100 not out

Friend Shyama reads a birthday card with Kusum. 177570 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Casey Neill

 “It feels like another day.”
But Thursday 22 February was anything but for Kusum Pethiyagoda.
She celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at Viewhills Manor in Endeavour Hills.
The centenarian followed her four sons to Australia from Sri Lanka in 1989.
Ms Pethiyagoda lived in a flat in Dandenong before moving into Viewhills about 10 years ago.
“She doesn’t worry about anything and doesn’t take anything too seriously,” son Ranjan said.
“It’s nice to celebrate.
“You don’t celebrate 100th birthdays very often.
“It’s something special.
“She’s always been a very generous person but she’s lived a very quiet life.”
Her family described her as loving, giving, caring and “always trying to feed someone”.