By Susie Nordqvist
A gathering in the small Waikato town of Te Kauwhata held special meaning for one family today.
Three of the six siblings are older than 100 years old.
So what's the secret to a long and happy life?
When it comes to longevity, it's hard to beat Ivor Syme and his five sisters.
Ivor is 100; Queenie is 104; Hazel is 103; Audrey is 96; Ona is 94 and Vivienne is 84.
They've lived through two World Wars and the first man landing on the moon, and are arguably New Zealand’s oldest family. So what's their secret?
“Queenie and I have taken kruschen salts for 40 years and we are both very partial to onions,” says centenarian Hazel Bryce.
“Oh yes, I like eating raw onions,” says Queenie.
“I tell everybody, drink a lot of grog and naughty women,” says Ivor Syme. “It keeps you alive.”
Whatever the reason for their longevity, it's clear the family is a tight-knit bunch.
“We have always been a very, very united, loving family, and when we get together, the noise volume goes up to the ceiling,” says Vivienne Nelson.
Today is a special day for the siblings. Their family has travelled from far and wide to help Hazel celebrate her 103rd birthday in the family's home town of Te Kauwhata in the Waikato.
Of course there's plenty of reminiscing to do.
“We had plenty of kids to play with,” says Hazel Bryce. “We were all happy together. I might have got a punch or two, but I can't remember that part.”
So what was it like for Ivor, being the only boy in the family?
“I was a poor little unfortunate boy being bossed around by [eight] sisters,” he says. “But we got along very well. We had a lovely life together.”
As they sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Hazel, it's clear these centenarians have a lot of living to do yet.
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