11 June 2026
A beautiful sea of yellow filled the room at Stretton Gardens Residential Care Home recently as residents and staff gathered to celebrate Winnie Gorbould’s 103rd birthday.
From the sunflower decorations to the birthday cake, the bright theme matched the warmth and positive attitude that Winnie has carried with her for over a century.
Born on May 1923 in the small English village of West Lynn in Norfolk, Winnie grew up in a close-knit family of five.
As a teenager during World War II, she was called up to work in a factory making aircraft parts. Working alongside other young women, she recalls watching German bombers fly overhead.
“When you’re so young, you don’t sort of worry about things so much,” she reflects. “It was just a part of life.”
After the war, life took a beautiful turn when Winnie joined a local social club in Kings Lynn. It was there she met her husband, Eric. They shared a mutual love for dancing, a passion that brought them together for a lifetime.
The couple later moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, with their only daughter, Carol. There, Winnie spent a memorable chapter working on a production line in a gumboot factory. “It was a lot of fun,” she recalls. “We used to have a laugh together.”
Following Eric’s retirement, they made their final big move to Australia to stay close to their growing family, which now includes three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Winnie has been a cherished part of our Stretton Gardens family since 2019. She stays active with daily walks in the garden, enjoys greeting everyone she passes, and never misses a visit to reception for a chat. She is also a regular at bingo and community events.
When asked what she credits for reaching such an incredible milestone, Winnie points to a simple philosophy, “Probably a good attitude and staying positive.”
Winnie truly is a bright star in our community, and it was a privilege to celebrate 103 years of her warmth, resilience, and joyful spirit.
