Australia's oldest citizen celebrates her 112th birthday

That was more than a century ago, when Collingwood's Foy and Gibson store announced the arrival of a shipment of Remington bicycles - 22 pounds and 10 shillings for gentlemen's bicycles and 23 pounds and 10 shillings for ladies' bicycles.

Mrs Riley, who turned 112 yesterday, was presented with a copy of The Argus from the day she was born, by her son Cliff and daughter-in-law Jueno.

Her birthday on October 13, 1896, makes her Australia's oldest-known citizen, and the world's 30th oldest person.

That day the headlines focused on the slaughter of 1000 Armenians by Kurds on the Euphrates, and speculation that with the retirement of Britain's Liberal Party leader, Lord Rosebery, Gladstone would resume the leadership.

Told that The Argus back then sold for one penny, Mrs Riley quipped: "It is different now."

Over more than a century that took her from her birthplace in Poowong in South Gippsland to nursing in Ararat and to her present aged accommodation in Rosanna, she nominated the advent of machines that could fly as the most exciting development of her lifetime.

"I didn't travel much in airplanes," she added.

She has been a survivor in more ways than one. Having only one kidney left her battling illness early in life, but Mrs Riley has outlived her sisters and brothers, and a daughter, as well as her husband of 60 years.

The grandmother of six and great-grandmother of 14 stayed in her own home in Ivanhoe until she was 99. Until five years ago, she still managed to keep up a daily exercise regime that included touching her toes.

"She was always very resilient and uncompromising in what she did, " Cliff Riley, 81, said.

A lifelong monarchist, she said of Britain's royal family "I loved them all in turn".

Of the Australian leaders she has lived under, she doted on Menzies, but she didn't mind Whitlam, she said. Yesterday it was Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, who conveyed their congratulations.

A one-time keen golfer, Mrs Riley also kept an eye on St Kilda's fortunes until recently, said her son, who played for St Kilda firsts in 1951 and 1952.

Since turning 100, she allows herself the treat of a small glass of Bailey's Cream before dinner each night.

Yesterday she sipped at a glass of celebratory champagne and, surrounded by family and friends, she contemplated her birthday cake and its candles.

"I haven't much breath," she said, but despite her frailty she rose to the occasion.