Born at the Ngapara doctor's residence on June 25, 1915, her Black Point farming parents subscribed to the Otago Daily Times and Otago Witness, but it became a regular part of her life when she married Jack Elliott, on March 22, 1941, and joined him on his North Otago downlands farm.
Educated at Papakaio School, she worked on her parents' farm, then on a farm at Boundary Creek and at Willetts Tearooms, Oamaru.
She and her husband had two sons and two daughters, and now there are 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
After Mr Elliott died in April 1983, she continued on the farm.
In 1987, she married Len Watson, who farmed nearby on the Waitaki Plains next to the Awamoko Stream.
They retired to Oamaru, to the townhouse in which Mrs Watson still lives.
Mr Watson died last year.
Mrs Watson has no secret to living a long life.
''It's a case of good fortune,'' she said. But the last 10 days to her 100th birthday seemed to drag.
''I just wanted to get there, but I also wanted it gone,'' Mrs Watson said.
