The funeral took place today of the late Polly Nuske, who was Dimboolas oldest resident until her death on September 27 at the age of 103.

Olga Eveline Nuske was born in Dimboola on June 12, 1909.

Her parents, Edward and Ottillie Harders, lived at Katyil on the family farm. Polly was the eldest in the family. Her siblings were Edwin, Oss, Ester, Arthur, Eric, Mabel, Basil (all deceased) and Roy.

Polly attended the Katyil Lutheran School, often staying at her Granny Kelms home to help her and then walking to school from there. After finishing school she helped her aunties when they had their babies. She often spoke of happy times when helping her Uncle Otto and Aunty Elsie Kelm, who lived at Wynn Wynn near Natimuk.

At 14 she was making jams and pickles and organising meals, which included going down to the lake to catch a goose for the next days meal.

Later the Harders family moved to Cannum. Polly married Walter Nuske who had bought the Harders farm, so she returned to her childhood home. Three children arrived, two daughters Ray and June, and Charles, their only son. They worked hard like everyone else. The second world war combined with very dry years made times hard. As the early 1950s approached, the seasons picked up.

Ray married Ron Lehmann (dec), later marrying Lloyd Peters (dec), June married Fred Whitehouse and Charles married Nancy Norman. In the coming years 11 grandchildren arrived then 23 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. Polly enjoyed the company of her grandchildren, especially at Christmas when she would feed them first with a rather large, succulent turkey that hung over the sides of the baking dish. The meals were so large that one of the grandchildren would sneak outside and bury their vegetables in the garden.

Another great time was when all of her ten grandchildren, babies and all, decided to jump on top of her beautiful hedge. The hedge was flattened by the end of the day. She never got really mad.

Polly was very talented in may areas, including making preserves, dress making, baking, sewing, perming hair, she was a champion bowler, and also a good babysitter, where she used a tea towel for a nappy. Making home brew was another special talent; she would keep the brew warm with a mohair rug, then she would share the brew around with whoever stopped by and was game to try it.

Polly also taught several of her grandchildren how to drive. She would cock her left leg and let it rest on the dash, saying that you didnt need that leg, the car being automatic.

Wally and Polly retired to Dimboola and enjoyed working in the vegie patch and playing bowls. Wally died in 1986. Polly still enjoyed making her jams, pickles and cakes. Often the leftover citrus fruit from the church trading table was returned as marmalade for the next trading table, which sold rapidly.

A very sad day for her and all her family was when Charles passed away.

In January 2002 Polly decided to take life a little easier and Dr Pickering agreed; she was the first resident of the new Dimboola Aged Care facility. In 2009 Polly celebrated her 100th birthday, receiving greetings from Queen Elizabeth II and all the dignitaries in Australia. Many of her family travelled from all over Australia to help her celebrate.

Always a bright, cheerful person, Polly spent the passing days with family and friends visiting. As the last few years passed, age caught up with her. She passed away on September 27.

A funeral service was conducted at St Peters Lutheran Church, Dimboola today, followed by interment at the Dimboola Cemetery.