While her family and friends were bursting with excitement and pride, the oldest Jew in Australia was taking her 106th birthday all in her stride.

Mary Rothstein, who recently moved to Smorgon Family Nursing Home after living at Montefiore Homes Community Residence for 13 years, celebrated her 106th birthday on February 27.

Born in Russia in 1901, her family was forced to flee the Bolshoi Revolution and moved to London when Mary was two. She married her husband of 52 years Joe in 1935 and immigrated to Australia in 1958 after her daughter Ruth married here.

Mary ran a millinery business and then joined Myer, first in millinery and then in the children’s wear department where she continued to work until she was 70, having understated her age to avoid forced retirement.

She came to Monte at a youthful 93 and has been an enthusiastic member of both the singing and drama groups. In fact she still pops over each week to join in the singalongs.

Mary claims there’s no secret to her good health and longevity: “I just carried on,” she says. Son-in-law Otto suggests it may be because she only drinks boiled water.

Back to the birthday celebrations and the reluctant star was happy to keep it low key, surrounded by daughter Ruth, Otto, grandchildren Anthony and Georgie and Adina and Simon and great-grandchildren Luca, Alex, Isabella, Charlie and Oscar. Jewish Care residents and staff also shared in the celebrations.