AT 100 years old, Jean Bateman has never let her age get in the way of the new adventures that await her.
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Born in Kempsey on August 15, 1919, Mrs Bateman could be considered a miracle baby after entering the world, weighing only two-and-a-half pounds.
"That is a real achievement in those days because babies that small did not live for very long," she said.
She moved to the Riverina when she was four years old, spending her entire childhood on a dairy farm in Ladysmith.
Before moving to Wagga to work in a shoe shop, Mrs Bateman said a typical day was milking cows and keeping up with her five brothers - a life which she described as "lovely".
But her passion was found on the tennis court, where Mrs Bateman claimed the titles of Wagga's doubles, mixed and ladies champion back in her youth.
"I didn't play professionally, but I use to play against the tennis greats like Tony Roche and Margaret Court," she said.
In other news:
For her 100th birthday, Mrs Bateman has received many letters from Australia's figureheads and the Queen - and expects that more birthday cards are on the way.
She was surprised to find an invitation from Tennis Australia in her mail, asking her to attend the Australian Open's women's singles final next year.
"I used to go with my daughter, we used to go every year and I am finally going again after 10 years," she said.
Mrs Bateman has had a busy life full on adventures that has taken her across the globe, but the highlight will always be her family. She was was married twice, to Kent Colton and Jack Bateman.
"I have three children, but lost one to cancer and the other to kidney failure," she said. "It's my seven grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren that keep me alive."
Her new centenarian status has her family and friends travelling from across Australia for celebrations that started on Wednesday, carrying on to Sunday.
"I am having a party this afternoon, but we were out on Wednesday night and the mayor (Greg Conkey) even came up and gave me a kiss. And they all sang to me," she said.
Her granddaughter Paula Lanyon said the best part about her Nan is her sense of adventure.
"We just have to ring and she'll go anywhere. I live in Echuca and Linda (her granddaughter) lives in Wollongong and Nan will pack her bag and be on the bus - she never says no," she said.
Linda Lord said her nan makes the most of every day.
"She is very socially active, always out meeting new people and doing exercise classes," she said.
"She's the epitome of use it, don't lose it".