Mrs Barbara passed that milestone today, but it only meant so much.
''I don't feel 100.
''I enjoy life.
''I enjoy all the kids, we're good cobbers,'' she said.
Her age does mean she has quite a lot of cobbers.
Mrs Barbara (nee Mong) has four children, 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Born in 1919 in Lawrence, she was schooled in the town and spent her early life there.
She married Anthony Barbara in 1946 and the couple moved to Dunedin.
Mr Barbara died in 1964.
Mrs Barbara had lived in South Dunedin, Lookout Point and Caversham, moving into Mossbrae rest-home in Mosgiel just three months ago.
After her husband's death she found work ''where I could get it''.
That included everything from working in a bakery and a cake shop to doing knitwear and working at Cadbury's.
''I tried everything.''
There had been a lot of changes over her lifetime.
Early on she had no telephone, no car and ''never had anything much''.
She remembered when entertainment was a trip to the circus and children had to walk to school rather than be driven.
In Lawrence, as a younger woman living just out of town, she ''had a great time'' going to dances and playing hockey.
''What didn't I do?''
On getting to 100, she said she had ''never thought of it''.
The key to getting to that age was to eat well and sleep well.
She had played a lot of sports, including hockey, and skating when she was in Lawrence.
The love of sports went through her whole family, which kept her busy.
For her birthday, she said she wanted to ''run to the bush''.
''I hate a lot of fuss.''
That was unlikely to be an option, however, as celebrations had already started.
There was a dinner planned last night, a birthday lunch and tea today and a gathering of more than 100 family and friends on Saturday.
