Elaine Roberts attended Wallsend Public School as a student.
So did four of her children, three of her grandchildren and three of her great-grandchildren.
"I first attended the school 73 years ago in 1946. I had six siblings under me and they all came too," Ms Roberts said.
"And I am still here," the 83-year-old said.
While none of her relatives attend Wallsend Public School now, Ms Roberts comes in every Tuesday.
She has been volunteering at the canteen for the past 19 years.
Everybody at the school knows her as "Nan".
"They all come up to the counter and say, 'Hi, Nan, how are you?' Even the teachers and parents.
"I'm Nan to about 300 kids."
Last Friday, MP Sharon Claydon awarded Ms Roberts a Newcastle Volunteer Service Award at Souths Merewether.
She was nominated for the accolade by the Wallsend school community.
"I couldn't believe it," Ms Roberts said. "Because I didn't expect it. I don't want [any] accolades, I just love coming here," she said.
Maree Brown, the canteen's manager, said she was incredibly lucky to be assisted by Ms Roberts.
"She's a good helper and makes all the sandwiches," Mr Brown said.
"She brings a nice and friendly atmosphere to the canteen, which is lovely because some kids at the school don't have a grandparent still in their life.
"I would say half the adults in the school don't know her name. We all call her Nan. She's just Nan to everyone."
Ms Roberts used to volunteer at the canteen five days a week until she lost her sight in one eye in 2013, and could no longer drive.
Now she catches the bus to her weekly shift.
"I make all the sandwiches and wraps and chicken and gravy rolls. It's got a marvelous menu. Everything is cooked here," she said.
"The kids, my co-workers and the manager are great.
"I've said that I want to be the oldest person that's ever volunteered here. My manager said, 'You passed that a long time ago!'."
Mr Roberts said the children are often shocked to discover that, when she attended the primary school, there was no tuck shop.
"There was no canteen here. There was no hall here. We just had tin sheds," Ms Roberts said.
"I brought a sandwich from home and we used to get those free little bottles of milk that used to sit in the sun."
Ms Roberts, however, is sure to have a lasting impact on the school grounds.
"They're building a garden and planting some fruit trees ... and putting a plaque on it," Ms Roberts said. "They are calling it 'Nan's Garden'."
