The whole family were there to celebrate, including daughter Carmel (Paola lives with Carmel; unfortunately, her other daughter Lina passed away some years ago), plus seven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Born into a large family and raised in a mountain area near the town of Saint Ilario, in Calabria, Paola married Carlo.

Following her marriage, she came down from the mountain and moved to the countryside, a little closer to Saint Ilario but still “out of town”.

The couple had two children, Carmel and Lina.

During her first 45 years of life, Paola dedicated herself to the home, the land and the cows.

She planted wheat and brought it to the mill for grinding; she milked the cows and knew how to make cheese and ricotta as well as bread and oil from the olives on their land.

It was an isolated, yet happy life, Paola remembers.

She didn’t have the opportunity to learn to read and write.

Her husband Carlo immigrated to Australia, from where he sent money to the family and in the meantime began constructing a house in Queanbeyan.

The sudden death of Carlo and the wise advice of a lawyer convinced Paola to undertake the long journey with her daughters in 1964, to see if she could resolve the question of the house.

They decided to stay, as the house was already habitable.

When asked how she found life in Australia, Paola immediately responds: “Very nice!”

(Paola speaks Calabrian but learnt enough English to get by).

Her daughters immediately began attending school, and social service St Vincent Society made themselves available to assist the family in organising themselves and resolving the question of the house, thanks to an honest interpreter.

“Life is better here,” Paola says with conviction.

It’s certainly true that in the beginning she missed her family very much, as well as the solidarity of the community of her homeland, but in Queanbeyan, Paola and her daughters found the Calabrian community and were immediately at ease.

Paola has a strong and warm character; she is lively and has a great sense of humour.

She drinks and eats all sorts of food, and very much enjoys coffee and wine.

She’s also very physically fit; it seems like she’s only 80!

Paola has weak legs and uses a walker, but she doesn’t suffer from any illness, and sees without glasses, walks up and down the stairs every day (with a walking stick), feels strong, and crochets every day, making blankets for all her great-grandchildren.

She’s already said that after her death, each of her grandchildren must bring a flower, and together they will cover her coffin.

The secret for a long life?

“Eat and drink, have courage and keep a cool head!” says Paola.

Hard work, a healthy diet and a pinch of happiness have all undoubtedly contributed to Paola reaching this phenomenal goal.

And we wish her all the best, so that she may continue in the same way, into her second century.