FEW people could lay claim to being as old - or older - as the city where they live.
But 42 Canberra residents should be proud of that fact, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says.
She has presented about half of the centenarians, the oldest being 105, with special centenary medals to commemorate their special connection with the 100-year-old nation's capital.
The others, who were unable to attend Thursday's ceremony, will get a visit from the chief minister during the year.
"From the chief minister, from the Canberra community, we through this centenary medal are paying you our respect and thanking you for helping to shape our city," Ms Gallagher told the "golden oldies" in the crowd.
Several of the centenarians shared their stories with the audience, including Jim Rochford who grew up in the rural village of Hall on Canberra's outskirts.
He farmed, ran the service station and served on the town's progress association for more than 20 years, helping to set up water, electricity and sewerage treatment services.
"A lot of it was my dreaming," Mr Rochford said.
"It was hard to get to the Department of the Interior at the time to furnish us with the things we needed and what we should have had."
Ms Gallagher said she had seen Canberra change over the course of her lifetime and couldn't imagine the difference made during the lives of the centenarians.
"It's hard for us to imagine all the changes that have happened over the last hundred years and it's almost impossible to imagine what Canberra will be like in a hundred years' time," she said.
The inspiration for the centenary medals came from former governor-general Sir William Deane, patron of the Canberra centenary celebrations.
"These medallions not only mark the passage of 100 years in individual lives, they are our community's acknowledgment of the achievements of each of you," Sir William said.
"The generosity over the years of each of you, the love each of you has shown throughout your lives and, perhaps most of all, for each of you, for being simply what you are.
"You have our love."
The medals will also be presented to babies born on Canberra's birthday, March 12.
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