<i><em class="italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June Douglas (centre) with three of her four children, from left Gabrielle Emery, Grant Douglas and Ann Roberts Crocombe.</em></i>
A card from King Charles is among the best wishes sent to Queen’s Service Medal recipient, June Douglas.
In addition, prime minister, Chris Luxon, Casey Costello (minister for seniors) and governor-general Dame Cindy Kiro sent cards to June to mark her 100th birthday.
“It was a great honour to receive these cards and to be visited by Barbara Kuriger, Taranaki-King Country MP, and representatives of the Ōtorohanga Lyceum Club,” June said.
“They joined us for morning tea at Beattie Home. I had many lovely flowers and a beautiful cake.”
The morning tea followed a celebration with her friends and family at St David’s Presbyterian Church, Ōtorohanga.
The mother of four, grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother to 20 was surrounded by her nearest and dearest.
“Friends and family came from overseas and all over New Zealand.
It was wonderful to see everyone and talk to some family members I hadn’t seen for a long time.
I want to thank everyone for making my birthday so special.”
Born in Ōtorohanga on June 17, 1925, June was raised on her parent’s farm.
After attending Kio Kio School and New Plymouth Girls High School, she worked at a chemist’s in Ōtorohanga while studying to become a pharmacist.
At a dance during the Second World War, June met a dapper young soldier, Basil Douglas.
A few years later, the couple married and worked together on a farm at Te Kawa Crossroads.
June and Basil later moved home to her family’s farm – now in her family’s hands for more than a century – where they raised four children, Ann, Robyn, Gabrielle and Grant.
