Australia's oldest living person has celebrated his 113th birthday on the same day as the only man in the world older than him, with the two exchanging birthday messages.
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two → live → messages
Ken Weeks, from Grafton in northern New South Wales, marked the extraordinary milestone on October 5, the same day João Marinho Neto, from Maranguape, Ceará, Brazil, turned 114.
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Neto → mark → 114
The two men share a birthday and the distinction of being the world's two oldest living men, despite being around 14,000 kilometres apart.
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men → share → birthday
Mr Weeks, who lives in Grafton at Whiddon aged care, was thrilled to get a special message from Mr Neto and recorded a video in return, where he thanked him and wished him a happy birthday.
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he → live → birthday
'Ken's 113th birthday is an extraordinary milestone,' Whiddon chief executive Chris Mamarelis said.
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Mamarelis → say → ?
It's about Ken, and the life he has lived to get here.
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he → live → 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
Australia's oldest living person has celebrated his 113th birthday on the same day as the only man in the world older than him
Ken Weeks (pictured), from Grafton in New South Wales, marked the extraordinary milestone on October 5, the same day as the world’s oldest living man
João Marinho Neto, from Maranguape, Ceará, Brazil, turned 114 and exchanged birthday messages with Mr Weeks (pictured)
'
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Neto → live → Weeks
That is special, and it may be the only time it ever happens.'
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it → happen → ?
Mr Weeks has lived at the nursing home since 2018, moving in shortly before his 105th birthday.
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Weeks → live → birthday
Before entering care, he lived independently for decades and was still walking into town for shopping at the age of 100.
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he → enter → 100
He has lived in the Northern Rivers region of north-eastern New South Wales for more than a century, growing up on a riverside farm at Swan Creek as the eldest of five children.
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He → live → children
During World War II, Mr Weeks was unable to join the Royal Australian Air Force but instead helped construct wartime airfields.
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Weeks → join → airfields
A lifelong tinkerer and builder, he worked in construction and repairs throughout his career and ran several small businesses, including a service station, milk bar and repair shop.
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he → work → station
Mr Weeks married Jean McPhee in 1941 and they had two sons, Ian and Noel.
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they → marry → sons
The couple remained married for 45 years until Jean died in 1986.
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Jean → remain → 1986
His son Ian said his father had lived a simple life, with few of the modern health trends often associated with longevity.
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few → say → longevity
'He lived a plain simple life; no drinking, no smoking, though he ate white bread,' he said.
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he → live → bread
Mr Weeks has been living at Whiddon Grafton nursing home since 2018
His son Ian said the key to his father’s long life was simple, 'no drinking, no smoking, although he did eat white bread'
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he → live → bread
'
While Mr Weeks remains physically fit and relatively agile, his age has impacted his voice.
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age → remain → voice
'He has trouble talking [and] he doesn't speak very well,' Ian said.
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Ian → have → trouble
His granddaughter Eunice described him as a 'gentle' and 'kind' man.
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granddaughter → describe → man
'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, I 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 organisation, recognises Mr Neto as the world's oldest living man and Mr Weeks as the second-oldest living man.
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LongeviQuest → recognise → man
The Aporia
