Australia’s oldest person and longest-lived man ever, Ken Weeks, marked his milestone 113th birthday with a very special tour of Grafton, the city in New South Wales that Ken has called home for the entirety of his 113 years. Grafton is a historical city on the Clarence Rice known for its 19th-century Victorian architecture. It turns purple every spring, when over 1,700 jacaranda trees bloom, celebrated during its annual festival.
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
As a special treat for his 113th birthday, Whiddon Grafton care home arranged for a special trip down memory lane for Ken, as he returned to the people and places that have been part of his remarkable life accompanied by two generations of family, his son Ian and granddaughter Eunice.
From his early school days at Carrs Creek Primary School to the businesses he built, the church that became part of his life, to his much cherished former home that was once owned by his great-grandfather and the place where he spent time with his family and friends, this journey offered Ken a glimpse into a city that has remained a constant across more than a century but also a city that has changed dramatically, a change that he has bore witness to.
After being waved off on his trip by fellow residents, Ken travelled, chauffer driven, through the streets he knows so well, perhaps better than any other living person, in a beautifully restored 1929 Dodge, courtesy of the Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Clun.
Ken’s son Ian said “Dad loves getting out and about, so this was a wonderful treat and experience for his 113th birthday. He was intrigued by the car and loved revisiting places that have been such an important part of his life. Being able to share these memories with him and with our wider family, made it such a special day” He continued “It’s amazing that he is still so mobile and independent. Reaching 113 is one thing, but being able to get out and about, enjoy experiences like this and continue doing the things he loves is truly remarkable!”
A LIFETIME IN GRAFTON
Ken was born on 5th October 1913, and grew up on a farm beside the Clarence River. He went to school there, raised his family there and spent much of his working life building businesses and a life in the community that he has never wanted to leave.
Born the eldest of five children, Ken spent his early years at Swan Creek before attending Carrs Creek Primary School and Grafton High School. Alongside Rene Crispin (Hall), Ken was one of two pupils in his class at Carrs Creek to reach the century mark. Ken and his brothers all attended Grafton High School’s Centenary celebrations in 2012. At the age of 98, Ken was the oldest remaining male pupil, and was invited alongside class-mate Rene to cut the cake at the special centenary event. Today, Ken is unsurprisingly the last remaining pupil from his class.
Ken’s working life took him through a remarkable range of occupations. He built roads, drove trucks and buses, operated a service station, ran a radio and electrical repair business, a milk bar, and co-owned a car dealership and repair business – all in Grafton!
He was also a lifelong inventor and tinkerer, and kept busy in his retirement designing and building boats, trucks and a campervan, as well as making modifications to his own home. Ken’s granddaughter Eunice said, “It was wonderful to share memories with Grandpa as we travelled around Grafton. It was delightful to connect with memories of community at his family home, his school and church family. I loved seeing his smile and laugh as he recalled the blessings of the past.”
STILL HOME AT 113
At 113-years-old, Ken has lived through the arrival of radio and television, the rise of air travel, two World Wars, the Great Depression, the introduction of the internet and the emergency of artificial intelligence. But while the world around him has transformed, one thing has remained constant – his connection to his home town, Grafton.
Ken continued to live independently in his Grafton home for 65 years, before moving into Whiddon Grafton Care-Home shortly before his 105th birthday in 2018. Today, the team at Whiddon have had the privilege of getting to know Ken and his family, and have enjoyed celebrating his last eight birthdays.
CEO of Whiddon Care-homes Chris Mamareils shared “Ken’s extraordinary age is only one part of what makes his story remarkable. At 113 he is still living the life he wants, connected to his family, holding on to his independence and spending time with the people and in the places he loves. We’re proud to have played our part in Ken’s story.”
For the people who care for Ken, knowing his history, where he’s lived, worked, worshipped is part of knowing who he is today. Sandra Osborne, Residential Service Manager at Whiddon Graton said, “Ken’s connection to Grafton was a significant part of his identity. Grafton is such an important part of his story, so much of who he is has been shaped by this community and the life he built here. I’ve heard so many stories about his life, but seeing him return to some of these places is incredibly special.”
While some memories have become harder for Ken to recall or share, his family help bring the stories behind the places to life. Together, Ian and Eunice provide a bridge between Ken’s past and present, filling in the details and sharing family stories, all whilst offering their own memories of the man who has spent more than a century calling Grafton home.
For a town that has changed almost beyond recognition over 113 years, Ken remains a living link to another era. And while the streets, businesses and buildings around him may look very different today than they did when Ken was born in 1913, many of the connections that matter most have endured.
After 113 years, for Ken Weeks, Grafton is still home.
LongeviQuest thanks Ken Weeks, his son Ian, granddaughter Eunice and all at Whiddon Grafton care-home for an insight into Ken’s story and his century plus long connection to his home town.
