WORKING hard, keeping a positive attitude, and always having something to look forward to.
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They might be the secrets to Lucy Kelty's long life.
The Bathurst resident, who is likely to be the oldest person living in the city, celebrated her 107th birthday on January 5, 2026.
Mrs Kelty enjoyed an early celebration at Paddy's Hotel, where she was surrounded by around 30 members of her extended family, including several of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She said she was "happy, but tired" after the event.
It was a worthy celebration of what has been a long and fulfilling life.
Mrs Kelty was the youngest of eight children and grew up on a 6000-acre property between Moree and Inverell in northern NSW, having been born on a nearby farm on January 5, 1919.
"It was a big property, so I didn't have to go out to work. There was plenty of work from daylight to night," she said.
She met her husband, Mervyn Kelty, who was a friend of one of her brothers, after he returned home from the war.
They wed on January 28, 1944 and went on to have five children together.
Most of Mrs Kelty's married life was spent in the Gunnedah area, before the couple moved to Bathurst in 1995 to live with their youngest child, Pauline.
Mr Kelty died in 1997, but Mrs Kelty continues to live with their daughter to this day.
Despite what her age would suggest, Mrs Kelty still lives a rather active life.
She still makes her own breakfast and lunch every day, walks around the house with the aid of her walker, reads the newspaper (often without glasses), and likes to sit outside to take in the view of the front garden.
She's also a rugby league fan and enjoys watching the games on the television.
While she has had some health issues in recent years, she has bounced back each time and continues to surprise her doctors.
When asked about the secrets to her longevity, Mrs Kelty thought her years of working hard were a factor, as well as staying positive and optimistic.
"People say if you think sick, you'll be sick," she said.
Daughter Pauline Clark said her mother has always been "positive about life", but she also thinks love for her family has played a role in her long life.
"Because it's a big family, someone is always going to come next week or something, so she has always got something to look forward to," she said.
"She can't afford to die when she knows her favourite son is coming."
Mrs Kelty isn't thinking too far ahead, but said she still feels like she has plenty of life left in her.
