A court has been told a 71-year-old woman attacked her former husband because she was angry about not being invited to his birthday party.

Pamela Turner, from Rushworth, in northern Victoria, pleaded guilty in the County Court to aggravated burglary and intentionally causing serious injury.

In sentencing, Judge Duncan Allen told the court not being invited to her former husband's party caused Turner distress and anger.

The court heard she went to his house, waited for him to return and attacked him with a sledgehammer, a meat cleaver, a knife and a frying pan.

He suffered several stab wounds, cuts and bruises.

Judge Allen said Turner was well regarded in the town for her work as a nurse and with several community groups, but that her life had been marred by mental health problems and alcoholism.

Turner was jailed for three months.