Ken Weeks
Kenneth Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1913 (age 111 years, 236 days) Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse |
Jean McPhee
(m. 1941; died 1986) |
| Children |
|
Kenneth Loxton "Ken" Weeks (born 5 October 1913) is an Australian supercentenarian who, at the age of 111 years, 236 days, is the oldest living person in Australia and is the oldest verified man in Australian history.[1]
He is currently the fourth oldest living man in the world.[2]
Biography
[edit]Weeks was born on 5 October 1913 at his grandparents' house, located on Dovedale Street in Grafton, New South Wales, near the banks of the Clarence River. He was the first of five children born to Darcy Edwin Weeks and Dorothy Forster (nee Loxton). As a child, his family moved to a riverside farm located in Swan Creek, and he would later attend Grafton High School. After leaving school he worked for the Model Homes Company that did road constructing work, but as he was mechanically minded he followed that up with operating a service station in Brisbane, and in partnership with Charles Alvey in Grafton operated a car dealership. In 1941, at the start of World War II, Weeks married Jean McPhee (1911–1986), and they had two sons, Ian and Noel.[3]
During World War II, he applied to join the Royal Australian Air Force, but was rejected due to his short stature of just 5 ft (1.5 m). After the war he set up a radio and electrical sales and repair business which he operated for several years before later replacing it with a milk bar.[4] Weeks occupations included road construction and, during the war, airfield construction. He was also a truck driver, a petrol station operator, and an employee at the Grafton Match Factory.
Weeks's wife died in 1986 after 45 years of marriage. He then lived independently until the age of 104. Shortly before turning 105, he moved to a nursing home in Grafton.
He currently lives in Clarence Valley, New South Wales, Australia.
Longevity
[edit]Following the death of 110-year-old Frank Mawer on 17 September 2022, Weeks became the oldest known living man in Australia at almost 109.[5]
Weeks is a fan of Heinz Baked Beans; therefore, on his 110th birthday Heinz commemorated special cans of beans for him.[6]
Following the death of 111-year-old Olga Abate on 5 June 2024, he became the oldest known living person in Australia, turning 111 himself exactly four months later on.[7]
He is currently the 16th oldest verified person from Australia.[8]
See also
[edit]- List of the oldest people by country
- Oldest People
- Ageing of Australia
- List of Australian states by life expectancy
References
[edit]- ^ "Ken Weeks". LongeviQuest. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ "World Supercentenarian Rankings List". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ "Happy 111th birthday Ken". Clarence Valley Independent. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ Maglov, Stefan (14 October 2024). "Ken Weeks, Australia's oldest man, turned 111". LongeviQuest. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ "Australia's oldest man dies aged 110 after contracting COVID-19". ABC News. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ ardentwhiddonmain (13 October 2023). "Whiddon & Heinz Australia Celebrate the Nation's Oldest Man, 110-Year-Old Grafton Resident Kenneth Weeks". YourLife. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Olga Abate". www.deathsandfunerals.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Homepage". LongeviQuest-Atlas. Retrieved 11 March 2025.