From the bush to the city: Lorna celebrates 100 remarkable years

A former part-time jockey who spent much of her young life working on remote cattle stations has celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by generations of family.

Lorna Wing has lived a life that spans a century – from growing up on remote cattle stations in Queensland’s Gulf Country to becoming a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and eventually making her home in Brisbane.

On September 13, Lorna celebrated her 100th birthday at Carinity Hilltop aged care home in Brisbane, surrounded by family who travelled from across Australia and as far away as Scotland for the milestone.

Born in Townsville in 1926, Lorna spent her childhood on Van Rook and Lorraine Stations in north-west Queensland.

Her early years were shaped by the rugged rhythms of life on a beef cattle station, and one of her favourite memories is of riding horses.

As it turns out, Lorna wasn’t just a keen rider – she was also rather quick in the saddle.

Lorna was a part-time jockey

Lorna rode as a jockey several times as a young woman, mainly at country race meets in Queensland’s Gulf Country and Western Australia.

“Mum rode as a jockey a few times as a young woman, mostly in her late-teens and 20s,” her daughter Donna Doyle said.

Away from the racetrack, Lorna worked as a bookkeeper on Lorraine Station, a property around 400 kilometres north of Mount Isa and Cloncurry.

Her life in the outback demanded plenty of resilience and hard work – qualities her family says have stayed with her throughout her 100 years.

During the Second World War, Lorna also served as a plane spotter, watching the skies for enemy aircraft and reporting what she saw.

A love story on the cattle station

It was while living and working on Lorraine Station that Lorna met Bob Wing, who was the station’s head stockman.

The pair fell in love and married in Townsville in 1954.

They went on to raise four children – two daughters and two sons – and their family has continued to grow over the decades.

Today, Lorna has 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Her daughter says her mother’s strength was particularly evident during the family’s years living and working in the outback.

“Mum is a very strong and resilient woman,” Donna said.

There were times when Lorna was cooking for 40 men while also teaching three of her children through distance education and entertaining station-company directors when they visited.

It was a long way from the city life she would eventually enjoy in retirement.

From cattle stations to Brisbane

Lorna continued working on cattle stations throughout her young adult life, including at Walhallow Station in the Northern Territory.

She and Bob eventually retired to Brisbane in 1986 and settled in Browns Plains.

Over the years, Lorna found plenty of ways to keep busy, enjoying gardening, knitting, crocheting and drawing.

These days, she still enjoys doing crosswords and Sudoku – proof that a sharp mind and a curious spirit can stay with us through the decades.

Lorna has lived at Carinity Hilltop for the past three years.

A 100th birthday surrounded by family

Her milestone birthday brought together family members from across the country and overseas, with loved ones travelling from Scotland, Darwin, Melbourne, Blackall, Emerald and Clermont to celebrate with her.

For a woman whose life began in remote Queensland and took her through decades of outback living, raising a family and eventually settling in Brisbane, turning 100 was a remarkable moment to share with the people who mean the most.

And while the world around her has changed almost beyond recognition since Lorna was born in 1926, some things have remained remarkably constant.

A love of family.

A strong work ethic.

And, perhaps, a lifelong fondness for a good horse.