Griffith's oldest resident Berta Johnstone celebrates her 106th birthday

Berta Johnstone is the same age as her beloved town of Griffith.

Known through her life for being a fashionista, dedicated homemaker, tennis player, mouth organist, super fast runner and dessert chef, Berta celebrated her 106th birthday with family at Pioneers Lodge’s The Settlers Unit on Thursday 1 September, 2022.

She is Griffith’s oldest living resident and just four years younger than Australia’s oldest living person Frank Mawer, who turned 110 in August.

Pioneers Lodge’s Carmela Naseby carefully did Berta’s hair, put on her necklace and applied lipstick on her birthday, as she does every other day.

“She always tells me to make sure I do the back of her hair too,” Carmela said.

“She loves to get dressed up, she has an endless supply of lipstick. The other day I did her make-up, snapped a photo and showed it to her. ‘Not bad for an old girl’, she said.”

According to daughter-in-law Cecilia Johnstone, Berta has always been a fashionista.

“When I first met her she didn’t like what I was wearing, so she dressed me up in a stylish blue suit … Berta also took great pride in her own appearance. Her hair was always perfect.”

“But really, she would give me anything I wanted. She couldn’t do enough for me.”

Berta Chester was born at her home in Murrami, a small village just out of Leeton, in 1916. Her father passed away when she was just four, leaving her mother Mary Jane to raise her six children by herself. Her mother drew Farm 2374 Warburn in a ballot and the family moved to Griffith in 1932, where Berta has lived for the past 90 years.

In 1938, Berta married Stan Johnstone at Sacred Heart Church, and soon had two sons, Barry and Graeme.

“They were one of the earliest rice farmers in the region,” Graeme said.

Bertha quickly gained a reputation for her resilience and work ethic.

“She was a very strong woman. I met her when I was 15 and I can’t remember a single time she has been sick,” Cecilia said.

Graeme also reflected on her athletic prowess.

“She was a skilled tennis player, known for her sizzling forehand. She was also a great runner, I don’t any other woman who could run as fast as her.”

There were times when her adventurous spirit would get her into trouble.

“I remember once when she was in her 70s and climbed on to her roof to clean a window in her house. The window shut locked and she was trapped on the roof. A neighbour had to come by with his ladder to rescue her,” Cecilia said.

Berta didn’t travel much and was always more comfortable at home. But as a keen royal watcher, she wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to see a young Queen Elizabeth II in Wagga.

“We got there the day before and camped outside at night so we could get a glimpse of her drive past the next day,” Graeme said.

Berta’s not the only one in her family to be recognised by the Queen. Her sister Dorrie Pitt also brought up her century, passing away at the age of 102.

Given the immense care she receives at Pioneers Lodge, few would be surprised if Berta one day becomes Australia’s oldest person.

“Carmela and the staff at Pioneers Lodge have been so incredible, we are so lucky to have them in town,” Graeme said.

Carmela speaks highly of Berta too.

“She’s a gem. She’s going pretty good for 106. She sleeps quite a bit – when you’re that age you can do whatever you want.”

Berta also has seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.