‘Twintenarians’: Dulcie Grose celebrates her 100th birthday with twin sister Nancie by her side

There was twice the joy this week as much-loved BaptistCare resident Dulcie Grose celebrated her 100th birthday with her twin sister, Nancie Varley, by her side.

The celebrations took place at BaptistCare Shalom Centre aged care home in Macquarie Park, NSW, where Dulcie has been a resident for the past six and a half years. Nancie travelled from her aged care home in Penshurst, South Sydney, to share this special milestone, surrounded by family, balloons, flowers and cake.

Dulcie (pictured in the turquoise-coloured shirt) was joined by her son Lindsay and daughters Heather and Wendy (who flew in from the Gold Coast), while three of Nancie’s four sons were also present. Together, they celebrated the joy and strength of family that has carried the sisters through a century of life.

Born in Sydney in 1925, Dulcie and Nancie grew up on five acres in Pendle Hill before moving to Tamarama and then Bondi during the Depression. In 1948, Dulcie married her husband Bruce, a World War II veteran who served in the secret M and Z Division in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. In 1959, the couple settled in West Ryde, where they raised their three children.

Dulcie dedicated much of her life to her family as a homemaker before working in the library at pharmaceutical company Sandoz when her children were teenagers. She was also deeply involved in the Ryde community – from Physical Culture at West Ryde, to serving as a Brown Owl with the Brownies, to her long-standing role at Parramatta RSL Bowling Club, where she later became Social Secretary. Despite not being known for sport in her younger years, Dulcie went on to win many club championships in bowls.

Her husband Bruce passed away in 1994, and Dulcie has lived at BaptistCare Shalom Centre since 2019 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Today, her family includes her three children, eight grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Her son Lindsay described his mum as “lovely, soft, but firm when she needed to be,” recalling her bowling success with pride. “Mum wasn’t known to be sporty, but she took to bowls like a duck to water and became a very, very good player.”

Her daughter Heather reflected on Dulcie’s giving spirit: “She was a very loving and caring mother, and very community-oriented. With the physie, the Brownies, the bowls – she always gave a lot to the community. She was also a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother.”

Heather also shared how close Dulcie and Nancie have always been: “Even after they were married, they’d often end up wearing the same outfits without planning it. They’ve been very close as twins, very close. They have a beautiful connection.”

Lindsay agreed, recalling the sisters’ almost telepathic bond: “They have ESP going on, you know. Nancie would sometimes ring just on a hunch, and sure enough something was happening. At their 90^th birthday party, they even arrived in almost identical bright blue suits without consulting each other.”

As Dulcie blew out her candles, surrounded by the love of her family and her twin sister, the day was more than just a birthday celebration. It was a lovely tribute to a life filled with love, resilience, community spirit, and the enduring bond of sisterhood.