Connie turns 100
Well-known activist and community worker, Constance Thomson reached the age of 100 years early in February.
Surrounded by her friends, board members, ladies auxiliary members and others at the Woy Woy Aged Care Facility, where Connie is still the patron, she received congratulatory messages from the Queen, the Prime Minister, and several local, State and Federal politicians and dignitaries.
Connie was a governess to many English children before coming to Australia in 1939 on the last ship before war was declared.
She married her long time pen-friend Robert soon after arrival in Australia and they remained together until Robert's death in 1980.
They had no children but Connie made good use of her time in many other ways.
Connie was selected as the female Senior Citizen of the Year for the Central Coast in 1980.
She went on to become the Senior Citizen of the Year for NSW.
Mrs Thomson worked as a librarian until she was 76, and then became involved in the Ettalong Business and Professional Women's Club as well as the Anglican Church.
Connie's major campaign was to establish a nursing home for the elderly on the Peninsula.
In the 1980's, there was no local nursing home accommodation for the elderly, and they were forced into accommodation in Sydney away from spouse, family and friends.
Connie became part of the Woy Woy Nursing Home Association and patron of the Woy Woy Community Nursing Home Auxiliary.
In order to have the nursing home built near the Woy Woy Hospital, in 1984 the nursing homes association worked to convince Federal and State governments of the need for the home.
They also needed to find $300,000 for their "share".
The group held protests and waved placards in front of television cameras and used every action within their means to reach their goal.
Connie is also well known as a poet and a "Greenie".
Cec Bucello, February 17