Mrs Williamson (nee Potiki) celebrated her 100th birthday with about 100 family and friends at the Clutha District War Memorial & Community Centre in Balclutha on Sunday.
Flowers, cards and gifts had been pouring into her lifelong coastal Catlins home all week - including a special bag of her favourite treats from confectionery maker Mackintosh’s Toffees, adorned with an anniversary bow.
Mrs Williamson revealed mint was her favourite flavour of the classic chew, although moderation was key in making them last.
A prudent and thrifty nature was something instilled in her by her mother, Emma Potiki, she said.
‘‘It was a happy childhood with lots of adult attention, as Mum and extended family were a bit older. You made do with what you had, because that was all you knew, and that was fine.’’
She put her longevity down to untroubled days spent outdoors collecting shellfish, and fishing in the ocean and nearby creeks, as well as a few old-fashioned remedies.
‘‘I could never work out why other children would get sick and I never seemed to, but Mum always used to give me a teaspoon of cod liver oil every day and I would get a lot of fresh air, so that was probably something to do with it.’’
The keen journal writer and knitter said she had never held any specific ambition to reach 100, but was pleased to have passed the milestone, nonetheless.
‘‘When you’re younger, you don’t set out to reach 100. You just get up in the morning and go to bed at night. And, before you know it, there you are.
‘‘I still enjoy spending time with my lovely family and poking around, so I’ll just keep going.’’
Mrs Williamson said she had left school at 14, becoming a Land Girl during World War 2.
Later she trained as a nurse, working at Balclutha Hospital for five or six years before getting married to Shetland incomer Phil Williamson, a builder.
A life dedicated to family followed, during which the couple had nine children.
That family has now extended to 23 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Mr Williamson died in 1999, after nearly 50 years together, she said.
Aside from the occasional toffee, Mrs Williamson said one of her greatest pleasures remained the timeless view from her armchair - one that had been ever-present in her life since her earliest childhood days.
‘‘Lots of things have changed in a hundred years, but that view never does. It’s something special.’’
