Even at the ripe old age of 97, piano teacher Phyllis Davey can still tickle the ivories like nobody's business.
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She's been learning the piano since she was a little girl, but Ms Davey said she still learns something every time she sits at the keys.
"You're never too old to learn," Ms Davey said.
Recently she's started passing down her decades-worth of knowledge to two young proteges, who have been coming in every day after school to learn the finer points of playing.
Year 5 student Talia Franklin and her year 7 sister Elena Franklin asked Ms Phyllis for lessons after hearing the sounds of prodigious piano-playing coming from her house two doors down.
Ms Davey said it was a win-win relationship, with the girls getting free piano lessons and Ms Davey getting some much-appreciated companionship.
"I'm on the winning side, because I've got two lovely girls coming in. Not too many people at the age of 97 have two girls visiting them after school," Ms Davey said.
"They also teach me lots of things: fresh news from the school, all the soccer news."
The two sisters didn't know the first thing about piano when they first started, but Elena said Ms Davey was a great teacher and an even greater piano player.
"She's really good at piano," Elena said.
"She also gives you really good advice about what to do better."
Talia said she was keen to continue learning piano after school in a bid to stave off boredom in the afternoons.
"I thought it would be something fun to do after school instead of just staying in my room," Talia said.
"She's also taught us sewing, knitting, cross stitch - lots of things."
The multi-talented Ms Davey has continued picking up new skills her entire life, which is why she firmly holds onto the belief that you're never too old to learn.
Even as she approaches 100 years of age Ms Davey continues to do the odd bit of weeding in the garden and learning about the goings on at the local school.
She said her active lifestyle was undoubtedly one of the reasons for her vitality, but she said the biggest reason for her continued good health was the sense of community and connection to her church.
"The secret to a happy and long life is a faith in God," Ms Davey said.
"I have some very good friends who take me on Sundays, so I haven't had to give that up. I'm very fortunate to have such good friends."
She counts herself lucky to have been surrounded by friends and family throughout her long life, and she's glad to count Talia and Elena among them.
"We're neighbours and we're friends," Ms Davey said.
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
