Life-long Tewantin local Joan Buchanan nee Bowden is celebrating her 100th birthday on Friday 4 April, with her favourite breakfast treat, McDonald’s pancakes.
“She absolutely loves McDonald’s pancakes, hash brown, and coffee. So, we’re taking her there for breakfast on her 100th,” Joan’s daughter Bronwyn Rainbow said.
The party of the century will continue on Saturday with a family lunch at the Noosa Golf Course.
“We love her dearly and we would do anything for her,” Bronwyn said.
“She’s the best mother in the world. We are so blessed that we still have her. Not many people make it to 100. She’s very healthy. She lives in her own home. She doesn’t have any friends anymore. All her friends have passed away. It’s very sad in one way, but in another way, what she’s lived through and seen in her lifetime is absolutely amazing.”
Joan was born on 4 April 1925 at Horseshoe Bend in Gympie to parents Bernie and Ella Bowden, who lived at Gooloi Street, Tewantin, now named Poinciana Ave.
She went to Tewantin State School until she left at 12 years old and worked in pharmacies in Tewantin and Cooroy.
Joan and Coral Anderson were great friends and spent all their time at ‘The Heads’, now known as Noosa Main Beach.
They have fond memories of weekend nights attending dances and Mock Weddings which were held in Martin’s Hall, then the School of Arts, and some at the Tewantin Golf Club.
Joan met her husband Alan Buchanan in Tewantin and were married 11 June 1949, in the only church here at the time, which was the Methodist on the corner of Moorindil St and Gooloi Street (now Poinciana Ave), where the Shell service station is now.
Joan and Alan spent three years in Mt Isa, before returning home to build their home, where Joan still lives today.
Bronwyn said, “When Mum grew up here, the main road was dirt, and there was no Moorindil St, Sidoni St, electricity, water, sewerage or rubbish service.”
Times were very tough, Alan fished with Joan’s father then timber cut at the top of Noosa River, while Joan raised their family, supplementing the income by making children’s clothes.
Alan was offered the managerial position by Stan Adams at Noosa Builders Supplies Pty Ltd and the doors were opened in 1960.
This is where The Islander on Gympie Tce is today.
Joan worked there for many years doing all the accounts for the business until they both retired and the business was sold in 1988.
She loved to play golf at the Tewantin Golf Club then later bowls at the Tewantin Bowls Club.
Joan had three children, Alan, Lindsay and Bronwyn, who believes good food has been the key to their mum’s health and longevity.
“Back in the day, there was no such thing as takeaways. She had chooks in the backyard. They grew their vegetables. They just walked across the road every morning and bought their steak or sausages. So everything was fresh,” Bronwyn said.
“I just think of healthy food, healthy living, and fresh air. They would swim in the river, surf, and fish.”
