Community
22 July, 2026
Special milestone
INNISFAIL’S Elisabeth ‘Els’ Bromell has marked her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and decades of cherished memories.
The longtime local was honoured with a special celebration at Ozcare Innisfail, followed by a gathering of around 60 loved ones at Brothers Leagues Club Innisfail on 11 July, complete with stories, a photographic slideshow, cake cutting and a Dutch song performed by family members.
Born on 15 July 1926 in Groenlo, Holland, Mrs Bromell grew up in a close knit community before meeting her future husband, Herman Bromell, through a family connection.
Their courtship blossomed through weekly letters and social outings and the pair married in the Groenlo Church on 27 January 1951.
They began married life in a shared home with Herman’s widowed mother and two younger sisters.
In Holland, Mrs Bromell worked as a babysitter and quality controller in two factories and they were both active members of a small operetta club.
In November 1954, the couple made the life-changing decision to immigrate to Australia, sponsored by Mr Bromell’s two brothers.
They first settled in Mackay, where he worked on farms before buying a cane farm with his brother, later buying his own property at Sarina Beach.
After 25 years in Mackay, the Bromells moved north, buying a farm at Japoonvale in 1975, which they worked for more than 30 years before selling it to their son and retiring in Innisfail.
Mrs Bromell returned to Holland 12 times over the years, maintaining strong ties to her homeland.
Locally, she became deeply involved in community and parish life.
She worked as a cleaner at Japoonvale School for about 10 years and taught religious education there, at Silkwood State School and at the local high school.
Her volunteer work spanned decades, including service with the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic Women’s League Silkwood branch and 40 years as a community visitor at Warrina and Villa Nova aged care facilities.
She also visited the sick and elderly in hospital long before aged care homes existed in the district.
Mrs Bromell said the biggest changes in her life included leaving her family, migrating to Australia and watching local roads evolve from gravel to bitumen.
Her proudest achievements are seeing her five children, 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren lead happy, successful lives.
She has lived at Ozcare Innisfail since 2017.
The couple celebrated 70 years of marriage on 27 January 2021, alongside Mr Bromell’s 99th birthday. Sadly, he died soon after.
As her family lovingly reflects: “It’s Mum’s calm disposition, her positivity, sense of humour, deep devotion to her faith, kindness and her generosity that always shine through. Those qualities are simply who she is.”
“Every day I am still looking for surprises and it is my faith in God which sustains me,” Mrs Bromell said.
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