Joyce Tutton turned 90 on March 27, a milestone birthday like no other.
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She had separate catch-ups with family, spread across her special day, in line with the government's regulations on social distancing and avoiding non-essential social gatherings
Mrs Tutton's daughter, Bernadette, was also booked to fly from New Zealand for the joyous occasion. The holiday was cancelled after travel restrictions were put in place by both New Zealand and Australia.
Mrs Tutton, nee Hearn, was born in Lascelles, Victoria. Her father worked on the railways and she moved around quite a bit when she was a child.
Mrs Tutton worked and lived in North Ballarat after finishing school, and met her late husband, Vincent James or Jim as he was known, at a dance.
"We moved to Willaura when we were really young and our family managed the swimming pool there," Mrs Tutton's daughter Maree Sertori said.
"Mum stayed at home while we were growing up and did so many volunteer jobs around the area.
"As we got older Mum, she played golf and bowls and took religious instruction at the primary school."
Mrs Tutton lives in Ararat and spends her time enjoying being part of senior citizens, a singing group and anything that's going.
"She's quite active and social for her age," Mrs Sertori said.
"Mum is a bit sad at the moment because the church is closed and she likes to attend church each week."
Mrs Sertori said her mother was known for her sponges and celebrated her birthday with a passionfruit cream sponge as her birthday cake.
"We had to take it in turns seeing mum for her birthday," she said.
"My husband and I spent time with Mum for lunch and then my sister and her husband spent time with her in the afternoon. We were limited to the amount of congregating and people in groups at any one time."
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