Supercentenarian Profile

Vi Robbins

Born:

1902-02-28

Ashfield, New South Wales

Australia

Died:

2014-10-08

Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales

Australia

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Violet Daisy “Vi” Robbins (née Brabant) was an Australian supercentenarian. Her age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and recognised by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Vi Robbins was born in Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia, on 28 February 1902, to parents Herbert Arthur Brabant (1881–1943) and Euroa MacCracken (1880–1910). She had three siblings: Dorothy (b. 1904), Margaret (b. 1906-), and Mark Alexander (1910–1974). Robbins spent most of her life in Coogee. She married Edward John (Ted) Robbins, and the couple had a daughter, Gail Avis. She was widowed around 1969.

She lived independently until 2011, when she moved into the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home in Randwick. At the age of 107, she attributed her longevity to never having driven and walking everywhere.

A longtime volunteer for causes ranging from the Coogee Public School P&C to Alcoholics Anonymous, she also became a familiar figure at Prince of Wales Hospital after taking up volunteering there at the age of 100. She spent every Tuesday working in the hospital’s mail room until stepping down from her position in 2012. Her efforts were recognised by the federal member for Kingsford-Smith, Matt Thistlethwaite, who launched the annual Vi Robbins Volunteer Award in her honour in 2014.

At the age of 112, it was reported that her hearing and eyesight were failing, but she could still enjoy afternoon tea with fellow residents at the nursing home.

Vi Robbins passed away in Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 8 October 2014, at the age of 112 years, 222 days.

RECOGNITION

Robbins’ age was verified by John McCormack and validated by the GRG on 10 November 2013.

On 7 June 2014, following the passing of 112-year-old Jane Gray, she became the oldest living person in Australia. Upon her own passing in October, she was succeeded by Ethel Farrell.