The elegant Mary Smith was among a trio of Tenterfield Bridge Club ladies celebrating birthdays last week, although everyone has a fair way to go to catch her.
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It seems like only yesterday that the Millrace and Bridge Club communities were celebrating Mary’s century along with family and friends, but Mary racked up birthday 101 on Thursday, June 21.
She was born in Merriwa in 1917, attending secretarial school in Sydney before joining Boyded Motors (run by her uncle Daniel Clifton) as a secretary until she married William in 1939.
After raising sons Kevin and Howard she undertook clerical work at Blue Mountains District Hospital in the 20 years leading up to her retirement, while also being a handy tennis player.
She drove up to the age of 80, shortly before following son Kevin to Tenterfield in 1999 after the loss of William.
She remains a keen and crafty bridge player and is hard to beat at Scrabble.
Mary was in good company with fellow bridge players Lucia Peters and Claire Unsworth also celebrating birthdays.
