Thank you to twins, Valerie Munro and Frances Woodward, who took much trouble to write a lovely letter to the ATR to share their special experiences as twins over 90 years. 

And we thank them for their kind donation towards the ATR's 2016 Annual Appeal. As Valerie explained, "it is a pleasure to help in any way to stop illness." 

"My twin sister and I are 90 but we feel more like 50. Recently we renewed our car licences without a problem," Valerie says. 

It has been so important to be able to achieve things together. We are in our 90th year and still enjoy each other's company.

We were three months premature when born in 1926 in Chatswood, Sydney. My parents gave so much to all of our family, especially going through the 1932 depression losing everything and having to start all over again. 

We grew up keen competitive swimmers and came to be known as the 'swimming twins' often finishing first and second in our races. 

We both trained as nurses together and became Directors of Nursing, and we'd still love to be nursing. It is so upsetting that life follows a number (your age) instead of what one can carry out with satisfaction. 

Throughout our nursing lives, we caused problems because it was difficult to tell us apart. There were many funny occasions when we swapped beaus, shifts etc. While I am single, Frances married and we have shared many happy times through Frances' family. 

Our lives are still entwined as we both live around the Central West of NSW. We both enjoy painting, the company of people, excursions, gardening, nature and the country life. We've had the opportunity to enjoy the togetherness that identical twins are given from birth up to this day in our 90thyear." 

Thank you to Valerie and Frances for these lovely recollections of being twins which no doubt will resonate with others.