A FORMER Kerang resident who went onto become Shepparton’s oldest resident and bowls legend, Edna Harling, has died, aged 107.
Her daughter, Jenny Cussen, said her mother died surrounded by family on June 24 after a short illness.
She was alert and happy to the end, Mrs Cussen said.
“We’re so proud of her, she was still functioning and doing everything right up to the end,” she said.
“She had such a charmed life and the energy she had right up to the end was inspiring.”
The Kerang-born centenarian was raised in nearby Fairley, born on October 28 – two months after the start of World War I in 1914.
Mrs Harling told the Gannawarra Times on her 107th birthday that she didn’t have a secret to a long life.
“I’m lucky just to get here, it turned up on its own,” she said.
“I’m just the same, I enjoy life and meeting people.”
Her family is an incredible legacy of her marriage to the late Chris Harling – a teacher and lieutenant during WW2.
Chris was a schoolteacher and together they moved around country Victoria as he progressed in his career.
In 1969, Chris taught at Kerang as vice-principal and the couple lived in East Street, while Edna’s brother, Harry, carried on the family farm and later sold and settled in 4 Scoresby Street.
The coronavirus was not the first pandemic Edna had faced either, with the first having tragic consequences for her family.
The centenarian fell sick with the Spanish flu at the age of four when it swept across Kerang, near the farm where she was raised.
Edna and her sister, Maggie, were taken to the Kerang hospital where Spanish flu cases were dealt with in a tent.
While Edna survived, six-year-old Maggie died.
Shepparton Park Bowls Club, where Mrs Harling was a life member, posted the news.
“Our deepest sympathy is extended to Edna’s family and friends,” the social media post read.
Mrs Harling was still a regular fixture at bowls club, playing until her eyesight deteriorated when she turned 100.
She enjoyed an active life playing tennis and netball.
She discovered bowls in her 30s while in Mildura.
After just five years of competitive bowling, she was selected to represent Victoria, with her bowls career lasting 60 years.
Her final bowls achievement on the green was winning the state pennant at 94.
Mrs Harling was also inducted into the Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame in 2021 and resides in the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame as well as holding the title of legend in the Goulburn Valley Bowls Hall of Fame.
Mrs Harling is survived by her two children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A private service was held yesterday. Edna’s list of achievements:
– Represented Victoria in the State Team for 22 years from 1964 to 1987
– Australia A and B side representative in 1968
– Victorian State Singles Champion in 1963-1964
– Victorian Singles Champion of Champions 1970-1971
– Three-time State Pairs Champion
– Twenty-three times Club Singles Champion
– Fourteen times Association Singles Championships
– Twenty-one Pennant Division 1 Premierships
– State Pennant Championship – 2004-2005 (aged 92)
– Three State Country Singles Championships
– Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame Inductee, 2021
