INDEPENDENT and “loving” are the words used to describe Mount Gambier resident and World War II veteran Nancy (Nan) Bradley as she celebrated her 103rd birthday this month.
Born in Toorak, South Australia in 1914, Ms Bradley has endured the many ups and downs of life, from serving in the army as a nurse to travelling the world and immersing herself in different cultures.
“She was a pretty independent person who was very much into politics and would love a political debate,” niece Louise Wheller said.
“She only lost her licence when she was well into her 90s and was living by herself until she was around 95.”
As a child, Ms Bradley spent many years living on a farm in the Mallee with her parents and three younger siblings before the Great Depression took hold and they moved back to Adelaide.
On completion of her schooling at Methodist Ladies College, Ms Bradley started nursing at the Memorial Hospital in North Adelaide and on the outbreak of WWII joined the Australian Army as a nurse.
She spent most of her time in service caring for tuberculosis patients – one of them being the love of her life Brian Bradley.
“It was a nurse/patient romance that sadly did not last long,” Ms Wheller said.
The couple married on March 23, 1949, in Surrey Hills, New South Wales, and only seven months later Mr Bradley succumbed to the tuberculosis that had led him to meeting his beloved wife.
“Nan has never spoken much about her time in the Army or Brian – it was only recently I even found a photo of him,” Ms Wheller said.
Ms Bradley remained working in Melbourne for many years after Mr Bradley’s death at the Rockingham Rehabilitation Home where she cared for ex-servicemen.
It was during this time she developed her love for travel and made several trips to Kashmir, Greece and Britain.
“She absolutely loved those countries – in Kashmir she made some great friends and would stay in house boats that were run and organised by local people – it was very much not the real touristy experience,” Ms Wheller said.
With no children of her own, Ms Bradley spent a lot of time visiting her siblings, nieces and nephews interstate.
“We often went on picnics when she came over from Melbourne, most of the time to national parks in Adelaide,” Ms Wheller said.
“One day it had been raining and she ploughed through the dirt tracks and just sank – the whole family had to get out and push.
“She has always been there for us – with no children of her own, her nieces and nephews will always be her family.
“Now the tables have turned and we are looking after her instead.”
After her retirement, Ms Bradley moved to Brighton in Adelaide to be near her ageing parents where she enjoyed walks along the beach, yoga, gardening and reading.
Then in 2012, when her age started to catch up with her, Ms Bradley made the move to Mount Gambier, where she still currently resides at St Mary’s Aged Care Facility.
“She has lived a very full life and I don’t think she would want to turn back the clock,” Ms Wheller said.
“She is an amazing woman who has had an amazing life and has given us a lot of love.”
