Family gathers as Switzer resident turns 100

FIVE GENERATIONS: Ida Anderson celebrating her 100th birthday with family last week (see bottom of article for names).

There's nothing like a birthday party to bring a family together, and when it's a 100th birthday family can be expected to come from near and far.

So it was in Kaitaia last week, when Ida Anderson celebrated her 100th birthday at Switzer Residential Care.

Her sons Alan and Andy (of acting fame - The Sullivans, Gloss, Shortland Street, Packed to the Rafters' - Palmerston North) were there, along with granddaughter Denise Jellyman (who travelled from the Gold Coast with husband Gary), grandsons Matt Anderson and Richard Whaanga, great-granddaughter Rachael (Cains) and great-great-granddaughter Shontae Anderson, for an early afternoon celebration, with more expected to arrive that evening.

Ida was born in Te Puke but spent most of her life in Wellington, working alongside her husband Charles (Charlie) Biggs Anderson in Naenae, who died 13 years ago at the age of 87.

Ida subsequently left her home at Red Beach to live with her older son Alan and his partner Carolyn Smith north of Waiharara, before moving into Switzer a couple of years ago.

Charlie was a hairdresser, but although Ida was his assistant she never actually got to wield the clippers. Her turn finally came at Switzer Residential Care in April, at the age of 99, when Lesa Mullaney, aka the mobile hairdresser, offered her locks to raise funds for Far North Hospice, and Ida was put in charge.

Meanwhile her birthday cake, masquerading as a cupcake, only boasted one candle, but Ida said she had received gifts including flowers and make-up, and the expected cards from Her Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister. It was seeing her family that gave her the greatest pleasure though.

"I wouldn't change any of them," she said, adding that she was happy and "very, very well looked after" at the Switzer Home.

Names to accompany image: Besides Ida is older son Alan; standing from the left great-grandson Richard Whaanga, grandson Matt Anderson, son Andy Anderson and granddaughter Denise Jellyman; in front great-great-grandaughter Shontae Anderson and great-granddaughter Rachael Cains.