Doris turns 100
When Doris Lobb (nee Taylor) was born Stanley Bruce was Australia’s Prime Minister and King George V was on the throne.
Last week the 100-year-old received a birthday card from that King’s great grandson, King Charles III and his wife Camilla to mark her amazing milestone.
The Royal greeting was among several from politicians and Governors which were admired at a special birthday gathering for Doris at the Anglicare retirement village at Castle Hill where she has lived for the past 17 years..
Doris was born at home in Kogarah where she lived with her parents Mary and Wiliam Taylor and her three siblings (Norma, Billy and Bobby).
She met her husband Ainsley at Kogarah Railway Station where he worked in the kiosk selling sweets and gum. He definitely liked the look of this particular commuter and would give her free gum and sweets. Dorice was a machinist at the Betta Shoe Factory and so would pass the kiosk several times a week.
It took a while but he eventually plucked up the courage to ask her out on a date and they were married in 1944. They celebrated for over 70 years of marriage together before Ainsley passed away.
They had four children (Maxwell, Brian, Coleen and Alan), four grandchildren (Kelly, Russell, Andrew and Christopher), At the moment Doris has five great granddaughters (Hannah, Ashleigh, Lauren, Emma and Evelyn) with a sixth grandchild due any day now.
Doris and Ainsley raised their family in Seven Hills before retiring to the Blue Mountains after 24 years working for Prospect County Council. The couple then moved to Baulkham Hills to live before moving to the Anglican Retirement Village at Castle Hill in 2007.
Her grand daughter Kelly said it was a lovely celebration lunch with family, including her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“My memories include spending many summers taking Nan to the SCG to watch the Cricket – she loved it, and also to live musicals.
“She loved spending time with her family, watching the daytime soap operas and reading the weekly magazines and would talk fondly about her working life where she worked hard as a machinist for Hestia and Playtex.
“She (also) has a huge sweet tooth (probably keeping Cadbury in business).”
