Secret is never to look back: centenarian

Cynthia Dwan, of Dunedin, celebrates her 100th birthday with great-niece Andrea McFarlane (left)...
Cynthia Dwan, of Dunedin, celebrates her 100th birthday with great-niece Andrea McFarlane (left) and daughter Pamela Lyke at Summerset at Bishopscourt retirement village, in Wakari, yesterday. Photo: Peter McIntosh.
Dunedin centenarian Cynthia Dwan does not know the secret to living a long life but believes a single glass of wine every night does not hurt.

Mrs Dwan celebrated her 100th birthday with about 200 family and friends at  Summerset at Bishopscourt retirement village, in Wakari, yesterday.

"I never expected this — when I came down this morning and saw the decorations I was floored."

She wasted no time thinking about how she reached the milestone but longevity was in her genes: her mother reached 85 and her aunt 99.

She also enjoyed a glass of wine at 5pm every night.

"Only one glass; I’ve never had two. The secret is to take life as it comes and laugh it off. You get your bad times and your good times and mine have been mostly good."

Her only child, Pamela Lyke, travelled from South Carolina, in the United States, for the celebration.

Mrs Dwan (nee Fitzgerald) was born in Christchurch, an only child, and came to Dunedin when she was 2 years old.

Her father was killed during World War 1 and her husband was sent away to fight in World War 2.

Mrs Dwan volunteered for St John for more than four decades until she was in her 80s.

The only time she had lived away from Dunedin was a 14-year stint with her family in Balclutha in the 1960s and ’70s.

"I came back to Dunedin and that’s where I’ve been ever since and I don’t want to move."

The secret to living a happy life was "never looking back. You can’t get it back again, so forget about it."

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

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