About 40 people have helped Telegraph Point’s Rosa Belcher celebrate her 99th birthday in style.
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The popular resident hosted a morning tea for 40 friends and relatives with Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker, Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams and mayor Peta Pinson also calling in to help the celebration.
Friend Sue Pike said Rosa’s party was held at the Telegraph Point School of Arts on Saturday.
“She will actually turn 99 years of age on November 14,” Ms Pike said.
“Saturday’s party was very well attended by lots of local residents from the Telegraph Point area. And all three tiers of government dropped in to wish her a happy birthday too.
“Her son, Patrick, was also there to help with the celebrations.”
Born in Spain, Rosa married Ted Belcher in England and the couple emigrated to Australia in the late 1950s. The family arrived in Telegraph Point in 1980 and went on to build their own home in Telegraph Point.
While Ted passed away some 13 years ago, Rosa still lives ‘reasonably independently’ within the community.
Ms Pike said Rosa attributes her longevity to her healthy Mediterranean diet, lots of physical activity including tending her own vegetable garden and dancing.
“She also cooks most of her own meals and very rarely has take away meals,” she added.
One of the many highlights to her morning tea was receiving messages from her Spanish relatives and listening to a stirring rendition of Happy Birthday in her native tongue.
“One of our guests led us in also singing along in Spanish,” Ms Pike said.