There was more than one reason to celebrate when June Whiting marked her 100th birthday this week.
Not only did June reach the remarkable milestone of a century of life, she also became the 100th member inducted into the Carinity 100 Club – a special honour recognising centenarians living in Carinity aged care communities.
The former physiotherapist celebrated her birthday surrounded by friends and family, including her son Jonathan, at Carinity Clifford House in Brisbane on March 3.
June was born in the village of Pulham St Mary in Norfolk, England. Her mother, Kathleen Jennings, and father, Karl Johan Ohsten – a Danish immigrant who arrived in England during the First World War – raised their family on a small farm.
Despite being born in Copenhagen, Karl had a deep love of rural life.
“Despite the fact he was born in the city in Copenhagen he had a love for the farm life, and he bought a small farm where my mother would grow up. She loved it,” Jonathan explained.
June grew up on the farm with her older sister Pamela and younger brother Timothy before heading to Norwich to complete her schooling. She later moved to London to study physiotherapy during World War II.
Her memories of the London Blitz have stayed with her.
“She can remember the buzz bombs dropped by Hitler during the London blitz and hearing the bombs landing,” Jonathan said.
“She says that one minute you were sitting at a desk and when the buzzing stopped you dived under a desk or table, wherever you were, and just hoped that you wouldn’t be a victim.”
After qualifying as a physiotherapist, June worked in England before spending two years in Canada in the early 1950s. During that time, she travelled through the United States and Mexico with a colleague – a bold move for two young women at the time.
“In those days, two young women traveling independently overseas was quite a thing. My mother can remember seeing the rich Texan oil billionaires’ wives with their huge diamond rings,” Jonathan said.
In 1955, June returned to England and married her childhood sweetheart, John Henry Whiting – a farmer and accomplished rugby player. The couple settled in Buckinghamshire and welcomed their son, Jonathan.
But tragedy struck a decade later when John died suddenly from acute pancreatitis at just 38 years old.
“They had ten happy years in Buckinghamshire where the farm was, but sadly my father died at the aged of 38 in 1965,” Jonathan said.
June never remarried, instead raising Jonathan as a single parent and building a new life in Hove, near Brighton. They travelled to Malta and New Zealand, and June continued her career in child physiotherapy.
In 1987, June made another bold move – emigrating to Australia. She settled in Clayfield, Brisbane, and became an Australian citizen in the early 1990s.
She enjoyed sewing, playing tennis and attending furniture restoration classes, reflecting a lifelong interest in antiques.
June moved into Carinity Clifford House 13 years ago and is now one of its longest-serving residents.
Her 100th birthday not only marked a century of memories, resilience and adventure – but also a unique place in the history of the Carinity 100 Club.
A double celebration for a life very well lived.