Australia’s oldest woman, Lorna Henstridge, was born a Paterson and grew up on a Willamulka farm with her parents and two siblings.
Although leaving when she was only 7, the family still owned the property up until Ms Henstridge was in her late teenage years.
“I just love the country, but I wasn’t there for long enough,” Ms Henstridge said.
Turning 110 last Thursday, June 6, Ms Henstridge was born in 1914 in Adelaide and lived on Yorke Peninsula until 1921.
“I remember going to several dances in Kadina during that time,” she said.
“My father built a tennis court in the scrub by the house (in Willamulka), and we used to get the local people to come and play tennis.”
Ms Henstridge recalls using a horse to travel around the area.
“I did have a horse there, and I could ride everywhere that I wanted to ride.
“My father took me on the horse to the railway crossing at Willamulka.
“The train would stop at the crossing and take me to the Bute school and I would be late to school, and then I’d be early leaving to catch the train to go back to Willamulka.”
Ms Henstridge has attended many family reunions over the years, with many being held on YP.
One of her three children, David Henstridge, said there was still a lot of indirect family here.
“Mum has attended a number of reunions up in the area and certain Patersons have turned up,” he said.
“We call it a bit surreal as we’re only used to having our mother around.
“It’s quite strange, but it’s just the way it is.”
Ms Henstridge’s father, Alexander Paterson, was the son of William Henry B. Paterson, the founder of the Willamulka Methodist Bible Christian Church, which was built on his property in 1884.
He had lived in Adelaide and received education in Norwood in his childhood before taking up farming in Lower Light and Barunga Gap, then settling in Willamulka.
He also was one of the first councillors of the Ninnes District in 1887 and held the position for 27 years, up until his death in 1914.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 12 June 2024.
