WITH the birth of Mikya Lola Jodie Haynes this month, the Punch family had every reason to celebrate.
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Baby Mikya made 94-year-old Biddy Punch a great, great, great grandmother and was the sixth generation to enter the close-knit family unit.
Mrs Punch is a resident of the Laura Johnson Home for the Aged in Mount Isa and is visited often by her loving family.
Great great granddaughter, 23-year-old Narissa Haynes, mother to Mikya, said she waited only days after Mikya's birth to get the all clear and drive from Townsville to Mount Isa to show her great great grandmother the newest addition to the family.
"I know that Biddy is getting old now and we just cherish the time we have with her, so it was really important to me to get here as soon as I could to let her meet her great, great, great granddaughter," she said.
"Every time I come back to Mount Isa I go to visit Biddy straight away, she has always been the centre of the family."
Mrs Punch was born on Walga Station, near Urandangi, on July 1, 1918.
She had no schooling and found work as a housemaid, which she enjoyed.
After travelling through the Outback, Mrs Punch made her home at Ardmore Station, where she met and married a ringer named Jack Punch, who passed away in 1990.
Narissa's mother, Robyn Illin, Biddy's great granddaughter, said Biddy's longevity is a testament to her stance on health throughout her life.
"She would never let anyone drink or smoke on her property and always pulled everybody into line if they did anything wrong," she said.
"She was a very strong woman."
Mrs Illin works in the health industry and said she is very aware of premature deaths within the Indigenous community.
"Indigenous people are dying between 40 and 60 years of age, so to have family around me who have reached this age, I just can't describe it, it's very special," she said.
"I see a lot of people who don't have their mother with them anymore and I have the privilege of knowing my great grandmother."
Mrs Illin's husband, Michael Illin said he was proud to marry into such a strong and special family.
"The life expectancy of Aboriginal people in today's world is a big issue, and this family is a real eye opener," he said.
"I think they are very lucky and we will always teach our children to respect and learn from their elders."
77-year-old Mary Slater is the daughter of Mrs Punch and said she was delighted to see the six generations come together in Mount Isa.
"I never thought this would happen. It was a big surprise to have everyone come back here," she said.
Mrs Punch's granddaughter, 54-year-old Susan Small said there had always been a very special connection between the women in the family and she was delighted to have a sixth generation female to introduce to her grandmother.