Assistant to Warrant Officer of the Navy and representing CN and WO-N, PO Paul Wetherspoon joins Mrs Squires, with ABBM Nikki Kopacz from the regulators office at HMAS Kuttabul.

Mrs Melinda Squires celebrated her 100th birthday last month and puts her longevity down to her "love of sailors" and "good eating".

Mrs Squires has had a long association with the RAN, her father Thomas McLeery serving as a petty officer on the first Sydney. She maintained the links communicating with members of the service particularly those of the latter Sydneys. In 1992 she attended Garden Island where she was feted by the Navy as she celebrated her 90th birthday.

On January 10 this year Mrs Squires wrote to the "Commanding Officer, Garden Island" apologising for not being able to come into Garden Island for her 100th birthday on February 26. (She had suffered a fall in her Manly Vale home had blacked out and had broken a bone in her ankle). In the letter she politely asked, "have you any spare, kind hearted, warm loving sailors to spare for an hour that day?"

Received by the commanding officer of HMAS Kuttabul, CMDR Vicki McConachie, the letter brought prompt attention.

"Yes, the Navy could supply some sailors for an hour."

Mrs Squires' appeal also reached the ears of the Chief of Navy, VADM Shackleton and those of the Maritime Commander, RADM Smith. They made 'things happen' too.

So, on the afternoon of February 26, the Navy took the party to Mrs Squires, now a patient in the Mona Vale Hospital. In one car rode PO Paul Wetherspoon, the assistant to the Warrant Officer of the Navy, representing CN and WO-N. Paul had a gift as did the Command Warrant Officer David Baker representing the Maritime Commander. In the second car rode a very large birthday cake and the cook who made it, LSCK Andrea Ruffy, from the Maritime Commander's staff.

Before a large crowd of well wishers, staff members, other patients, the Mayor of Manly Councillor Jean Hay and the Navy contingent Mrs Squires, resplendent in tiara and waving a magic wand, had no trouble blowing out the candles on the Navy cake.

Asked by Navy News for a reason for her longevity she responded ," it is because of the lovely Navy people. ...and eating right."

With a Navy scarf around her shoulders and a glass of champagne in her hand she toasted the RAN and posed for pictures with several members. She also did interviews for television and newspapers and did a direct talk to a radio station. Mrs Squires received letters of congratulations from the Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister and the Premier.

Photo by ABPH Kelvin Hockey

By Graham Davis