She's the nun who could be seen riding her motorbike around the Hunter well into her 70s, and Sister Mary Cabrini's daring escapades don't stop there, she climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 70, took a helicopter ride at 75 and went up in a hot air balloon at 76.
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Sr Cabrini was the guest of honour on Saturday (March 19) when her huge family of nieces and nephews all gathered in Maitland to celebrate her 90th birthday, which was on Wednesday, March 23.
After becoming a nun at St Joseph's, Lochinvar in 1951, Sr Cabrini worked as a teacher for the Catholic Diocese and as a scripture teacher for public schools all around Gresford, Kurri Kurri, Belmont and Carrington.
Sr Cabrini was still riding her motorbike up until 80-years-old, and still has her licence - although she is going to get it removed because she doesn't think she'll be needing it any time soon.
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"My uncle bought me a little motorbike so every week I would ride to look after my brother, I got his meals and did things for him, and then on Monday morning I cooked his breakfast, made his lunch and drove back," she said.
"It was the size of a postman's motorbike, I used to ride it quite often and when I was going to Maitland I hated turning one particular corner where there was a bit of a steep hill,
"I had to change the gears very quickly but once I turned that corner I was right as rain."
Sr Cabrini was kept very busy on her milestone birthday with a special Mass and parish party, and a party with some other nuns at the Argenton Hotel.
"I was born on the 23rd of the 3rd 32, and you can turn that around," she said.
According to Sr Cabrini, the secret to a long and happy life is good food.
"Good living, food food and good hours, that's the main thing," she said.
"I was born in the depression so we didn't have any of the takeaway stuff people live on today."
After retiring from teaching, Sr Cabrini ran an op shop in West Wallsend, and volunteered her time as a telephone counselor for Lifeline.
These days, she is involved in a craft group that has been going for almost 30 years, where she makes teddy bears, blankets and beanies for the homeless.
Sr Cabrini is also in a group of ladies called the Legion of Mary.
"We pray together and go visit the sick in hospital and the lonely," Sr Cabrini said.
"The Lord sent his 72 disciples out two by two, so the Legion of Mary go out in couples."
Sr Cabrini said she is very active, but that's because she takes after her mother.
"I'm in good health, thank God, I'm very happy and I don't take any medication," she said.
"I've had a wonderful life, a wonderful religious life and wonderful friends all along.
"I have a wonderful family and I'm very very proud of all my nephews and nieces."
Carol Lalor, Sr Cabrini's niece said the birthday party on Saturday was very successful, and there would have been about 40 people there.
"It was a wonderful occasion, considering she was a nun who had no children of her own, but came from a very close family," Ms Lalor said.
"All our mums and dads have passed away and there are only two of them left out of twelve, her sister is 93.
"The turn out was wonderful, the family is all over the countryside so this doesn't happen very often.
"A very, very happy occasion."
Ms Lalor said Sr Cabrini, known to the family as Aunty Carmel, has been a wonderful aunty who never forgets anyone on their birthday or Christmas.
"She would have been known over the years as being tough but fair, but in her later years now she's very soft and kind," Ms Lalor said.
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