PHOTO: Gillian Roworth, Diane Molloy and Chris Colwell were on hand to help Julie Gugala celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday 26 April. Happy Birthday Julie!
A remarkable milestone was celebrated over the weekend as Julie Gugala marked her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and fellow residents.
Born on April 26, 1926, in Poland, Mrs Gugala has lived a full life spanning a century of extraordinary change.
She celebrated her milestone birthday at Koonambil Aged Care, where she has been a resident in recent years.
Mrs Gugala’s journey to Australia is one shaped by perseverance.
Having been born before World War II, she lived through the conflict and its aftermath, with her husband and six-year-old daughter travelling from Poland to Germany, then Italy, before eventually immigrating to Australia in 1950.
Alongside her husband Basil, Mrs Gugala built a life in regional New South Wales, working on a sheep station in Urana.
There, the couple raised their daughter, Coonamble resident Chris Colwell, who was just six years old when the family made the journey to Australia.
Reflecting on her mother’s life, Mrs Colwell spoke of the hardships she endured.
“She has gone through a lot in her life. She has had operations with no anaesthetic, I didn’t think she would make it to 100, but she has,” she said.
Mrs Gugala spent her working years as a cook on the farm, contributing tirelessly to both her family and the rural community she was part of.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Mrs Gugala remains humble about reaching her century milestone.
“I don’t have a secret to living to 100,” she said. “I was born before World War II and lived through it.”
The birthday celebration was a joyful occasion, with Mrs Gugala taking to the microphone to thank those who joined her in marking the special day.
Her story stands as a testament to resilience, hard work and the strength found in family and community—qualities that continue to inspire those around her in Coonamble today.