This photograph was issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the twins’ 100th birthday and shows them as they are now and as they were with their Navy husbands.
A hundred-and-one not out! It’s a good score in a game of cricket and an even better one in the great game of life.
Even more so when you’re sharing it with your twin sister for a remarkable combined total of 202 not out!
NSW south coast residents Concie Marshall and Leila Moag have celebrated their 101st birthdays dressed in their favourite colours of pink and red, and as guests of honour at a party thrown by staff at the Bupa Berry aged care home where they now live.
There were flowers, cakes, balloons and music. But, sadly, no family members were presen tdue to lockdown restrictions. According to Concie’s daughter, Rhonda, once the pandemic has passed there will be a big family gathering for the twins, with loved ones journeying from as far afield as Perth for a belated celebration of their extraordinary milestone.
Concie and Leila, who are identical, say the secret to their longevity is lots of good humour. Last year, when a TV reporter arrived to interview the pair for their 100th birthday celebration, Concie was quick to latch onto the young man and announce to the room: “You’re not a bad lookin’ fella!”
But genetics also plays a part. Their father reached the grand old age of 104 before he passed away.
Family members say the pair is inseparable and for much of their lives seldom lived more than 100m apart.
According to a press release issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to mark the occasion of their 100th birthday last year, Concie and Leila both married servicemen.
Concie married Douglas Marshall in 1944 and Leila married Roger Moag in 1949. Douglas and Roger served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during the Second World War, with both ending up as Warrant Gunners. Both were subsequently promoted to Sub Lieutenant just after the war.
It was in 1943–44, while serving on HMAS Australia, that Douglas sailed with Roger, who then introduced him to Concie.
Both Douglas and Roger retired as Lieutenant Commanders – Douglas after 26 years’ service and Roger, after being awarded the MBE, served a total of 36 years.
The two families lived close to one another (apart from service commitments) in Sans Souci, Sydney and were able to call on each other for help and company.
Twins who reach the century mark are not uncommon in Australia.Mollie Woods and Trudy Hammond, who hail from Taree in NSW, celebrated their 100th birthday in 2016. Flora Barrett and Winifred Hopes from Harvey in WA’s south west marked their centenary in 2016. And Gene and Dorris Clarke from SA were 101 when they died in 2012.