Toowoomba resident, Jean Tagg, has celebrated her 100th birthday with a special musical performance at Lutheran Services’ Salem Aged Care.
Born on July 31, 1924, in Victoria’s Bendigo, music has provided constant enjoyment throughout Mrs Tagg’s long life.
Salem Aged Care Manager, Kylie DeFreece said yesterday’s melodies were the perfect accompaniment to a milestone birthday.
Student, Kataya Krienke and music teacher, Neil Roche-Kelly, from Concordia Lutheran College (pictured, below) entertained Mrs Tagg with piano pieces accompanied by vocals in honour of the great-great grandmother.
Mrs Tagg’s daughter, Jeanette said that when her parents first moved to Gatton about 40 years ago, they began sharing their joy of music by performing for residents of several aged care sites including Lutheran Services’ Salem in Toowoomba.

“When Mum moved to Salem in 2009 she was well known by the staff and warmly welcomed. They even organised a piano for her and she continued to entertain other residents until around the age of 94,” Jeanette said.
“My mother grew up in a musical family and learned the piano from a young age. She was very gifted, going above Grade 8 exams in piano to receiving her Letters from the Royal Schools of Music, and was a trained vocalist.
“Her father, a band master in the Salvation Army, was proficient in several instruments, her mother was a pianist and her three brothers all played a variety of instruments.

“After she married my father Douglas, a talented violinist, in 1947 they had four children and three were taught piano by our mother and another took up violin. There was always music in our house.’’
Surgery for a brain tumour in her 40s left Mrs Tagg’s left arm paralysed but her determination to play the piano again, combined with several years of physiotherapy, saw her return to playing the classics of her favourite composers, Chopin and Bach.
“Mum has been a loving mother and always there for her family. One of my fondest memories is coming home from school to the wonderful smells of her baking, including my favourite peanut biscuits,’’ Jeanette said.

“Despite poor eyesight and immobility, mum still loves life and has such a positive outlook. She appreciates all the wonderful support she receives and calls the staff at Salem her ‘angels’.’’
Mrs DeFreece said Mrs Tagg was a cherished member of the community. “Jean gave the Salem team a beautiful compliment recently when talking about turning 100, saying ‘that’s your fault, you look after us too well’,’’ she said.
“We love celebrating our beautiful residents when they achieve such incredible milestones.”