Keeping busy is the key as Nellie nears 100

“I think being busy all your life (is the key),” she said when asked about her secret to a long life.

“Being able to knit and sew and join the conversations and help out wherever you can.”

By the age of seven, Mrs Lees was already sitting at the sewing machine, making her own pyjamas and clothes.

When World War II broke out, she left school at the age of 15 to help her father on the family farm, where she milked cows and learnt to drive one of the few tractors in the district.

But growing up during this time wasn’t all work.

“They had balls every second night,” she said.

“So, we used to go to the dances and Mum and Dad would play cards.”

Mrs Lees recalls being named ‘belle of the ball’ about five times.

“I used to dress up pretty well,” she said.

It was also during the war that a pair of knitted socks sparked a lifelong friendship for Mrs Lees.

She tucked her address into the toe before she sent the socks overseas, and when a woman named Olive wrote back, it began a pen-pal friendship that spanned decades and eventually led to the pair meeting when Mrs Lees travelled overseas in 1995.

After the war, in 1948, she married Ken Lees, and together they built a life on a sheep and wheat farm west of Rochester where they raised their three sons, David, John and Adrian.

Mrs Lees became a busy member of the community, throwing herself into everything, including committees and volunteer roles.

Those sewing and knitting skills learnt at a young age served her well when she joined the Country Women’s Association, where she became a life member, judging agricultural shows across the region and combining her love of craft with meeting new people.

“To meet people is a wonderful thing,” she said.

Her community involvement extended far beyond the CWA, as she served as a Justice of the Peace, held leadership roles in Probus, joined school committees and helped out with Girl Guides, even though she had no daughters.

Her service to the community was recognised in 2012 when she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.

“I’ll tell you what, you don’t really need a lot of schooling because look what I’ve done,” she said.

Now living at Warramunda Village in Kyabram, Mrs Lees remains active and enjoys a busy social life.

She fills her days by participating in activities including carpet bowls and putt-putt golf, and enjoys some friendly competition, something her collection of certificates prove.

In the evenings she crochets rugs and caps, many of which are gifted and have become high in demand around the village.

As she celebrates this milestone, surrounded by family and with a card from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in hand, Mrs Lees is a reminder that life is best lived keeping busy.