102 reasons to celebrate
The world was a very different place when May Tuskin was born. Ms Tuskin will celebrate 102 years tomorrow (Tuesday, 15 May 2012) and still lives independently in her own home thanks for not-for profit aged and disability services provider Villa Maria.
The world was a very different place when May Tuskin was born. She will celebrate 102 years tomorrow (Tuesday, 15 May 2012) – and manages to live independently in her own home thanks for not-for profit aged and disability services provider Villa Maria.
Ms Tuskin has visited Villa Maria’s White Road Activity and Respite Centre in Wantirna every Tuesday for the past six years – and tomorrow will be no different.
White Road has a range of programs and activities for adults living in the East with an acquired physical disability, such as a brain injury or stroke, a visual or physical impairment, or who are frail aged.
As an only child growing up in Richmond, where she lived for half her life before moving to Boronia 50 years ago, Ms Tuskin had faced triumphs and challenges.
Widowed at age 49, Ms Tuskin also had one son Brian who sadly passed away in 1998.
She was employed by many wealthy families during her working life, looking after their houses and animals until she retired at age 79 years.
One of the biggest thrills in her life was travelling on a plane for the first time around Australia and New Zealand when she was in her 80s.
Wendy Elkington, who runs the White Road activities and lifestyle program, describes Ms Tuskin as “bright and bubbly”.
“She loves her food, beer and having a good joke,” Ms Elkington says.
Despite her exceptional life experiences, Ms Tuskin, a passionate Demons supporter, doesn’t feel “old”.
Ms Tuskin says she will “keep going” until her beloved Melbourne football club wins a premiership.
