Former New Zealand sports rep bowled over by kindness on 104th birthday – Stuff

Joan Porter turned 104 on Friday with a simple message be kind and get to know your neighbours.

The Lower Hutt resident and former New Zealand lawn bowler celebrated the milestone with friends and family before heading to the Petone Working Mens Club for dinner.

Her birthday was also celebrated on social media after grand-daughter Mel Porter posted a message, asking friends to do something kind in her honour.

Im hoping on Friday as a tribute to my fantastic nana that everyone could do something kind and considerate eg help somebody carry bags, pick up some rubbish, smile at a stranger, use your indicator, or make a donation to charity, she wrote.

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Joan, a former two-time New Zealand pairs champion, has a plaque in her name on Jackson Sr as part of the Petone Walk of Champions.

Jericho Rock-Archer

Former national bowling rep Joan Porter turned 104 on Friday. Children Marilyn Porter, 75, and John Porter, 74, give her a peck on the cheek to celebrate the milestone.

Born in Christchurch in the height of the Depression, she attributes her longevity to having a healthy appetite.

I have always been well-fed. With my parents, in the Depression, they always made sure there was food on the table and our plates had to be cleaned up.

Joan met husband Harry Porter at a dance in 1938, after her male partner at the time said he did not want to go dancing.

Jericho Rock-Archer

Joan won numerous titles in a long career playing lawns bowls.

They married in 1939 and moved to the Hutt Valley that year. She worked as a book binder and ran a dairy in Petone.

In the early 1950s, she took up lawn bowls and carved out an impressive career, including two national titles, 16 centre titles and representing New Zealand at the Australian Games in 1985.

In Australia, she played alongside legendary New Zealand bowler Mille Khan, who Joan remembers fondly.

Jericho Rock-Archer

Joan has had her teddy bear, which she calls Teddy, for 103 years.

Gosh, she was a great bowler and a good person. Her success did not go to her head.

When her eyesight began to falter, Joan took up blind indoor bowls and played her last game aged 100.

Harry, a dental technician in the Hutt, died in 1988. Joan lives independently and was delighted to hear that her grand-daughter wanted to honour her by getting people to do something nice.

She has lived in her current address for some years and regretted not getting to know her neighbours better.

Jericho Rock-Archer

Joan and Harry Porter first met in 1938 and were married the following year.

It is a lovely gesture and I hope everyone will get out and do something to help their neighbour.

Mel Porter said she is the sweetest and kindest person she knows and it was a great honour to have a grandmother turning 104.

Not many people get to 104 years-old. She has been through so much in her life, a war, the Depression, and she has never complained, even in these tough times, she has not complained.

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Former New Zealand sports rep bowled over by kindness on 104th birthday - Stuff