Ray Meagher sweetly surprises Home and Away’s biggest fan on her 100th birthday

Ray Meagher plays one of Home and Away’s most beloved characters, Alf Stewart, and is the only original cast member remaining on the show. 

And earlier this week, the 76-year-old actor delighted the soap’s biggest fan when he visited her at an aged care facility in Camden, in Sydney’s south-west, ahead of her 100th birthday.

Ray gifted Daphne Greenfield a bouquet of flowers, as well as a glass of beer.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, Daphne’s party was cancelled and Ray had to meet her just outside of the nursing home, while wearing a face mask. 

He told The Daily Telegraph of his ‘delightful’ meeting with Daphne: ‘We didn’t get inside, but whenever necessary I wore a face mask and in order for her to recognise me, when I went up I said: “Stone the flamin’ crows, 100 Daphne, how good is that?'” 

Daphne suffers dementia, which causes memory loss, but still watches Home and Away religiously and remembers the characters’ faces and catchphrases.

She has not missed an episode since the show premiered in 1988.

Her grandson David Greenfield said: ‘Nan has watched Home and Away since the very first episode and she just loves Alf.

‘She was over the moon and spent the entire morning thanking everyone over and over for all the fuss.’ 

Daphne told 7News that watching Home and Away kept her spirits up after she suffered a fall recently.

‘So I watched it all then… because I loved it so much,’ she said. 

The centenarian added that her longevity was down to drinking a stubby of beer a day.

Reflecting on his visit to the aged care facility, Ray said he was glad he could put a smile on Daphne’s face during these difficult times.

‘Things are tough enough out in the world at the moment and to have little things like this happen to put a smile on everybody’s face, it’s fantastic,’ he said.