Celebrations for 104-year-old Enid Lambeth

ENID Lambeth can proudly boast being the oldest resident of Mater Christi in Toormina. 

At 104, she certainly deserved all the well-wishes that came her way during her birthday celebrations on 30 January.

Born in Sutherland in 1922, Enid was one of five children.

Sadly, siblings Gus, Alick, Greta and Will have all passed away.

Enid’s father was born in Lithuania in 1880, and emigrated to Australia via Durban and Auckland, arriving in Sydney on a ship named The Riverina in 1914.

It was there he met Enid’s mother, Bertha.

They traveled north to marry and live in Sutherland, nearer to Enid’s mother, to raise their five children.

Enid’s father, who worked as a painter, passed away from lung disease when Enid was just four-years-old.

Bertha was left to raise her family alone.

She needed all her children to help with chores to make ends meet.

They had chickens and a few cows, plus a veggie garden.

Before school every morning, Enid walked around the many streets of Sutherland delivering fresh milk.

Enid met a shy lad named Vic Lambeth, who lived in Auburn.

They married, and built a small home in Glencoe Street, Sutherland, where they eventually adopted a daughter, Colleen, and then a son, Steven, and a few years later, their youngest daughter Margaret was born.

They built a second home a few miles south in Heathcote, and lived there until all three of their children had left home.

Most of her siblings had moved north to make their forever homes in Sawtell, as Enid did.

Vic was a fisherman of renown when it came to catching Luderick and it was Enid’s brother Will, and wife Joyce, who founded Coffs Harbour Blinds and Awnings.

For many years, Enid and Vic lived right next door to the original Police Station.

In later years, they built and lived in a townhouse in Twenty-Third Avenue, a lovely big block which was bordered by a small, tidal creek.

Greens of the Sawtell Golf course line the other side of the creek.

With the help of her youngest daughter, Margaret, Enid was able to remain in her townhouse for several years after Vic’s passing.

She moved into Mater Christi in 2018, where she has since enjoyed a very high standard of care.

At 104, Enid is a most treasured elder in the Mater Christi community.

Enid’s family and friends, as well as the staff at Mater Christi, joined in her celebrations with family members taking her on much-loved day trips to the same familiar farm at Crossmaglen, where they fed carrots and bread to the horses and goats, to the headland to take in the coastal view and to visit friends around Sawtell.

Enid has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all scattered around NSW, Victoria and Queensland.