“Make sure my collar is turned over properly,” Joan McGrail politely asked niece Mary Pickett before she left her room for her 103rd birthday party at Radius Lexham Park in Katikati this month.

The birthday girl clicked 103 on Easter Monday, but festivities were held on April 29 – and the sharp-witted, sharp-minded centenarian wanted to looked sharp too.

“We all used to dress up in my day,” said Joan, as this reporter poured over black-and-white photographs of a swishly-dressed young lady wearing a beautifully designed hat.

“I did go to night school to learn to sew a hat – but I didn’t like it,” said Joan. Although later in life knitting was a fervent hobby – Joan’s many blankets, singlets and booties went overseas to needy children.

Born April 21, 1922, in Ohakune to parents David and Maud Bolstad, Joan was 18 months younger than brother Andrew, nicknamed “Dig”.

Boats

The centenarian was nearly named Wilhelmina by her mother. “But my father didn’t like it, so instead he named me after a boat – my middle name became Alma.”

In fact Joan’s early life saw her sail through much adversity. Her father David served in and survived World War I, only to be left stranded in England for months because there were no boats to get home.

Joan Alma McGrail was a young beautiful lady. Photo / Supplied

“He very much wanted to get home so he could get married,” said Joan.

David was a soldier at Gallipoli and in the Middle East. “He looked after the horses. He’d take them up to the front line, and bring them back and have to find a safe place for them. Then he’d have to go back up to the front line and fight.”

When her father returned from war it was hard to find work, said Joan: “The Government didn’t have any work for them at all.” He found work in a quarry/cement works in Warkworth, with the dust not helping his lungs post-war.

“He was badly gassed in the war – and after four years [serving New Zealand], they wanted him to return his greatcoat in exchange for £5. The Government was strict back in those days.”

Tough times

Her father’s death, which was exacerbated by war wounds, left her mother penniless. Joan, aged 14 months, and “Dig” were placed in a home called The Nest in Hamilton, “because she didn’t have enough money”, so Maud could work and save up to start her own business in Ohakune.

“It was a like a bakery-come-dairy-come-tearooms,” said Mary. “My mother sold the local baker’s bread, it had sweets and lollies, and she did all of the cooking,” said Joan, who returned to her mother’s care at age 3, and “Dig” at 5.

Cousin Elsie Wood, left, who was three weeks younger, and Joan McGrail were inseparable growing up. Photo / Supplied

Joan’s early years were full of tennis and cricket matches at school. She was brought up with her cousin Elsie Wood, who was three weeks younger, and they were inseparable.

Her working life began in retail, side-by-side with her mother and Elsie in the tearooms. “We would serve food, and do the cleaning.”

Enter Harold

Then she met Harold McGrail, who’d come to work in Ohakune, at a table tennis tournament. They married om April 27, 1942, at the town’s Presbyterian church.

“Born in Ohakune, grew up in Ohakune, worked in Ohakune and married in Ohakune,” joked Joan. “But I waited until I was 20 to marry.”

Harold, who’d signed up with the NZ Army, intended to serve in World War II but didn’t get there.

Joan, wearing a beautifully designed hat, with her husband Harold McGrail. Photo / Supplied

“He was in training at Waiouru when he and another man had a bomb go off and it blew half of his calf muscle off,” said Joan. “Instead he served with the army in Ohakune, as a quartermaster looking after supplies.”

After World War II ended and Harold was discharged, he and Joan went to live in Whanganui.

“When Harold asked me to marry him I told him: ‘Well, I do want to go overseas … ’ and he told me: “Well … I’ll take you in 40 years’ time’.”

Harold McGrail clocked up 42 years at the NZ Railways Corporation, then he and Joan headed for England.

“We bought a campervan and travelled around England for two years. We also went to France and all the countries you go to over there. We got to see a lot of the world together,” said Joan.

Natural food, and faith

She and Harold had four children – Julia-May, Paul, Clive and Ken – and with her husband being an avid gardener, Joan’s family put her longevity down to eating natural food all her life, and nothing processed. “My favourite dinner was corned beef, and lots of vegetables.”

If you ask Joan, the secret to her happiness and longevity is her faith. “I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart. He’s taken care of me,” said Joan, who found the Lord in her twenties.

Today Joan has two children alive, 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great child. Harold died in 2004 but Joan still shares his enthusiasm for sport: “I love tennis – and cricket too – but tennis was my favourite. Cricket was my husband’s.”

Sports fanatic

In fact, the devoted sports fan still follows the All Blacks – “Oooh, yes!” – Black Caps, and names Novak Djokovic as her all-time favourite tennis player.

“I do like to watch sports on my telly – especially tennis and 20/20 – but they put you to bed quite early here.”

Joan lived at Mount Maunganui’s Ocean Shores for 19 years, before moving to Katikati’s Lexham Park in late 2023 to be closer to Mary, with most of her family living in Australia.

Radius Lexham Park activities co-ordinator Seugnet Towell said Joan would have lived through many poignant historical events: “for us today, most of it would be unfathomable”.

“Since I’ve got to know Joan, I’ve been awed by her energy. Whenever we have activities – whether it be cards, crosswords, puzzles or games – Joan never shies away from playing. She’s always all in.”

A fellow Lexham resident agreed, saying: “I’ve really loved playing Rummikub with Joan – and she nearly always beats me!”

Joan and her friends ended the celebration with a piece of “processed” cake. Go figure! Happy birthday Joan!

Radius Lexham Park activities coordinator Seugnet Towell presents Joan McGrail with her processed cake, while niece Mary Pickett watches on. Photo / Merle Cave