Kenneth Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Loxton Weeks 5 October 1913 (age 112 years, 98 days) Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse |
Jean McPhee
(m. 1941; died 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
Kenneth Loxton "Ken" Weeks (born 5 October 1913) is an Australian supercentenarian who, at the age of 112 years, 98 days, is the oldest living person in Australia and is the oldest verified man in Australian history.[1][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 later attended Grafton High School. After leaving school he worked for the Model Homes Company that did road constructing work. 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.[3]
During World War II, Weeks applied to join the Royal Australian Air Force, but was rejected for medical reasons.[4] 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.[5] Weeks's occupations also included airfield construction (during the war), truck driver, petrol station operator, and 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.
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.[6]
Weeks is a fan of Heinz Baked Beans; therefore, on his 110th birthday, Heinz commemorated special cans of beans for him.[7]
Following the death of 111-year-old Olga Abate on 5 June 2024, he became the oldest known living person in Australia.[8]
In October 2025, he celebrated his 112th birthday, making him the first Australian man to reach this age.[9]
See also
[edit]- Ageing of Australia
- List of Australian states by life expectancy
- List of the oldest people by country
- Oldest people
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.
- ^ Independent, Clarence Valley (8 May 2025). "Ken Weeks oldest Aussie male ever!". Clarence Valley Independent. Retrieved 5 October 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.
- ^ Hinchliffe, Ben (4 October 2025). "Ken Weeks, Australia's Oldest Person, Turns 112". LongeviQuest. Retrieved 5 October 2025.