BIOGRAPHY

Dexter Ronald Kruger was born in Nundah, an inner suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on 13 January 1910. His parents were Albert Henry Kruger (1871–1959) and Matilda Otto (1878–1961), both of German descent. He had at least five siblings. He grew up on the family farm in Kilcoy, Queensland, where he went to school. He used to travel on a horse until he was around 30.

In 1942, he married Gladys Beanland. He worked as cattle farmer. They had two children.

In 1976, he moved to Nanango with his family. The family drove every Sunday to the Linville Methodist Church, but eventually got involved in the Nanango Uniting Church.

Two of Kruger’s cousins lived to 100, and his aunt lived to 103.

His wife died in 1994. At the age of 86, he started writing books. His life has been documented in a series of books written with the help of his long-time friend and secretary Janet Rowlings. He published 12 books in total. He retired from his farming work in his early 90s, and eventually moved to Roma.

Kruger was taken for a ride on a Harley Davidson motorcycle at the age of 106. In December 2018, a month before his 109th birthday, he was visited by Queensland Senator Amanda Stoker and Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly Ann Leahy.

RECOGNITION

On 29 December 2020, Kruger became the oldest living person in Australia after the death of Mabel Crosby. He was the first man to hold this title since John Campbell Ross in 2009. However, he has been the oldest known living Australian-born person since the death of Wilhelmina Overall on 21 October 2018, as Crosby was born in England.

After turning 110, Kruger became the fifth recorded male supercentenarian in the history of Australia, as well as the first from Queensland. On 17 May 2021, he surpassed the 21 year-long record of Jack Lockett and became the oldest man ever from Australia and Oceania.

His age was verified by Stefan Maglov and James Roberts, assisted by LQ CEO, Ben Meyers, and validated by LongeviQuest on 10 March 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY