At 101, Maria “Marina” O’Rourke lives an independent life, keeping herself busy each and every day.

Marina, who was born in Italy in 1923, will turn 102 in June.

The same year she was born, Vegemite was invented, decorated war hero Stanley Bruce became Australia’s 8th Prime Minister and construction began on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Some Canberrans may recognise Marina as the lady who wears sunglasses and pushes a trolley around Westfield Belconnen for hours on end several days a week.

She has lived at home independently for 25 years since her second husband died.

Marina said she liked to keep herself busy. This can include gardening – she grew all the flowers and plants that are displayed inside her home – heading out and about for a cappuccino or visiting the public library.

She is still very mobile, also doing her own laundry, hosing out the rubbish bins, making her bed and cooking food.

Marina even travelled to Italy and back several years ago, in her mid-90s, on her own!

She moved to Australia in 1951 with her first husband and eldest son because “at this time, it was the only country that was peaceful”.

“I love this country very much,” Marina said.

“And now sitting alone at my little place, I go back very often to my sweet older memories of spending time with my daughter and my family.”

She met her husband, an Irishman, in 1953, when she was employed as a kitchen maid at the Royal Canberra Hospital.

“I had no experience of English but at lunchtime, all the people (staff) went to the old Acton guesthouse, and there was a hostel, and we had lunch, supper, breakfast, and would go back to work,” Marina said.

“There, I met a lovely man [who was a chef at the hostel].”

They got married three years later and went on to have three children. Marina now has 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She became an Australian citizen in the early 1960s.

In her working life, she was also a tea lady at the old AMP building in Civic, at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“I can’t forget that lovely time. They all loved me, and I gave them the most affection and care,” Marina said.

In between working, she would take her children to school, catching the bus everywhere, and still does to this day, because she never obtained her driver’s license.

Marina also used to teach Italian in Queanbeyan. She also did charity work at the Calvary Hospital well into her 90s.

And of course, a story about a centenarian must include advice on how to live a long, happy and healthy life.

“My experience and knowledge of my entire life to other people like me is to be strong and a fighter. We have to be happy to live,” Marina said.

She also takes care of what she eats, with her diet including lots of vegetables.

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