“Feeling fantastic”: Busselton’s Joan Harlow celebrates 107th birthday

Busselton resident Joan Harlow has celebrated an incredible milestone this week, marking her 107th birthday with a gathering at the Busselton Jetty.

Ms Harlow was joined by family and friends for the occasion, where she enjoyed cake and said she felt “fantastic”.

“It’s so delightful to see so many beautiful, excellent, marvellous people,” she said.

The centenarian attributed her longevity to maintaining a healthy diet.

“The secret is only what you eat and what you don’t eat,” she said.

“Avoid what you shouldn’t eat and eat what you should eat. That’s all, nothing to it.”

Ms Harlow has lived an eventful life, including time spent overseas during significant periods of history.

She witnessed the fall of Singapore and later experienced unrest in Indonesia following World War II.

Speaking at her birthday, she recalled living in Jakarta, where her husband worked in the newsprint industry.

“My husband’s job took him there because he sold newsprint,” she said.

“They all wanted newsprint for their newspapers, so he got it from Canada and Australia.”

She also recounted a close call during riots in Indonesia.

“They started to have a riot, and I was about to be killed, but my own staff saved me,” she said.

“One of them spoke in Malay to the attacker and put him off.”

Her interests extend to music, having composed a piano piece, Glowing Light, which was professionally transcribed in Italy.

Also a keen writer, Ms Harlow has written a 100-page textbook on Christianity titled Image and Likeness.

Ms Harlow moved to Busselton in 1997, where she has lived since, enjoying coastal views from her home.

“I can see the ocean every day from my house and I thoroughly enjoy it,” she said.

“I can get in the water too, if I want to.

“Every day I’m looking at the ocean, and if I got in and swam, I’d hit South Africa.”