Celebrating 96 years Harry Potter style

A Woy Woy resident has celebrated her 96th birthday with a Harry Potter party.

Ms Olive Buckley celebrated her 96th birthday on July 13 with more than 70 relatives at Umina Surf Club with a lunch before continuing the party at Ettalong Diggers.

Party organiser was Ms Buckley's granddaughter Selena Courtness.

She said Ms Buckley became enamoured with the Harry Potter novels after one of her children suggest she read the first book in the series.

Ms Buckley's relatives all attended the celebration dressed as characters from the series with the party at Ettalong Diggers also doubling as a fun day of Harry Potter trivia for the extended family.

Ms Buckley's great granddaughter Ms Odette Courtness said the occasion was a fitting way to celebrate the life of her great grandmother.

"We all enjoyed celebrating with great grandma and I can't quite believe she read the book at such a grand age.

"She has a lot of great grandchildren and we all thought she looked fabulous dressed as Professor McGonagall," she said.

Ms Buckley was also treated to a surprise performance from Olive's Orchestra a band made up of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

For the occasion, they performed songs from the mid-1900s.

"Grandma was brought to tears when we all gathered around the cake for a boisterous rendition of Happy Birthday.

"Our family will remember this celebration in years to come, especially their very own 96-year-old Professor McGonagall.

"It goes to show age is no barrier to reading and enjoying Harry Potter and staying up-to-date with the times may just be one of Olive Buckley's secrets for living to a ripe old age," Ms Courtness said

Ms Buckley's late husband, Mr Pat Buckley, was station master at Woy Woy Railway Station for many years.

SOURCE:

Email and Interview (Dilon Luke), 17 Jul 2019

Selena Courtness, Sydney