Mrs Aldridge's son Philip was on hand with his brother Graham, Madge's nephews, nieces, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. 

In total there were 25 people squeezed into the quiet room at the lodge and Mr Aldridge said the staff were fantastic.

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"It is a great facility and they catered for everything on the day," he said. "The family could not be happier with the running of the birthday celebrations and the care mum receives."

Mrs Aldridge still walks with the aid of a walking frame and her mind is still strong apart from the occasional memory lapse.

"She gets bouts of being tired but that is to be expected at that age," Philip said.

"Overall she has pretty good health for someone who is 100 years old."

Madge was born in Lismore on March 31, 1919 where her father Herbert Artlett owned the department store Artlett and Ward. When she was 11 years-old her parents moved the family to Mosman in Sydney where Mr Artlett worked  for a shoe manufacturer.

In 1941 Madge was living with her mother in Mosman (her father had tragically drowned in 1940) when she met Bob Aldridge who worked with her brother in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Six weeks later they were married and not long afterwards Bob went off to war while Madge worked as a secretary living with her mum.

Bob returned from the war in 1944 very ill with spondylitis and health issues which occurred during his posting in Papa New Guinea and the extended family rented  a house in Mosman.  Mr Aldridge worked for Royal Interocean Line as the chief accounting officer.

The couple's first child Jennifer was born in 1948 followed by Graham in 1950, and the couple bought a house in Lindfield. Philip was born in 1951 and Madge was kept busy looking after her husband and three children.

In the 1960's Madge taught shorthand and typing at Pymble College before retiring in the early 70s and going on a world cruise with her sister-in-law for four months.

"That cruise was a big life highlight for her," said Philip.

"She has a very strong personality but she had to have one to look after dad for all those years. Mum is a remarkable woman who is an animal lover and has had a full life.

"She always put the family first and did not have much time for hobbies because she always had to look after dad but, she did play the occasional game of golf and she loved to play cards and still does."

In the mid 70's the couple moved to the Central Coast and in 1990 Bob passed away.

It was then that Madge made the move to Armidale to be near her closest childhood friend Joan Clarke.  

For a decade she lived in a townhouse and enjoyed regularly playing the pokies at the Armidale Servies with Joan. During this period Madge met Herbert Croft and they remained very close friends until his death.

In 2000 Madge moved into an assisted living apartment and then into the Ken Thompson Lodge in 2009.

"She has been in a nursing home now for 10 years which is fantastic and we are very lucky to still have her with us," said Philip.