DEER Park resident Elizabeth Byrne celebrated her 100th birthday at Western Hospital last Friday.

Her son James Byrne, 65, said Mrs Byrne was an inspiration.

“She’s lived on her own for all these years and only moved to the hospital last month,” he said.

“She’s a very positive person - it takes a lot for her to be down - and I think that’s got a lot to do with her reaching this milestone.”

Mrs Byrne first settled in Braybrook after she moved to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1951.

Her husband, Jim Byrne, worked for the Victorian Railways, mainly in Newport, and Mrs Byrne worked at the Besters chocolate factory, which was based in Braybrook.

Her granddaughter, Caron Byrne, said in those days women who worked at Besters could munch on chocolate as they worked.

“Nanny always said that too much chocolate helped contribute to an ulcer she developed in middle age,” she said.

But Mrs Byrne shifted to healthier eating habits, her granddaughter recalls.

“(She) always swears by plenty of fruit and vegies in the diet,” Ms Byrne said.

“She still occasionally bakes apple pie and cooks for her family.”

Mr and Mrs Byrne moved out to Jan Juc in the late 1960s but Mrs Byrne returned to the West when her husband died in 1976.

“Nanny moved back to Melbourne and settled in Deer Park to be close to family and old friends,” Ms Byrne said.

“Nanny enjoyed many happy occasions at the Sunshine Senior Citizens Club, where she is one of only a small number of life members.”

Ms Byrne said her grandmother loved to sing and dance and was “very skilled at dancing the ‘Pommy Slosh’, which was similar to a line dancing routine.”

Ms Byrne had a close relationship with her grandmother.

“I think I speak for all the grandchildren when I say that Nanny has always been there, she’s always been wise, a positive thinker and encouraged us,” she said.

“Nanny always told us to understand people’s difference because that’s the only way people are able to live together.”

Mrs Byrne has three children, John now deceased, James and Kenneth. She has 10 grandchildren and the family has lost count of how many great- grandchildren.

Mrs Byrne will soon move to an aged residential care facility in Keilor Downs.