100 year old makes her mark

DURBAN North’s centenarian, Thurl Perkins, has made her mark. The 100-year-old cast her vote at Chelsea Preparatory School.

Thurl, who turns 101 on 17 July, said she’s voted so many times in her life that she can barely remember exactly how many times she’s voted. But if she voted every time since she turned 18 in 1931, today’s vote would have been Thurl’s 16th.

By 8am this morning, Thurl had already cast her vote and by 8.15am, said she was ready to head back home. Her 71-year-old daughter, Nola Steele drove her to the voting station. When Northglen News asked Thurl why it was important to vote, she said without hesitation; “Oh but I have to!”

The feisty centenarian has three children, seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. All seven grandchildren are eligible to vote, but none of her great grandchildren have reached voting age.

To stay fit and healthy, Thurl cycles for 20 minutes every day on her stationary, rusty old bike and said: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Everyday, she also has a glass of white wine at lunch time and a glass of red wine in the early evening.