“And a bit of hard work never hurt anyone,” said the Alison resident who is proud to say she still lives in her own home.

“I must admit I live with my son David and his wife Denise but I have my own unit and do most things for myself.

“I’ve had three heart attacks and my eyesight isn’t that good, but apart from that, I’m in pretty good health.”

Ruby, who was born in Currabubula near Tamworth, was unsure whether or not she would reach a century.

“My mother and two siblings all died when they were 72, but once I got to 73 I just kept going.

“My husband Herbert and I were married for 70 years before he passed away in December 2001 and we had a good life together.”

Ruby’s father worked on the railway and the family eventually moved to Maitland, then Newcastle, before finally settling in Lithgow.

“I met Herbert in Lithgow and we moved to Sydney where we had a business at Mortlake.

“It was a delicatessen and fruit shop which were side by side. Herbert ran the fruit shop while my sister and I ran the deli for over 20 years.

“After living on the Central Coast for a few years, we eventually moved up here in 1988 and have been here ever since.”

Growing up, Ruby enjoyed going to dances and playing tennis. She also enjoyed travelling and she and Herbert would go up north for three months every winter.

“I’ve had a wonderful life and feel I am very lucky,” she said.

“If you are content and happy I think that goes a long way to keeping healthy.

“I still like to exercise by walking as much as I can.

“I used to walk up to the letter box and back every day, but now it’s just around the verandah.”