Get Involved - Parliament

Betty Gemmell

Published on: May 2023

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-131514

Betty Gemmell

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (19:29:21):

As has been said, age is simply the number of years the world has been enjoying you, and the world has truly been enjoying Mosman local Betty Gemmell, who has reached the incredible milestone of her 106th birthday. Betty is believed to be the oldest woman living in New South Wales, having lived through many major historical events including both world wars, the Great Depression and the moon landing. She has seen 27 Prime Ministers come and go. She is the eldest of seven children and still lives independently in Mosman. She was swimming daily at Balmoral until the age of 98. Betty had a successful career at the Bank of Australasia and was the bank's first women's club secretary. She settled on the lower North Shore in 1954, first living in Cremorne—where I call my home—for 10 years before moving to Mosman, where she has lived ever since. Betty's secret to long life, she said to me, is small meals, a regular whisky, and being happy and cheerful. Congratulations on this incredible milestone, and I wish Betty and her family all the best.