She once flew over Antarctica and now Dorothy Sharrock has experienced another high in her life.
A resident of the Carinity Wishart Gardens aged care community in Brisbane, known to friends as ‘Dot’, she is one of Queensland’s newest centenarians after turning 100 on July 1.
Born and raised in Hughenden in north-west Queensland, Dot was one of 11 children. Growing up, she enjoyed playing vigoro and basketball and attending her local Salvation Army youth group.
Dot left school at the age of 14 and spent her younger years working in hotels and cafés in Hughenden and Townsville. After moving to Brisbane via Maryborough, Dot worked as a domestic at Brisbane Girls Grammar
School for 25 years and lived on the school campus at Spring Hill.
After retiring in her mid-60s, Dot travelled around Australia and overseas, visiting countries such as Japan, China and New Zealand. She also enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime day flight over Antarctica.
In retirement, Dot also enjoyed playing indoor bowls and hosted card games mornings for friends at her Mt Gravatt home.
Sewing and craft activities, watching game shows and cricket and tennis matches on television, listening to the radio and reading a good book were amongst her favourite hobbies.
Dot still enjoys the little pleasures of life, whether it be wearing nail polish, eating custard apples, or relaxing and spending time in the garden listening to the native birds.
Dot’s nephew, Rod Schafferius, says longevity is in the genes for his aunty. Four of Dot’s siblings are still alive, aged between 88 and 96, and another sister lived to be 97.
He puts their long lives down to “a strong constitution, a healthy diet and everything in moderation”.
Dot has lived at Carinity Wishart Gardens since 2014 and is the second resident of the aged care community to turn 100 this year after Bessie Conomos OAM became a centenarian in April. Dot was the third Carinity Aged Care resident in three weeks to celebrate their 100th birthday, following Gordon Jamieson (Carinity Cedarbrook) and
Shirley Davison (Carinity Hilltop).
