Mary Ellen Lyttleton will turn 100 years old next Tuesday, July 21 and was pleasantly surprised when she was able to meet some of her heroes at a West Coast Eagles training session yesterday.

Joined by numerous family members, Mary Ellen, known commonly as ‘Dolly’, was greeted at the front of the West Coast Eagles inner sanctum by Shannon Hurn and Beau Wilkes before she was able to enjoy the view from the stands at Subiaco Oval watching the team train.

During training, ruckman Dean Cox introduced himself to Dolly and spoke to her about football, injuries and his hopes for the season.

Dolly grew up in Kanowna, 60 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie, which was then a heavily populated gold mining town.

In the 1920’s the Lyttleton family moved to Kalgoorlie before settling in Mt Hawthorn 20 years later.

Dolly has spent most of her life caring for her mother, brother and sister and never learnt to drive which meant she walked the three kilometres to mass every morning until she was well into her eighties.

Dolly is a great-great-great aunt. She was the second eldest of seven children and is the only surviving member of her generation.

Dolly now resides at the Little Sisters of the Poor in Glendalough where she has lived for the past six years and where her 100th birthday party will be held next week.

Towering over the wheelchair-bound Dolly, Cox at 204 centimetres loved the chance to speak with Dolly about her life and found it admirable that she spent her whole life caring for others.

“Just have a look at how many of her family are here with her today and you can see that she is deeply loved,” said Cox.

“She has had an extraordinary life and is a devoted daughter and sister and is a true Western Australian pioneer.

“I am just glad that we were able to brighten her day in the lead up to her big party next week. With 157 friends and family attending, it’s sure to be a big one.”