“Being 100 doesn’t feel any different to 99,” Maisie told the Mail. “It’s in the genes,” said her daughter Helen. “Her sister is 98 years old. Hopefully, that’s a good omen for us!”
Maisie was born in Castlemaine on April 13, 1923, where she enjoyed school, bike riding, and bonfires.
“We used to go to school and come home and do our homework,” commented Maisie.
“We didn’t have a home phone and there was no car so we walked everywhere. Not that we went many places in those days, but if we did we’d go by train.”
At the age of 19 Maisie enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). She worked at the University of Melbourne in the Flying Personnel Research Unit after it was established in September 1943. Reaching the rank of corporal, Maisie was discharged in 1946.
According to Matt Keogh, the Minister for Veteran Affairs, Maisie enjoyed the friendships she made while serving and still has contact every Christmas with her long-term friend Essie Henderson.
After leaving WAAAF Maisie worked as a salesperson in Castlemaine, before moving to Western Australia where she met Stanley Douglas. They were married in 1947 and had two children Helen and John.
Maisie worked on the Western Australian goldfields as a salesperson, postmistress, and telephonist, while Stan was mining and gold prospecting
Stan, who also served and was a prisoner of war in Europe, sadly passed away in 1991.
Maisie returned to Castlemaine in 2005 and celebrated her centennial birthday up the road from where she was born, surrounded by family, friends, and a pile of cards and letters from the King, the Prime Minister, and a host of others.
“I had a good day yesterday. There were lots of cakes, flowers, and cards.”
Maisie’s advice to the younger generations? Slow down and eat well. Don’t rush around too much.