Glad Dent celebrates her 100th birthday

21st August 2018

As part of celebrations for Glad Dent’s 100th birthday, the dedicated Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary ‘Cancer Carers’ member was surrounded by Auxiliary friends at a morning tea held at the hospital.

The Elermore Vale resident born 14 August 1918, is a proud mother of five, grandmother to 11 and great-grandmother to 21.

Glad joined the Auxiliary at the tender age of 80, and in 2009, at age 91, became president, successfully leading the team for three years. She was then voted Vice President, a role she held until August 2015. Glad remains an active and respected Auxiliary member showing no signs of retiring from her Auxiliary duties any time soon.

When asked what her secret is to longevity and good health, Glad said humbly, “I’ve led an ordinary life, but I have never been afraid of hard work. I’ve kept myself very busy. I thoroughly enjoy helping others. I have been very lucky with my health which has allowed me to assist those less fortunate than myself.”

Elaine Wellard, Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary President, said,

“Glad is a very dedicated Auxiliary member and her wisdom, warm personality and friendship is very much admired by all our members.”

Calvary Mater Newcastle Chief Executive Officer Greg Flint paid tribute to Glad on her birthday, “The passionate fundraiser has reached this milestone with many years of selfless dedication to the Hunter and Newcastle community and by being a great ambassador for the hospital. On behalf of all Calvary Mater Newcastle staff we would like to wish her a very happy birthday.”

In 2017 Glad received the award for ‘Hunter Region Senior Volunteer of the Year’ at the annual NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards and was also crowned ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the Hunter New England Health Excellence Awards.

The Auxiliary is the main fundraising arm of Calvary Mater Newcastle with all monies raised being used to purchase oncology equipment and items of need for the care and comfort of patients.