Story by Rhylea Thompson
While Jean Whatman will tell you she does not know the secret to a long and happy life, those who know the Centenarian, would say her resilience and kindness are contributing factors.
Despite her desire for everyone to “not make a fuss”, the Seasons resident recently celebrated her 100th birthday with not one, but two special parties.
BIRTHDAY WISHES: Seasons Waterford West resident Jean Whatman (front) cutting one of her cakes with her daughter. Picture: Rhylea Thompson
Jean’s son and third child Rick said he was grateful for his mum’s patience and the values she instilled in him and his siblings.
“It sounds cliche, but she is perfect,” he said.
“If I had a choice of all the mothers in the world, I would pick my mum every time.
“Everyone probably thinks that about their own mum, but there’s honestly not a bad thing I can say about her… well, she wouldn’t let me grow my hair out when I was young, but she eventually gave in and let me do it anyway.”
‘SHE’S PERFECT’: Seasons Waterford West resident Jean Whatman (right) with her son Rick Whatman, who said he could not say a bad word about his Mum. Picture: Rhylea Thompson
Born and raised on her family’s dairy farm, Jean faced her first hardship at the age of 10 when her father passed away. From that day on, Jean, her six siblings and their widowed mother worked hard to keep the farm running.
Intelligent and active, Jean completed high school, excelled in several sports and eventually worked in laboratories for a government-owned organisation, which would later be named the CSIRO.
After meeting her husband Bruce through school and sport, their budding teenage romance hit a hurdle as Bruce was deployed in the Second World War, where he remained for years.
Upon his return, Bruce was eager to get married straight away, but Jean made him wait a full year before the pair tied the knot at St John’s Church in Canberra.
Married for 67 years, the couple share four children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
When Jean got married and had children, she was sadly forced to leave her career as women with families were not permitted to work as a public servant at the time.
MEMORY LANE: A photograph of Seasons Waterford West resident Jean Whatman when she was younger. Picture: Rhylea Thompson
“If you wonder what Mum was doing while Dad was at the War – she was busy milking cows, cutting hay and driving tractors around the dairy farm, and then she got her job at the lab,” Rick said.
“It’s actually quite interesting because the same thing happened to Mum’s parents… her father was sent to serve in World War I not long after he met her mother.
“My dad was content living in his house with his wife and children and working in his veggie patch out back, but Mum was always been a free spirit who wanted to do everything and see the world.”
Jean’s taste for adventure only grew stronger with age as she travelled around Europe and the United Kingdom in her 70s.
She also regularly drove herself to the Snowy Mountains, staying in youth hostels and climbing up slimy, boulder-covered creeks to go birdwatching.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: The team at Seasons Waterford West marked Jean’s 100th milestone birthday with a special lunch, live entertainment and three homemade cakes. Picture: Rhylea Thompson
When Bruce sadly passed away in 2010, Jean found it increasingly difficult to maintain her large four-bedroom home and garden in Canberra, so she relocated to Seasons Waterford West, where she could also be closer to her daughter and receive the care she required.
The Waterford West resident said she loved the social component of Seasons, as well as the general atmosphere, Lifestyle Calendar, team and of course – the warmer Queensland weather.
“You couldn’t be more cared for by a better group of people than the staff who care for me here at Seasons,” she said.
“They are a wonderful team, but they are also wonderful individuals… they are dedicated and always so kind to me.”
SUGAR OVERLOAD: The team at Seasons Waterford West marked Jean’s 100th milestone birthday with a special lunch, live entertainment and three homemade cakes. Picture: Rhylea Thompson
Reflecting on her 100th birthday, Jean said she had witnessed many significant changes over the years, from the women’s rights movement, to the release of the first motor vehicle, aircraft and television.
“I saw an aeroplane for the first time when I was a young girl… I remember running after it in the cow paddock and shouting at the pilot to be careful in case he fell out,” she said.
“We didn’t have television back then, so everything we knew was printed in the newspaper.”
Asked what advice she would offer the younger version of herself, Jean said “choose your battles and be kind.”
To celebrate her milestone birthday, Jean’s family gathered at her grandson’s property, with nearly 50 relatives in attendance – many of whom she had not seen in decades as they live interstate.
The Seasons team also marked the occasion with a special lunch, live entertainment and three beautiful homemade cakes.
