It’s not every day you turn 100, so Alice Mace had not just one but two birthday parties to mark this momentous occasion. 

Ms Mace said both parties were everything she had wished for. 

“I was sitting up at night and after it came 12 o’clock I remembered it was my birthday, so I said ‘oh, I made it’,” Ms Mace said.

“The hospital gave me one party, and I had one with my family from Sydney the next day.

“There were beautiful decorations all around and the tables were set up and everything – it was very nice.” 

More than 40 family members showed up for Ms Mace’s parties, including her four grandchildren, her seven great-grandchildren, and even her two great-great-grandchildren. 

Ms Mace’s grandson Dennis Thompson said she had a wonderful time during the whole celebration weekend. 

“She was very happy and when the speeches started we had a little bit of banter and gave as much as she got,” Mr Thompson said. 

“Alice has always been a person who helps other people who need it, she’s always very positive, and she just loves to have a chat and a cup of tea.” 

Donna Bedingfield, a long-time friend of Ms Mace’s who also works at the hospital where she is living, said the party was a fantastic occasion for all the hospital’s residents.

“She was all dressed up like a queen and we were all running around getting a cake and everything ready for her big day,” Ms Bedingfield said.

“She had such a great day with lots of gifts, she got a letter from the prime minister and she got almost 100 birthday cards – almost!”