| Mary Whitehurst | |
 | |
| Birth: | 20 October 1905 Maerdy, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Death: | 2 January 2017 Riddells Creek, Victoria, Australia |
| Age: | 111 years, 74 days |
| Country: |  UK  AUS
|
| Unvalidated | |
Mary Whitehurst (née Bolitho) (20 October 1905 – 2 January 2017) was a British-born Australian supercentenarian, whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group. She may have been, at the age of 111, the oldest living person in Australia since the death of Ethel Farrell on 20 December 2015 until her own death on 2 January 2017 (the government of Australia does not report their oldest persons). She celebrated her 110th birthday on 20 October 2015.[1]
Biography
Mary Ellen Selina Bolitho was born in the Welsh Village of Maerdy, as the oldest of eight children. Her family soon moved to Australia, initially settling in Queensland.[2] Although Mary has lived in Riddells Creek, Victoria, Australia for most of her life. Her mother lived until the age of 103.
She married Roy Lowe, who died during a routine military march, aged 58.[2] The couple had a son, Eric, who was still alive as of Mary's 111th birthday.[3] She served as president of the Riddells Creek Senior Citizens Club for 18 years. She later married Jack Whitehurst. Her two brothers both served in the war, Ken Bolitho, as a "Rat of Tubruk" and Bill served in World War II, as an RAAF squadron leader. Bolitha Rd. in Riddells Creek, was named after Whitehurst's parents, Jack and Mabel Bolitho, whilst her brother-in-law, Jack Chiqwhidden was the namesake of the Sunshine Football Oval grandstand. She was a great great grandmother.
Whitehurst died on 2 January 2017, at the Sunbury retirement home in Riddells Creek, at the age of 111 years, 74 days.[4][5] After her death Melbourne-born Marjorie Cooke became the oldest living Australian person. She was the first known supercentenarian to die in 2017.
References
- ↑ Mary marks a special birthday 7 News, 20 October 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pianist’s long life in harmony Sunbury Leader, 28 October 2014
- ↑ Mary Whitehurst set to celebrate her 111th birthday in style with friends and family at Riddell Gardens Aged Care Herald Sun, 19 October 2016 (Subscription)
- ↑ Australia’s oldest person, Mary Whitehurst, dies aged 111 Herald Sun, 26 January 2017
- ↑ In Memory of Mary Ellen Selina Whitehurst 2017[!?] - 2017
| Australia's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • T • E) |
|
Helen Dunbar • Jessie Pearce • Clara Byrne • Ada Sharp • Honora Corrigan • Mary Keefer • Josephine Gasse • Elizabeth Swatton • Samuel Rowe • Sarah Potter • Jane Piercy • Mary Nixon • Caroline Mockridge • Agnes Dodds • Mary Hurley • Ada Whitfield • Beatrice Pollock • Gertie Nesbitt • Kit St. Clair • Ada Cleggett • Ada Stockdale • Mary MacPherson • Christina Cock • Jessie Hurley • Alice Lindsay • Sarah Davey • Myra Nicholson • E. Beatrice Riley • John Campbell Ross • Miriam Schmierer • Eva McConnell • Jane Gray • Vi Robbins • Ethel Farrell • Mary Whitehurst • Marjorie Cooke • Margaret Vivian • Wilhelmina Overall • Agnes Kluckhenn • Mabel Crosby • Dexter Kruger • Ivy Tate • Ina Reid • Gwen Moore • Catherina van der Linden • Marija Ruljancich |