At 105-years-old Gladys Bond certainly has a lifetime of memories to cherish.
In 1927 the centurian from Quorn was just one metre away from the Queen Mother when the Royals visited Whyalla – a moment Gladys says was a huge highlight in her life.
Gladys added to her highlights reel on Sunday when she stepped onto Adelaide Oval in front of a 44,000 plus crowd to toss the coin at the Adelaide Crows v St Kilda match.
Composed and steady on her feet, with support from her daughter Yvonne, Gladys walked the 60 metres to the centre circle where she shook hands with the umpires and awaited the captains.
Rory Sloane was first to greet Gladys with a warm handshake and huge smile, followed by St Kilda’s captain Nick Riewoldt who towered over as he respectfully introduced himself.
As the away captain, Riewoldt called the toss and called heads.
Gladys stepped forward and tossed the coin with such vigour that it flew well over the head of the officiating umpire much to the amusement of both captains.
The coin landed on heads – just as Gladys had promised Sloane it would when she met him at the Crows’ closed training session at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Gladys took her time leaving the field, looking up to see herself on the giant screens, enjoying the warm applause from the crowd, blowing kisses and waving as she left the oval.
“I will never, ever forget this,” Gladys said.
“This is wonderful. This whole day has been wonderful. I never thought I would get to do this.”
Earlier in the day Gladys had enjoyed a limousine ride to Adelaide Oval where she was a special guest of the Adelaide Crows Chairman Rob Chapman in the official pre-match function.
And on Friday her favourite current player Patrick Dangerfield presented her with a huge bouquet of Crows coloured flowers on behalf of the whole team when she was invited to watch training at Adelaide Oval and meet the players.
A passionate Crows fan since day one, Gladys remembers the Club’s historic first premiership in 1997 and then Adelaide’s second the next year in 1998.
Gladys has lived through quite a bit of history, including both World Wars.
Possibly the oldest living South Australian, Gladys also remembers when the horse and carriage was used for transport and when candles lit up houses before the invention of electricity.
Born in Western Australia, Gladys moved to South Australia as a baby with her parents.
Married at 19 years of age to Wesley Bond, Gladys has four children, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 16 great-great grandchildren.
And her advice for a long and healthy life is simple.
“Eat plenty of salt,” Gladys says cheekily.
“I add salt to almost everything I eat.
‘And don’t get drunk, just enjoy a glass occasionally, and don't smoke.”
Gladys enjoyed that occasional glass at Adelaide Oval as she toasted a Crows win and some new memories to cherish.
