Bank customer for 100 years

Woy Woy Aged Care resident 104-year-old Olive Riley was honoured for being a customer of the Commonwealth Bank for 100 years on Thursday, April 29.

Mrs Riley was given an English Penny by her mother in 1904 in Broken Hill to deposit in her first, and only ever, bank account.

Bank executive Mr Hugh Harley paid a surprise visit to Ms Riley to thank her for her loyalty to the bank and presented her with a bunch of flowers.

The bank's area manager, Mr Richard Harris, and Woy Woy branch manager, Mr Ross McMillan, also attended.

They spoke with Ms Riley and offered her their best wishes.

"They were very kind and offered to help with whatever I need," Ms Riley said.

Mrs Riley is still mobile, only starting to use a walker a year ago.

She didn't move into Woy Woy Aged Care until December 2001.

Born on October 20, 1899, Mrs Riley has three children: Evelyn 84, Barney 82 and Bonnie 78.

Her husband Bill Riley died in 1975.

Her two daughters Evelym and Bonnie both suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Her son Barney suffers from hearing loss after being in a machine gun unit during world war two.

Mrs Riley said she remembered her brother-in-law coming back form the Boer War when she was just three years old.

"He threw my doll up in the air and it came crashing down and smashed everywhere. It broke my heart," she said.

The last of 12 children, Mrs Riley had a nephew killed in World War One and her son and husband both fought in World War Two.

She said she stayed with the Commonwealth Bank because she just got used to having a bank account with them.

"They always seemed fair.

"If I ever had a problem, they fixed it for me.

"I never have cause to complain," she said.

"My children all grew up with the bank too."

She said she understood why some people had problems with modern banks.

"Some have got good reason to leave, haven't they?

"There are a lot of dishonest people about," she said.

When asked about the secret to living so long, Mrs Riley replied: "I just slipped into it.

"I'm often asked about that but there's no secret to it."

Mrs Riley was never a drinker nor a smoker despite working in a hotel for 15 years.

"I enjoy one beer every now and then but that's it.

"If there's a party, I might have one beer and I'll enjoy it.

"It never entered my mind to smoke.

"It's just a filthy thing. It gave me asthma," she said.

"I went to the doctor and he said I was a passive smoker."

Mr Harley said it was a pleasure to meet Mrs Riley.

Alison Branley, April 30