A triple birthday to celebrate Olive's 100th

Some birthdays are worth celebrating more than once.

When Olive Grummisch turned 100 on April 3, the occasion was marked by three separate parties.

On the actual day, the immediate family came together and celebrated at Olive's home with a roast dinner.

On April 8, family members gathered at Wing Ho restaurant in Cowes for a dinner and celebration.

"It was a wonderful night for mum," said daughter Darlene.

"The whole venue sang happy birthday to her."

Many of the other patrons came over to meet Olive, and get a photo, saying they'd never met anyone who was 100 years old.

"When she left, everyone clapped and yelled out to her ... just like a rock star," said Darlene.

"She was overcome with the attention and the staff were amazing."

Making the trip for the special night was Olive's niece Vanessa and grand-niece Nicole who came all the way from Darwin.

The 100th celebrations rounded out with a final party at the Rhyll Hall on April 12 for extended family and friends.

Around 100 people attended, coming from Melbourne, Latrobe Valley and other local areas, while Allan Grummisch and Laurie Dixon made speeches.

"Mum received a letter from the King, from Albo and flowers, cards and cake from our local members.

"She's been very humbled with the attention she received over the last few weeks," said Darlene.

"There's also been a lot of wishes on Facebook, and she's received a forest of flowers and balloons.

"She's a private person, so it's been quite a thrill for her."

Olive has lived all her life on Phillip Island and has a great family legacy, with six continuous generations of the Jenner and Grummisch families on the island, including two of her eight great-grandchildren living here and her grandparents first moving to Cowes in the 1800s as early settlers.

She attended Ventnor State School (where she was high jump champion) and left school at 14 to work at De La Hayes grocery store in Thompson Avenue.

In an interview with the Advertiser in 2018, she recounted she always loved the racing bikes and cars.

In 1948 she married Bill Grummisch at the Anglican Church in Cowes and the couple honeymooned in Lakes Entrance.

The couple, who were married for 34 years, lived on the island (including on a chicory farm and then in Cowes) and had four children.