Former Tuncurry resident Coral Rorie (nee Berriman and Thoroughgood) has been one of the few lucky ones.

She has lived through two world wars, outlived three British monarchs, seen the introduction of the metric system, witnessed the first moon landing, the invention of the computer and seen Australia's population of mainly white Europeans grow from just on five million to more than 24 million of the most diverse mix or races in the world.

Coral has called the Sydney suburb of Bexley home since 2012 after a number of tumbles forced her away from independent living in her Tuncurry residence.

According to her grand-daughter Debbie Kennedy, Coral lived a quiet life in Tuncurry following the death of her second husband Tim, working in the Lifeline shop and socialising with her neighbours and friends.

She always looked forward to family visits during the holidays, Debbie said.

“She continues to be up-to-date with news and sport, although her eyesight has now failed due to macular degeneration, and her mobility has been severely restricted since her falls and her long running back problems.

“But, she still manages to be mobile with her walker around the facility where she lives and enjoys sitting on the verandah of the home.”

Coral was born at Krambach on June 8, 1916 the fourth of seven children for Thomas and Amy Berriman.

Sadly Thomas died when the children were still young, but Amy married not once but another three times.

In the early 1930s Coral moved to Sydney and married Frank Thoroughgood in 1936 and had two children, Joan and Donald.

The family lived in Mascot until Frank died from a heart condition.

For many years Coral worked in the footwear industry before moving on into catering firstly with Pan Am and then Qantas.

She re-married Harold “Tim” Rorie in 1980 and retired to Tuncurry.

“They had a glorious life growing their vegetables and enjoying time in the sand fishing and searching for pippies.”

The couple took great pleasure in passing on their love of fishing to their grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great, great-grandchildren, Debbie said.

Carol is proud to be the matriarch in an ever growing family.

She has eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 10 great, great-grandchildren.

An afternoon tea celebration was held with family and friends at her home, Fairmont Aged Care where letters from the Queen, Governor General, Peter Crosgrove, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Premier Mike Baird and State and Federal MPs.