and resilience across generations.