Rita Webster is a bit of a trick.
The sprightly 101-year-old Oamaru woman was among the group gathered recently to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Glenavy Women's Institute.
Smartly dressed in her fur coat and pearls, Mrs Webster fondly recalled her involvement with Women's Institute, which began when she first joined in South Otago when she was 16 and involved riding a horse to meetings.
Asked what she enjoyed about the organisation, she said: ''performing - sometimes I wear a corset and show off''.
She still attended meetings when someone took her along and she enjoyed the anniversary celebrations, which comprised a lunch at the Glenavy Hall.
The secret to her longevity was simple: ''work'' - ''I've never stopped'' - and she still lived in her own home.
A keen salmon angler and whitebaiter, she still went fishing on the Waitaki River, although she was not particularly impressed by the cost of a fishing licence these days.
Her biggest catch was a 35lb (15.8kg) salmon. She had kept a tally and had caught 181 salmon over the years.
Speaking at the lunch, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean paid tribute to such organisations as Women's Institute, saying they provided ''all those things that make us strong as women'' and gave women courage to do what they did, knowing there was a whole legend of women in society who supported each other and did great things in their communities and on the wider stage.
In congratulating the branch for achieving 80 years, Waimate Mayor John Coles said there seemed to be a lot of longevity in community organisations in the Waimate district.
''Without a lot of these groups and organisations, our society would be so much poorer,'' he said.
The Glenavy group boasts more than 20 members and includes surviving foundation member Jessie Allnutt, who was 17 when she joined in 1933.
At the celebration, Pat Jones was presented with a 40-year service badge, the first time the Waimate federation had given such a badge. She joined shortly after arriving in the district in 1973.
Nationally, the organisation held its 92nd annual meeting in Invercargill last month and is now focusing on its centennial celebrations.