If there were more people like 100-year-old Edith Cameron of Lorn, the world would be a better place.
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There's something about this sprightly great-grandmother that just lights up a room and puts an instant smile on your face.
Mrs Cameron turned 100 on Friday, July 30.
She loves a wee tipple, dancing to The Eagles and Rod Stewart and her mantra is never make demands of your children, don't take yourself too seriously and always smile.
Most long-time Maitland folk would know Mrs Cameron as the wife of the late Ian Cameron, of Cameron Bicycles in Elgin Street.
It was an iconic family business which operated in Maitland for more than 100 years.
A fiercely independent Mrs Cameron continues to live unassisted in the family's Belmore Road home.
Her strong demeanour was forged early in life when her first husband died and she was left to raise three infant children.
Born in Wales, Mrs Cameron came to Australia with her parents as 10 Pound Poms on the ship SS Bendigo.
She was just two when her father made the decision to sail to Australia and work in the Coalfields' mines.
The family settled in Paxton and Mrs Cameron and her siblings attended Paxton Public School.
Her then-husband Eric Sweetman was working in Paxton pit. He had developed tetanus and became ill while working underground.
Unfortunately he did not make it to the pit's first aid station in time and he died aged 32.
Mrs Cameron wanted a new start for her family so she left Paxton for Islington in Newcastle.
She met and later married Mr Cameron in the early 1980s.
An accomplished artist, Mrs Cameron said she is suffering from macular degeneration which makes it difficult for her to continue her passion of painting.
"Apart from that, I'm in pretty good health," she said.
"I enjoy a wine or a beer and a good laugh - and it has to be white wine. Red wine is like a straight-laced woman - no flavour," she laughed.
Living a full and happy 100 years, Mrs Cameron said her life advice to others is: "Be happy, have a joke. Don't take yourself too seriously, address your responsibilities and smile."
In terms of parental advice she said she has never demanded anything from her children. "I've always said to my children 'would you mind' doing such and such for me," she said.
The grandmother-of-five and great-grandmother-of-eight said she doesn't feel like she's turning 100.
"I don't feel 100. What's 100 supposed to feel like?
"Sometimes I just feel like dancing and I'll play a lot of music - I love The Eagles and Rod Stewart.
"I love the big band sound - I used to go dancing at the Sydney Trocadero when I was 16."
Mrs Cameron said she'd like to think she still had a few more good years left.
"I had a pacemaker installed 15 years ago. Apparently it's still good for another three to four years so there's still plenty of charge in me yet," she said.
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