Australia’s oldest living person shares their three key ingredients to a long life

Want to know the secret sauce to longevity? There’s no one better to share their knowledge than Australia’s oldest living person, Ken Weeks. At 110-years-old he is showing little signs of slowing down.

Australia’s oldest person, 110-year old Ken Weeks, has a few secret ingredients to his long life and with more in life to look forward he looks set to keep powering on.

Mr Weeks, was born just before World War One on 5 October, 1913 and now lives in an aged care facility in Grafton in northern NSW.

He has long been an active member of the Grafton community and only entered the aged care facility at the age of 104.

Many Grafton locals will know Mr Weeks from his electrical shop in Prince Street Grafton or from riding around town on his tricycle.

At 101 years-old Ken Weeks was still riding his tricycle around Grafton.

According to Mr Weeks he has “no regrets in life” and told The Daily Examiner “hard work” is the most important key to a long and happy life.

True to his word Mr Weeks worked all his life and continued work as a volunteer after his retirement.

He was an electrical technician and used his knowledge to build a caravan and a fishing trawler which he built on the Clarence River and sailed out to Yamba.

Australia's oldest living person Kenneth Weeks as a baby.

Upon retirement Ken said his love of children led him to volunteer at a child care centre.

Mr Weeks’ connection to his family is another key factor in his long life and keeps him future focused.

He and his wife Jean had their own children, Ian and Noel.

Sadly Jean and Noel have passed away but Mr Weeks sees Ian often and has five grandchildren he is very proud of.

“I’m looking forward to watching my son and his children grow up,” Mr Weeks said.

Whiddon CEO Chris Mamarelis, Deputy CEO Alyson Jarrett and Ken Weeks with his framed special issue Baked Beans dedicated to his love of baked beans.

Along with hard work and family connections there seems to be another ingredient to Mr Week’s longevity — his diet which includes a love of baked beans.

When Ken turned 110 he was presented with his own special edition can of Heinz Beanz baked beans with his face on the wrapper.

The other residents in his Grafton aged care facility also received their own commemorative tins.

Mr Weeks turns 111 in October.