MYAREE’S Lila Ashworth turned 105 yesterday (Friday March 2) and says the secret to old age is a glass of lemon juice every morning.

Ms Ashworth was born the same year Australia produced its first national bank notes and postage stamps, and Canberra was officially named.

“It’s a bit of an achievement—it’s a bit old,” she chuckles.

Ms Ashworth lives at her home of 43 years with son Murray, and despite describing herself as “a bit blind and deaf” is still decidedly spritely.

• 105-year-old Lila Ashworth says the world has changed a great deal over her lifetime. Photo by Molly Schmidt

She reminisces about a world of riding horses to school, and dancing in her spare time.

“Not like the dancing you do these days,” she adds.

Mrs Ashworth, who was born in Northam and grew up in Toodyay, says one of her first jobs was as a waitress at the Perth Hospital cafe.

“I was engaged a bit later, and my husband went up to Kalgoorlie for work and I went up there when I was 23 to get married.

“He had joined the water supply and after a lot of years in his job we retired here.”

She says the world seems busier these days with more cars and people.

“People get a bit of a shock when I tell them how old I am.”

by MOLLY SCHMIDT