World’s two oldest living men celebrate ‘extraordinary milestone’ with special messages
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men → live → messages
Australia’s oldest living person celebrated an incredible milestone today by exchanging birthday wishes with the only man in the world older than him.
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person → live → him
In an extraordinary coincidence, the two men share the same birthday, exactly one year apart.
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men → share → birthday
Ken Weeks, who turns 113 today, was born in Grafton, NSW on Oct. 5, 1913.
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who → turn → Oct.
One year earlier and 14,000 kilometers (8,699 miles) away, João Marinho Neto was born in Maranguape, Ceará, Brazil.
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Neto → bear → Maranguape
Today, the world’s two oldest men have exchanged birthday messages in what is believed to be a world first, not-for-profit aged care provider Whiddon said in a media release on Monday.
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Whiddon → exchange → Monday
Weeks, who lives at Whiddon aged care in Grafton, was delighted to receive a special birthday message from Neto.
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who → live → Neto
In return, Weeks recorded a video message thanking Neto and wishing him a happy birthday.
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Weeks → record → birthday
“Ken’s 113th birthday is an extraordinary milestone,” Whiddon chief executive Chris Mamarelis said in a statement.
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Mamarelis → say → statement
It’s about Ken, and the life he has lived to get here.
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he → ’ → Ken
“Today, he connects with the only man on earth older than him.
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he → connect → him
Two men, born a year and 14,000 kilometres apart, exchanging messages on the one day that belongs to both of them.
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that → bear → them
That is not something we can plan for.
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we → plan → ?
It is a privilege to witness.
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It → witness → ?
“I don’t believe we will ever see this again.
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we → believe → this
That is special, and it may be the only time it ever happens.”
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it → happen → ?
Weeks has been living at Whiddon Grafton since just before his 105th birthday in 2018.
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Weeks → live → 2018
He has lived in the Northern Rivers town for more than a century.
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He → live → century
The eldest of five children, he spent his childhood in the Clarence Valley, growing up on a riverside farm at Swan Creek and attending Carrs Creek Primary School and Grafton High School.
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he → spend → School
During his working life, he built roads, drove trucks and buses, operated a service station, ran a radio and electrical repair business and a milk bar, and co-owned a car dealership and repair business in Grafton.
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he → work → Grafton
Unable to join the Royal Australian Air Force in WWII, he helped construct wartime airfields instead.
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he → join → airfields
He was also a lifelong tinkerer and builder, designing and constructing boats and trucks.
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He → design → boats
He married Jean McPhee in 1941 and the couple had two sons, Ian and Noel.
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couple → marry → sons
Weeks continued to live independently for many years afterwards, remaining in his home for 65 years before moving into care.
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Weeks → continue → care
He maintained his independence and his love of staying active even well into his later years.
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He → maintain → years
At 100, he was still walking into town to do his shopping.
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he → walk → shopping
Seven years after entering care at Whiddon, Weeks has become a cherished member of the community.
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Weeks → enter → community
“Ken is such a special part of our Whiddon Grafton family,” residential services manager Sandra Osborne said.
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Osborne → say → family
“We’ve had the privilege of caring for him for many years now, and it’s wonderful to see him reach another incredible milestone.”
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him → have → milestone
His granddaughter Eunice Weeks said his determination and outlook on life continued to inspire those around him.
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determination → say → him
“Grandpa’s resilience, determination, and independence combined with his faith in God have given him a remarkable and long life,” she said.
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she → combine → life
“And while he is remarkable, l also love that he has lived a simple ordinary life of industrious hard work.
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he → love → work
To me he is a typical Aussie battler, that just happens to be my grandad.”
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that → happen → me
LongeviQuest, a global longevity research body, currently recognizes João Marinho Neto as the world’s oldest living man and Ken Weeks as the second-oldest living man.
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LongeviQuest → recognize → man
Both men have been age-validated by the organization.
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men → validate → organization
The Aporia
