Every year the family of Amy Miles gets together to celebrate her birthday.
But there’s something significant about this year’s milestone – it’s Amy’s 100th.
Family members from Hamilton, Auckland, the South Island and as far away as Australia packed into One3One restaurant in Paeroa on August 24 to wish the centenarian a happy 100th birthday.
Daughter Christine Stanley told The Profile Amy Miles (née Jessop) was born on Niue Island in 1925 to Charles Jessop and Fiela Rex.
She moved to New Zealand, where she studied general and karitane nursing, married husband Alan Miles, had five children and later on welcomed eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Not only is she related to New Zealand middle-distance runner Peter Snell, who is Alan’s first cousin, she is also the aunt of All black legend Frank Bunce.
Amy also cared for many foster children, who now recognised her as their second mother, Christine said.
Something Amy used to do every Wednesday morning for many years was attend a bible study at the Birkdale Radio Chapel on the North Shore of Auckland.
While Amy was never able to drive, it didn’t stop her from attending church services at the Brentwood Ave Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mount Eden, which was two bus rides away, Christine said.
But Saturday afternoons were set aside for helping to make soup for the homeless at the Auckland City Mission.
“If she was unwell she would organise young men from church to deliver the soup, making sure the many who attended didn’t go hungry for the day,” Christine said.
It was clear Amy had achieved a variety of things across her lifetime, including earning a degree in nursing and teaching, becoming a teacher, and working as a floor manager for the Mid City Theatres in Auckland City.
When Amy was in school, she received the dux award for excellence in academics and sports.
She was also awarded the only electric iron on the island, which she donated to her uncle, Sir Robert Richmond Rex, who was the first Premier of the Pacific island state of Niue, Christine said.
But one of Amy’s passions is music.
“If you were fortunate enough to be doing dishes with her, she would teach you how to harmonise.”
Amy lived with her family in Birkdale, Auckland for 50 years and shifted to be with her eldest daughter in Waihī five years ago before moving onto Athenree Life Rest Home where she now resides.
A woman of faith, Amy gave all credit to the love of her “heavenly father” for her longevity and keeping her mentally capable of communicating with her friends and family, Christine said.
