But, when she first came to Forster, it was far from love at first sight. Missing her Sydney friends, her bowls team, and the bustle of the big city, she just wanted to get back to normality. 

Twenty years on, Ethel has just celebrated her 95^th birthday, surrounded by family and friends, and couldn’t be happier with her Great Lakes life.

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“We had a lovely morning tea, that's something I won’t forget,” Ethel said of the special event.

“There were four generations of family here, I had a lovely cake and everyone sang happy birthday, it was a really happy day.”

Mascot born and raised Ethel was used to changes in scenery long before she arrived in Forster, as she and her family lived in many different places when she was growing up.

“I was always changing schools because my parents moved around a lot,” she explained.

“We would move into a new home and my mother would fix it up nicely, pull up all the lino and replace it, and then we would be off to the next spot.”

With two brothers to keep her entertained, Ethel’s childhood was filled with fun and adventure, but it was on the day of a bicycle accident that the biggest chapter of her life began.

Joining a group of friends for a Sunday bike ride to the beach, Ethel was excited for a day in the sun, and had no expectation the day would be any different to the many other Sundays she had spent doing the exact same thing.

“On this day I came down a beauty, I fell and hurt my arm and leg on the tramlines,” she said.

“I continued on though, and spent the day lying on the beach because I was hurt.”

It wasn’t until later in the day she took action to treat her injuries.

“That night I went to get some dressings from the chemist, and Rob, my future husband, happened to be on the other street corner. 

“He saw me hobbling along, and he came over and asked what had happened, then he walked me home. After that we started to go out, and then I married him.”

For Ethel, it was as simple as that, and to this day, she maintains Rob was her best friend and the love of her life.

“We were married in 1942 when I was 19. Before that I had been planning to go into the army, but suddenly the family came along and I ended up with an army of my own!” she laughed.

Ethel and Rob had five lovely daughters, and the family just continued to grow.

“I have 16 great grand children now, they are spread far and wide but they come to see me quite often,” she said.

Settled comfortably in her apartment at Sunrise Supported Living, Ethel has few regrets and a heart full of memories.

“When we first moved to Forster, Rob had just retired and was making Penny Farthing bicycles.

“Of a morning he would to go out to his garage and teach other people in the street how to make these bicycles, it was very happy days,” Ethel smiled.

“I lost him 12 years ago, I miss him very much but I am still surrounded by friends and family, and I keep busy with my knitting, painting and gardening.

“My little dog Mitsy, who I adopted over a year ago takes me for lots of walks, you’ve got to keep going, you can’t stop,” she added.