Former school teacher and local government councillor, Beatrice Tessier, celebrated her 100th birthday at Carinity Cedarbrook on September 15.

The great-grandmother marked her milestone birthday with a high tea with family and friends, including former students she taught and tutored.

Beatrice was born to Louis and Olga Soucatch in Bundaberg in 1923.

Her life passion was education. During a teaching career which spanned half a century, she taught at schools in Warwick, Toowoomba, Brisbane and Far North Queensland.

Beatrice spent many years tutoring in later life after her retirement. This gave her great pleasure and sense of joy watching her students achieve.

She married the love of her life, Cyril Tessier, a gunner with the Australian Air Force during World War II, in Brisbane in 1947. The couple had one daughter, Cherril.

Beatrice enjoyed dancing, baking and cake decorating, sewing, gardening, fossicking, and various arts including ceramics and painting.

Whilst working at Mossman State School, Beatrice was the first woman elected to Douglas Shire Council, serving from 1976 to 1979.

Beatrice, who has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, moved to Carinity Cedarbrook in 2021 and remains active living there. She enjoys attending activities and exercise classes including Zumba sessions for seniors.