BIOGRAPHY

Margaret “Peg” Vivian was born in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, on 25 February 1906. On her 10th birthday, she and her older siblings—Jean, 12, and Joe, 14—left their aunt’s care to begin the five-week journey to Perth, Australia. Her parents had traveled separately, so Peg made the trip with her brother and sister. They first went to London, then continued all the way to Fremantle by steamship—right in the midst of World War I. In Australia, she eventually became a machinist.

In 1927, Peg married Jack Vivian, and together they had two children: Peggy and Tom.

When Peg turned 101, her daughter Peggy moved in to help care for her. Peg continued practicing yoga and participating in water aerobics until the age of 108. She once remarked that she wasn’t sure what the secret to a long life was. However, she noted that she never smoked, drank only occasionally, and walked everywhere—largely because she never learned to drive. She also believed that eating her meals slowly might have played a part.

Margaret Vivian passed away in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, on 20 September 2018, at the age of 112 years, 207 days.

RECOGNITION

On 1 September 2017, following the passing of Marjorie Cooke, she became the oldest living person in Australia, at the age of 111 years, 188 days. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Wilhelmina Overall.

Vivian’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes, and her age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 23 July 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Peg, 110, treasures journey of life” – The West Australian, 26 February 2016

* “Perth woman Peg Vivian turns 112” – The West Australian, 26 February 2018

* “Australia’s oldest person, Perth’s Peg Vivian, dies aged 112” – The West Australian, 21 September 2018

GALLERY