FORMER Myrtleford resident Marjorie 'Marj' Doe got in some early celebrations for her 100th birthday with a hot air balloon flight over Whitfield.
The wonderful event preceded Marj turning 100 on Friday, 2 May.
In 1982, Marj moved to Myrtleford after the death of her husband, Robert 'Bob' Doe, to be closer to her daughter, Jan Vonarx.
Marj was born on Saturday, 2 May 1925, to Henry Herbert Hall and Daisy Winifred Hall, in Fulham, London.
Unfortunately, on 14 April, 1938, when she was 13, her mother passed away of a heart attack.
At 15 years of age, Marj met her “one and only sweetheart”, Bob Doe.
At the age of 17, she joined the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) during the war, originally as a balloon operator - these balloons were used to stop low flying aircrafts - but these operators were shortly disbanded as it became too dangerous for the women to continue. 
This resulted in her becoming a carpenter for boxes that were sent overseas during the war. 
In 1944, after a long courtship, Marj and Bob married, and she officially became Marjorie Catherine Doe.
Marj was discharged in 1945, which resulted in her and Bob moving into a one-room flat in Surrey, UK.
The couple did not have their first child until 12 January 1949, and named him Geoffrey 'Geoff' Robert Doe.
Two years later, on 11 April 1951, Marj and Bob had their final child, Jan, thus completing their family.
In 1958, Bob got a job in Nairobi, Kenya, leading Marj to join him with their two children, where they stayed for 10 years.
After their time in Kenya, Marj, Bob and Jan - Geoff had left Kenya some time ago for school - went back to England for some time, before Bob landed a job in Libya, where the three stayed until Gaddafi took control over the country. 
They then went to Saudi Arabia. 
Here, Bob had another heart attack - his first having been in Kenya years prior - so the family moved back to England, where they lived in Epsom until Bob passed from a heart attack at 59, in 1982. 
This led to Marj moving and spending the next 36 years living in Myrtleford.
“It’s a friendly place and I was accepted there,” Marj said. 
“I made quite a few friends.” 
Around 2019, Marj moved to Wangaratta, after her daughter Jan moved closer to her own daughter, Marj’s grandchild, Pauline Vonarx.
Marj lived on her own until early 2023, when she suffered a small stroke and moved in with Jan and her husband, Les Vonarx, in their flat. 
Marj expressed her deepest gratitude to her daughter and son-in-law for taking such great care of her.
“I couldn’t ask for a better family, actually,” Marj said. 
“It doesn’t happen often with an elderly person, they get put on a shelf and that’s it, but I’m included in all the family events.”
To celebrate her milestone, Jan and Phillipa Witting, Marj’s grandchild, took Marj on a hot air balloon ride over Milawa through Whitfield.
“I had a fantastic time,” Marj said.
“If I can do it, anyone can.”
She has lived her life to the fullest, watching her family grow for five generations: seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
“We live in a beautiful area, so get out and enjoy it while you can,” Marj said.