90th Birthday Celebrated

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 2

90th Birthday Celebrated

Mrs Sarah Ballagh. of Merivale, who came to Christchurch 86 years ago from Lincolnshire, yesterday celebrated her ninetieth birthday. "But although it’s the same name, it’s not really the same place at all.” she said, recalling life in early Christchurch. “Of course, everything seems to have changed so much everywhere Yes. I must admit it is hard for people of my age to understand this new world But if our parents and grandparents could see it they just would not believe it.” Mrs Ballagh. whose home formerly was at Cashmere, has lived a varied life, in which reading, gardening, croquet, music, fancy work, and membership of the Red

Cross Society, the Canterbury Women's Club, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and the Methodist Missionary Ladies’ Guild have played a considerable party.

There were probably a few secrets to living a long and happy life, she said. “I do think that in the end everything depends on one’s inner self,” she said “If you know how to help yourself then you are able to keep busy helping other people.” Unbelievably active, alert, and enthusiastic for a newlyturned nonogenarian. Mrs Ballagh returned to her celebrations and sheafs of telegrams, flowers and gifts from all parts of the country. “She would put a lot of women in their seventies to shame.” commented one guest