Fatma was born on 24 April 1923 and grew up in Cyprus as a Turkish Cypriot. When Fatma was two years old, her mother passed away while giving birth to her younger sister. Fatma was raised by her grandmother.
Fatma was only able to finish primary school as girls did not receive an education back then; they were expected to marry early and have families. Fatma was married at the age of 15 and had her first child at 16.
After she got married, Fatma worked as a cook in the local hospital. She would also embroider handkerchiefs and make baskets out of palm leaves and sell them to make some extra money.
Fatma and her late husband, Ahmet, moved to Australia in the early-1970s. They had four children: three sons and one daughter. Fatma has nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Fatma has always loved to travel and visited many destinations overseas with her daughter. They went to Italy, England, Hawaii, Malaysia, Singapore, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Dubai and Turkey, where Fatma enjoyed a hot air balloon ride.
She also travelled around Australia and enjoyed going on cruises for her 90th, 95th, 100th, 101st and 102nd birthdays! Fatma now enjoys a quieter life which includes watching horse races and Play School on television.
Fatma has always been a very sociable person who has a positive attitude to living. When asked what her secret to long life is she said, “Be happy, do not worry, eat well and enjoy life!”
Story courtesy of The Centenarian.
