The festivities took place in the Armidale home she has lived in for the past 55 years.

Born in Balaclava in South Australia on November 3, 1920, Mrs Tilly married after the end of World War II and moved to Butler with her husband, Wilbur. The couple came to Hillgrove Station in Armidale with their two children in 1960.

Mrs Tilly was widowed at a young age, her husband died when she was only 46, and though she never remarried she says it wasn't due to a lack of opportunity.

"I had lots of boyfriends," she laughed "I spent six months in Spain with one man that I met on the boat when I was going to visit my daughter while she was living in London in the 70s. We travelled all around the country together."

As well as travelling extensively both overseas and around Australia, Mrs Tilly has had an active life. She worked hard on the farm and played tennis and golf until she tore a tendon in her shoulder at 86 years of age and had to give it up.

Cooking and singing were her other hobbies. She says she even turned down a record deal to get married.

A consummate jam and pickle cook, her Anzac biscuits were also legendary, and she only stopped making them this year.

In fact, Mrs Tilly still lived at home, cooked her own meals, played Bridge three times a week and drove until last March when COVID-19 forced her to stay at home.

After a fall she was hospitalized for three months but came back home in August, and while Mrs Tilly now has some help around the house, she continues to be very independent for her age. And she still enjoys a drink every day - but not before 5pm.

"I like a scotch before dinner and a glass of red wine with my meal," she said.

She also has faith in a higher being.

"In who or what I don't know - but I'm a believer."

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Mrs Tilly has two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and absolutely adores her two children Cheryl and Denis.

"I don't know what I'd do without them," she said.

Mrs Tilly's experience is varied, she has worked in a jam factory; a munitions factory and on the farm. She was president of the Butler CWA chapter for 14 years, catered for weddings at Armidale Town Hall and was a partner in the toy store Fiddlesticks. And while some things were better than others she says she has no regrets.

"Everything was something new and was a challenge," she said.

"I have had a wonderful life, and there is nothing I would do any differently."