Born in 1916, Elma Miller has experienced a lot, from the Spanish flu to COVID-19, numerous wars, four kings and a queen, and the advent of modern computers and mobile phones.
But despite being an avid knitter throughout her life, the 106-year-old has never met an alpaca — until recently.
"She has always been fascinated with aspects of wool and just decided she has never seen one and wanted to know all about them," granddaughter Kerry Miller said.
Always keen to make wishes come true, Kerry travelled from Victoria to band together with family and Elma's local community at Woolgoolga, New South Wales, to tick the item off her bucket list.
'Kissed by an alpaca'
Elma's reaction included both shock and joy.
"I love them. I'd like to take one home, but we're not allowed animals [in the nursing home]," she said.
"They are such gentle creatures."
She said at "106 and three quarters", being kissed by an alpaca was "something strange".
"I've never been kissed by an alpaca before," Elma said.
Kerry said her grandmother's reaction made the operation to find an alpaca all the more rewarding.
"At 106 who can deny a wish? I just tried to make it happen."
Kerry said she had no idea where to find an alpaca and put a call out on social media.
"[These] wonderful ladies answered the [post]," she said.
"They've got a two-month-old and nine-month-old."
'Pure happiness'
Family gathered from near and far to grant Elma's latest wish, including her great granddaughter Darcy Heffernan, who described it as "pure happiness" to see the special request come true.
"I haven't seen her in three years because of COVID and I've moved up north [to Queensland] for university," she said.
"This is something she has wanted to do for a long time."
'I wanted to cry'
Kerry said she wanted to cry in response to Elma's excitement at getting to pat an alpaca for the first time.
"It's great … and the community here is beautiful for supporting it," she said.
"Everything has come together really well.
"She is not overwhelmed at all, as you can see, and it keeps her mind active.
"It'll give her something to talk about for months now."
Elma will turn 107 in next March, and Kerry says her plan is to reach 110.
"We haven't seen the wish list for that one yet," she said.
