There are not too many people who can say that they were born and raised on Phillip Island 100 years ago, but Dot Coutts (nee Jones) who still enjoys a weekly game of bowls, is one of them.
According to local historian Julie Box, Dot is the only former Ventnor State School pupil to reach 100 years of age, and is quite possibly the only Island born centenarian.
Dot was born to Ventnor farmers Bert and Lil Jones, at Widgee Guest House in Findlay Street Cowes, on February 14, 1923.
This was ten months before Warley Hospital opened in December of the same year.
Widgee was run by Emily Spaven, who was well known for excellent cooking skills and care, and this possibly influenced Lil Jones to have her baby there, most likely with a midwife in attendance.
She grew up on the family’s Ventnor farm, starting school at Ventnor in 1928.
As a five-year-old, along with Harold, Rees, Clyde and later Bill, Dot walked to and from Back Beach Road to the Ventnor school, which was some five kilometres away, every day.
Her father Bert Jones was also a foreman for the Shire, and on occasions was able to drop his children off at Hell Corner, which shortened the journey one way.
Dot left school at 14 and worked in a number of guest houses in her early years. To get to work she would ride her bicycle into Cowes early on Monday mornings, and return home on her bike on Friday nights.
She enjoyed the island’s social life and going to local dances, and followed the footy and cricket teams, which her brothers, who were good sportsmen, played in.
It was through football that she met her husband Eric Coutts, a Ventnor school teacher who played in the same team as her brothers Bill and Harold. Eric, an excellent footballer, played a few games with Essendon.
Dot and Eric married in 1947, and moved to Melbourne, living first in Camberwell, then Sandringham, before finally settling in Backburn with their three sons.
A keen sportswoman herself, Dot played pennant golf for many years, as well as pennant bowls at a later stage, until just a few years ago. At 100 years of age, Dot still plays a social game of bowls once a week. She lives independently in her home of fifty years in Melbourne, doing her own housework up until last year, and still enjoys gardening. She keeps in regular contact with her island relations and friends, coming back last year to celebrate the Ventnor school 100th birthday reunion. Many attended the huge birthday party held in her honour at the Bayswater Bowling Club recently.
When asked the proverbial question put to all centenarians, Dot says the secret of her longevity is down to being a very active person all of her life, beginning with her days growing up on a Ventnor farm.
As well as walking five kilometres to and from school daily, she helped out on the farm and recalls working hard topping chicory at harvest time. She worked hard as a teenager in the guest houses in Cowes and was active throughout her life as a keen sportswoman.
Fellow Ventnor school student and long-time family friend Julie Box sent greetings to her old friend on this very special birthday.
“We are so very proud of you, Dot.”
And so say the rest of us. Happy birthday Dot and congratulations on becoming a centenarian.