Kingston’s oldest person Hiek Nerang swears by beer and pickles
Forget exercise and sunscreen, and eat more rice porridge says supercentenarian Hiek Nerang.
Inner East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Kingston’s oldest resident is defying all the expert advice about longevity to reach her 109th birthday and is still going strong.
Last week Ms Nerang joined 10 of the city’s 15 centurions to celebrate their lives at a lunch organised by Kingston Council.
MEET THE WORLD’S OLDEST PERSON
Granddaughter Kailiya Kuoch said Ms Nerang had been to the lunch about five times before and was “always the oldest”.
“Many of the other people celebrating their 100th birthday are in wheelchairs and living in nursing homes,” Ms Kuoch said.
“Grandma is still very fit and healthy and mobile. We’re really proud of her.
“She has a simple diet. She doesn’t eat much processed food. She loves pickles and has rice porridge every day.”
Ms Nerang was born in China in 1909 and moved to Cambodia in her teens.
She survived the Khmer Rouge regimen between 1975 and 1979 before coming to Australia with her family in 1980.
“We were refugees,” Ms Kuoch said.
“We lived in the detention camps. It was hard but we feel lucky when we see what is happening in the world now in places like Syria.”
Ms Nerang has lived in Mordialloc for 14 years with support from her children, including daughter La Tieng Tang.
She has seven children, 22 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.
The oldest person ever from Australia was Christina Cock, who died in 2002, aged 114 years, 148 days. The oldest man ever from Australia was Jack Lockett, who also died in 2002, aged 111 years, 123 days.
MORE NREWS
ANOTHER MELBOURNE COUNCIL DECLARED A TERMITE ZONE
Wantirna residents slam townhouse development plan
A group of Wantirna residents are protesting about a developer’s plan to build 24 townhouses on a former childcare centre site they fear will cause massive congestion.
Eddie McGuire’s sister Brigette moving on from Melb pad
Eddie McGuire’s sister, marketing dynamo and former radio host Brigette McGuire is selling her stylish circa-1880s family home in Melbourne’s inner-east that she’s renovated and extended.