Edith Clark, who turns 100 today, has a special status amongst all year rock pool swimmers.

“An early morning swim makes your day,” says Edith, who would swim at Kiama Rock Pool every morning at five o’clock until the pandemic saw her retire, seemingly impervious to the cold.

“I couldn’t do without my swim. I just loved it.”

She enjoyed a gathering with rock pool swimmers ahead of a family celebration, and a poem was written in her honour.

Edith was born in England and moved to Australia with her husband Sid and their three children during the 60s. Before coming to Australia, she made steel cable for airplanes and trains in the wire works during World War II.

They lived in Wollongong until she retired from Wollongong Hospital, although she always wanted to live in Kiama, even after travelling the world.

“I always liked Kiama but I never thought I’d be able to afford to come here because the blocks were dear until we found one on a steep hill with rocks and no road,” says Edith.

“We did some travel around the world before we came here and I always thought no matter where I’d been, you just can’t beat Kiama.

“It’s such a lovely little place.”

Edith celebrating with some of her rock pool mates

While she doesn’t swim anymore, Edith says one of her secrets to life is that “You’ve got to keep yourself busy.”

Now Edith spends her time reading books and seeing her grandkids and great grandkids.

“I’m proud of how they’ve all turned out,” she says.

“None of them have done anything wrong and they’ve all chosen something they want to do and they do it well.”

To leave with a piece of advice from Edith’s 100 well lived years, “Always tell the truth,” she says.

“Always be honest and don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you.”