Gwen Cook missed out on her 100th birthday party in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions – so this year she got in early with her birthday celebrations!

The centenarian turned 101 today but celebrated her birthday with family and friends late last week.

Gwen’s daughter Jan, grand-daughters Nicole, Lisa and Kristy and long-time friend Gayle visited Carinity Cedarbrook to be part of Gwen’s latest milestone – and to also celebrate Jan’s birthday on the same day.

Born Gweneth Cook in a hospital in Balmain on 30 March 1920, she was one of ten children – eight sisters and two brothers – born to her parents George and Elizabeth Paull.

During her youth in Sydney, Gwen worked in the retail industry. After marrying her husband, Herbert Cook, she worked in a dry cleaners.

The couple had three children – Kevin, Jan and Chris – and raised their family in Sydney.

A social tennis player, Gwen also played lawn bowls competitively in Sydney and then on the Gold Coast when she moved north around 30 years ago.

She was a very active until her late-80s, going to her nearby shopping centre and surf club and enjoying line dancing.

Gwen, who moved to Carinity Cedarbrook in 2019, has five grand-daughters, one grandson and seven great-grandchildren.