“A new car would be nice!”
This was the birthday wish of Irene Pow Chong, a former businesswoman of Kariega, whose 100th birthday was celebrated on Monday, 30 August 2021 at her unit in Gqeberha.
“It was a day with memories to last a lifetime. She is remarkably well. I don’t think she would have survived an aged care facility as she does not believe she is old,” said her daughter Gillian Pow Chong, who lives in Perth, Western Australia.
“The birthday wishes from the Queen, which we arranged, made her day. Her birthday of a century indeed is a milestone, more so in this unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic environment we all are living in.”
Irene and her husband Archie Pow Chong owned Witts Cycles close to the corner of Caledon and Durban Street, Kariega, for many years before they retired. Archie passed five years ago at the age of 95.
Oldest cycle shop
“From memory it was the oldest established cycle shop when my dad took over the business in the 1960s. My father was known and often referred to as ‘Mr Witts’.”
What makes Irene’s story more special is that she most probably is the oldest member of the Chinese community in Gqeberha.
“She definitely is the oldest surviving member of the old Fairview community in Gqeherha. In Fairview she owned the well-known Willowgrove Grocers shop on the corner for 30 plus years, before it had to shut its doors in the days of the Apartheid era. They then moved to Uitenhage (now Kariega) to start a new business,” said Gillian.
According to Gillian, a few of her “old” customers who were kids then, some 65 plus years ago, coming to the shop to buy bread, paraffin for the stoves and other household items, “… have sent birthday wishes with reflections on my mum and the shop. Many, many still remember her.
“Healthwise, she has been amazing, taking barely any medication. However, three weeks ago she wasn’t her normal self, but is slowly regaining her mojo and bounced right back to her ‘old’ self by Monday.
Sadly, COVID-19 prevented the entire family, of which half are living overseas, from returning to South Africa to celebrate Irene’s milestone birthday.
Only a few family members in a scaled down gathering celebrated Irene’s 100th year with her.
Irene and Archie have four children, Alohma in Johannesburg; Robert in Gqeberha; Merle in London, and Gillian in Perth.
“Had it not been for COVID-19, we would all have been there for the party of the century.
“My mum’s theory on COVID-19 is that she is convinced that man’s trip to the moon is the reason why it has hit earth with a vengeance.
“She says, ‘The moon does not belong to man … they should never have meddled with God’s work.’ She theorises ad nauseam when family from overseas call her and explain why they cannot visit.
“We just have to laugh. It is not worth arguing with someone who carries the honour of living through and surviving two world wars, weathering the Apartheid system and now the pandemic,” said Gillian.
