When I first captured Pat she was turning 100. She was simply amazing for a lady of so many years. She still made jokes, & was a very sassy Nan.. So I asked here back to pose in the greenhouse as she was turning 101. She was the first of my Golden age sessions completed in the Greenhouse & in the dresses & wings. When I found out Pat had a great, great grandson on the way, I asked her back to pose for me with 10 day old Finn.
I incorporated some of her meaningful items into the shoot. A blanket she made herself, a plate she had painted, a brooch her Grandmother had given her... even her birth certificate, as she still has the original! I felt so honoured to create this for her.
Patricia Mary Mapperson (née Pennicuik) was born 6 December 1922. She grew up on The Ridgeway, Holgate and rode a horse to school. As an only child, she left school at 14 years of age to help run the family poultry and citrus orchard farms. Pat reflects of this as a challenging time, as she has always had a love of learning. She spent her early years of married life on farms at Premer and Mudgee before retiring in Toukley in 1970.
Pat has spent much of her life volunteering her time and skill to local charities. She volunteered with organisations such as Meals on Wheels, local Nursing Homes and Camp Breakaway. Pat joined the Toukely Senior Citizens in 1978 managed the tours desk for over 10 years. Pat is currently a Life Member and Patron of the club. Pat continues to make ‘trauma teddies’ for the Red Cross as she has done since 1988 and currently manages her village library.
In 2004 (at age 81), Pat was involved in a light plane accident which left her with a shattered ankle bone and tibia, broken ribs and vertebrae and caused her to be placed in a medically induced coma and spend months in John Hunter and Royal Newcastle hospitals. The accident left her with severe and permanent mobility issues. Hospital staff prepared Pat’s family for the worst, given her age and severity of injury. Her family knew her strength and resilience, knowing Pat would make a recovery. On being notified of the extent of her injuries and implications for her mobility, Pat stated that she would be fine so long as she had use of her hands.
Pat is one of many creative talents, including knitting, crocheting, china painting, leather work, quilling and ballroom dancing. For much of her later adult life, Pat was a cake decorator making many hundreds of wedding and special event cakes. Pat was a keen baker, and has passed these recipes and skills on to the generations that followed.
Pat moved to Nareen Gardens Village in 2007 where she still resides independently. Pat is known for her love of family, friends and selfless spirit. She is looking forward to celebrating her upcoming 100th birthday in December.
