At 100 years old, Kath Belling is living testimony to the merits of home cooking and the benefits of clean air. She marked this impressive milestone surrounded by family on Wednesday, February 19, at a celebration held in Berry, Australia. Importantly, Mrs. Belling still lives independently at her home in South Nowra and does not take any medication.
"They wouldn't," Mrs. Belling stated firmly when asked if her family ever suggested she move to assisted living.
The eldest of nine children, Mrs. Belling, born Kathleen Warnes, has roots deeply planted in her childhood spent on the family farm on Woodhill Mountain Road, Berry. A time when life was simple and everyone relied on what they could grow and produce themselves.
Reflecting on those days, she said, "It was hard, I suppose, but we didn't know any different." Her family did own one of the few cars on the mountain, which made them responsible for helping neighbors during emergencies. Still, visits to town were rare, typically occurring just once each month due to the poor condition of the roads. "If you had a car you had to look after all your neighbors if they got sick - heart problems and stuff," she remembered.
Mrs. Belling’s childhood also came with its fair share of challenges. She recounted one remarkable incident from her youth: "My brother nearly cut the end off my finger with a tomahawk. We were supposed to be chopping the corn off the cob for the fowls, and he got finished so he chopped my finger. I showed mum, the end was hanging off. She stuck it back on." Her mother handled this with great care using kerosene for sanitation, which was common practice then.
Schooling was limited; Mrs. Belling began her education at Berry before moving on to Nowra Public School. There was no dialogue about secondary education, as many children from her generation went straight to work after primary school.
When World War II broke out, Mrs. Belling took on work at a guest house, providing hospitality for timber workers and staff at the Horlicks factory, which was important for supplying food to troops abroad. It was during this period she met her future husband, Arthur Belling, who was then living near Wagga and working in Bomaderry. They married in 1945.
The couple purchased their first home—a three-bedroom house on Coomea Street—costing 100 pounds, which they paid off at the rate of one pound each week. Over the years, they would move to North Street, Berry, where they raised their five children, who later blessed them with 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Many gathered to celebrate her centennial milestone at the CWA hall.
Mrs. Belling credits her long and healthy life to her independence and strong spirit, traits amplified following her husband's death in 1977. Her upbringing revolved mainly around home gardening and self-sufficiency; they grew nearly everything they ate. "Just live healthy, none of this modern stuff," she advised. Gardening has remained her passion, sustaining her physical health. "I think that's why I've lived so long," she shared, noting how some of her children come by to help occasionally with the gardening.
Her story is not just about reaching 100 years of age but also about valuing family, healthy living, and the importance of maintaining one's independence, all woven together through the rich fabric of her experiences. Mrs. Belling's life is marked by simplicity and love, lessons she shares with her family, hoping they carry on her tradition of health and resilience.