The petite, immaculately put together 99-year-old, was affectionately nicknamed "Beautiful" by her late husband William John Sherwood - and it's easy to see why.

Her snow-white hair sits in bouncy curls just above her shoulders, her lipstick is perfect and her face has a welcoming smile for everyone she meets.

Bev credits her joi de vivre to her loving marriage, that more than made up for the difficulties she faced growing up during the Depression.

Bev was unwell as a child, who was left unable to walk for 12 months by a mystery illness.

She taught herself to walk again by holding tight to the verandah rail and shuffling her feet when her mother wasn't looking.

"My mum used to put me out on the verandah on two chairs every day," she said.

"Mum said I mustn't hold myself up by the rail but I did.

"One day I walked into the kitchen and she just turned around and fell back into the chair, and that was that."

She remembers the Depression years being difficult. No one had work, food had to be bought with coupons and her mum used to fry onions so they could use the drippings as butter.

"You didn't have money - nobody had money," she said.

"It does affect you - I could never eat Weetbix ever again."

Bev was one of five children, and her father was involved in the church. When she was 13 her father took her to a local dance.

A young man asked if she would like to dance with him, and she gave him a firm reply.

"I knew this young fellow, just from going up and down outside my place," she said.

"I was rude, I said 'I don't want to dance with you.'

"He just smiled and walked away. And when I was 17, I married that man."

They went on to spend 70 happy years together. And he never forgot the young girl who said she didn't want to dance.

Once, during a disagreement, he began to laugh.

"I asked what he was laughing about," said Bev.

"He said" 'You just reminded me of when you said you didn't want to dance with me. And that's when I fell in love with you'.

With the love and encouragement of her husband, the woman who had been a sickly child became an avid lover of sport - skating, tennis, golf and bowls were all activities the couple enjoyed together.

Bev's eyes lit up as she described "the most kind, thoughtful man", who would always take her out to tea to settle an argument.

"He always looked after me," she said.

"Everyone loves him, everywhere he goes, even animals love him.

"He is simply wonderful."

Sadly, William developed Alzheimers. Even when he was unwell, he remained a fiercely loving husband.

After his diagnosis, Bev received a cancer diagnosis. When she told him she had to go to the hospital he told her: "Beautiful, if there's anything wrong with you I'll look after you the same as I always have."

She believes he still is.

The couple had one daughter, Janet, and now Bev has three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, great-great grandhildren and two great-great-great granddaughters.

Janet said her mother had always worked, first in a gas company, then at a tannery.

She remembers her father "spoilt Mum rotten - but she deserved it".

Bev and William eventually retired to their Werri Beach holiday home from Sydney.

Bev said she loves the friendly neighbourhood, and still walks her dog through the caravan park each day.

"One day a little fellow ran out from the beach while I was walking the dog," she said

"He yelled 'happy birthday Bev' - well I didn't know him from a bar of soap.

"They're all lovely people here."

Her advice for anyone who wants to live to be 100?

"Don't drink, don't smoke, and be good," she said.