At the spritely age of 99 Melva Job lives independently in her own home, attends to her veggie garden, watches sport on TV and knits every day.

Melva is a beloved member of the Parkes community, most would know her from her generous charity work knitting a range of items for those in need.

On Saturday, 1 March 35 family and friends gathered at the Parkes Leagues Club to celebrate Melva's 99th birthday.

Guests included grandchildren and great-grandchildren, close friends and neighbours who all travelled from around Parkes and Dubbo, Sydney, Canberra and Queensland.

Melva is a long-time resident of Parkes, having been here since 1947 and only moving to Nambour in Queensland briefly after the passing of her younger sister Gwen to be near her daughter Roslyn.

She made the decision to return to Parkes after the sudden passing of her daughter Roslyn and son Graham 10 years later in 2021. Her youngest daughter Felicity passed away in 2022.

Born in Temora on 26 February, 1926, Melva was one of seven children and the middle girl of three girls.

All four of her brothers served in the war as well as her husband Dudley.

She is the last surviving member of the Hewett family with her older sister passing at the age of 97 in 2023.

Melva’s family moved to the family homestead of Hillview in Tottenham when she was two years old.

"We moved from Temora to Tottenham in a Dodge with no windows and six kids under 10," Melva said.

"I turned two on the way up there (in 1928).

"We got a new car a Plymouth during the war and it had windows."

Melva drove a horse and sulky to primary school in Tottenham.

She remembers during the Depression her mother had to deliver the milk.

"We had to deliver the milk before school," she laughed.

Melva was a bit of a tomboy growing up, going shooting rabbits with her brother Keith was one of her favourite pastimes.

It was Hillview where she developed her love for animals.

"We didn't have electricity, we used kerosene lights and we didn't have water, we had a dam and we would carry the water to the house," she said.

"And we used a chick feed for a bath."

Melva boarded in Parkes while attending secondary school.

She returned to Hillview after finishing school and worked in a general store in Tottenham, travelling to work by riding a bike three and a half miles each way.

Hillview is still owned by the family, Melva's nephew runs it now and it holds a special part of her heart.

Melva married Dudley Job on May 13, 1953 at St George's Church of England in Parkes. Dudley passed away in 1995.

She was a corner store shopkeeper with her younger sister Gwen in High Street before she and Dudley took it over while raising their three children Roslyn, Graham and Felicity.

Melva also worked at Birchers, the craft shop and the Anglican op shop.

Many locals will have purchased fabric bunnies and dolls on a stick that Melva used to make for church fetes.

She enjoys patchwork and knitting, and has donated many quilts and bed socks to charities such as Parkes Can Assist and Georgie's Boutique for cancer patients or fundraising over the years.

She also donates her quilts and bed socks to nursing homes for the residents.

When she lived in Queensland she knitted about 50 quilts, fitting out a nursing home in Gympie with one for every bed.

"I've had a lot of help from my daughter-in-law," Melva said.

Melva loves watching football, tennis and cricket, and credits keeping her mind active for her long life.

She can be found watching TV while knitting bedsocks most afternoons.

She loves her garden and it flourishes under her care, keeping friends and family supplied with an abundance of squash, cucumbers, pumpkin, watermellon, tomatoes and spaghetti squash.

Melva has eight grandkids, 13 great-grandkids and as of a few months ago a great-great-grandchild.

She also has a wonderful group of friends and neighbours, and her dog who support her in living her best life.