A true local, she has lived in Bankstown all her life.
“I’ve been very happy here, I wouldn’t have moved (from Bankstown) if you paid me,” she said.
“But, oh my Lord, things have changed.
“It was a bit simpler then, we had fun just climbing all the big trees.
“There were some tough times but lots of good. I had a good, happy home and that’s the most important thing.”
Her husband John passed away 23 years ago and she misses him dearly.
“I wish he was here with me,” she said.
A stay-at-home mum who enjoyed the odd job, including working many years at the Royal Easter show, Mrs Lidgard has two children, one granddaughter and two great grandchildren.
Her secret to longevity was “have a shandy (but not too much), enjoy yourself and live decently”.
A resident of Gillawarna Village for about 18 months, Mrs Lidgard said she enjoyed the atmosphere and catching up with other residents.
Daughter Christine said her mum was “a havachat … she would talk to anyone, she loved going into Bankstown just to talk to someone”.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek also dropped in to join the celebrations and sing ‘Happy Birthday’.
