Even with the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton fast approaching, the Queen has found time in her busy schedule to wish Coola Mottee a happy 100th birthday. Mrs Mottee received a congratulatory letter from the Queen, along with one from former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally in what has been two months of celebrations. While the NSW resident’s actual birthday is 25 March 1911 no birth records of the Kythera native exist and her birthdate is officially registered on her Australian citizenship papers as 15 February 1911, which has meant celebrations for both her official and unofficial birthday!
Born in the village of Trifiliankika, Coola Mottee started school in 1918, at age seven, and left five years later. In 1928 she moved to the mainland and worked as a seamstress in an Athens department store. After meeting her Greek Australian husband George in 1938 the couple married the same year and migrated to Australia in 1939, settling in George’s hometown of Kempsey.
The couple had three sons, Costa, Jim and George. In 1960 when Coola was just 49 years-old her husband George died at the age of 66. She relocated the family to Sydney and re-established contact with other Greek families as well as reconnected with the Greek Orthodox church.
Coola’s son Costa says his mother has always been fit and active. “Mum was power walking before power walking became what it is today,” he said. “She’d take frequent walks along Main Beach to the gaol and back”.
Health problems lead to Coola being admitted to the Cedar Place aged care home at age 94, however while suffering various ailments the 100 year-old has always bounced back, somewhat miraculously. “We put it down to divine intervention,” Costa said.