The Laurieton resident is turning 100 years old this month but her wit and memory show no signs of slowing down.

Mrs Opdam was originally born in Holland (the Netherlands) on March 24, 1921.

She raised seven children with husband, Henk before migrating to Australia in December 1953. She would later adopt three more children to the family.

Read more

The former swimming teacher is excited for the upcoming big day, speaking softly but firmly about the importance of family throughout her life and the role of the matriarch she thrived in.

"I'd like to come to church on my birthday and then have the family around. I've got ten children, 39 grand children, more than 100 great grand children and at least 12 great great grand children," she said.

"I always wanted a big family because I love kids. I love the way they act and the way they grow up.

"I think it's exciting (to have a hundredth birthday) and I just hope I can make it. I've gotten this far by being good to others, having no quarrels, encouraging peace and doing things for other people."

Mrs Opdam recalls past events in great detail despite them transpiring several decades ago such as meeting her to-be-husband for the first time at a ball in Holland.

She also remembers the struggles of World War II when Holland was invaded in 1940 and put under German control for five years of occupation.

"We do not talk about the war in Europe. We all had a terrible time during the war," she said.

Her husband, Henk had been employed as a furniture maker and travelled across the border to work at a store in Germany. When the shop closed he was put into forced labour.

The family scourged for coal and wood to stay warm during the Dutch famine of 1944 to 1945. The 'Hungry Winter' famine took hold in the German-occupied, densely populated western provinces of Holland killing at least 20,000 people.

Daughter Anne Slager said her mother scourged for supplies and wood with a friend, Hen, during the final year of the war.

"That last winter of the war was the Hungry Winter, there was nothing left and a lot of people died. There was no fuel, everyone had used their fences and trees in the park (for warmth)," she said.

"There was nothing much to eat, not even on the black market. There was a soup kitchen and she stood in line to get a watery bowl of cabbage soup. The kids were given sugar beats."

Mrs Opdam visibly warms as she talks about the family migration to Australia to live with her sister, Cory, in Laurieton. They arrived with only a wooden crate of belongings, some books, a table and two chairs.

"I liked Laurieton because it has always been a decent town with lovely people. We all loved it here in Australia," she said.

Henk was initially employed digging a well at the Fish Co-op in Laurieton before taking a job on the 24 hour hand-pulled punt crossing the river from Laurieton to Dunbogan. He passed away in 1970.

Over time Mrs Opdam became a well-known and generous figure in the Camden Haven. She helped kick-start the Wrap with Love group in the area, set up a charity store in Laurieton and donated rugs to overseas aid agencies.

She now lives in Laurieton at Whiddon Group and has received commendations from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Governor General David Hurley and Queen Elizabeth II.