Oldest Aussie farewelled

Australia’s oldest person, Eva McConnell, has passed away at IRT St George’s Basin last week.

Ms McConnell, who in May turned 112, had been living with family in Mollymook until about two weeks ago.

IRT chief executive, Nieves Murray (pictured with Ms McConnell), said the centenarian’s attitude and agility – along with her good health and longevity – was an inspiration to people around her.

“At 100, Ms McConnell was still chopping wood and at 101 she was living on her own and cooking for herself. She aged well and showed a lot of courage – after all, she saw two World Wars and a Depression before she’d turned 50,” Ms Murray said.

“She had a remarkable innings and demonstrated you can have a quality lifestyle as part of a long and healthy life. Ms McConnell lived in her own home until two weeks before she passed away – that is a truly inspiring way to age.”

At 102, Ms McConnell moved to Mumbil, NSW, to live with her grandson during the winter and spent the summer months with her daughter Nola West-Newman in Mollymook.

However, about seven years ago she decided to live with her daughter and son-in-law full-time and was provided with an Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) package from IRT.

Ms McConnell was born in 1901 and was one of 12 children. The family grew up on a farm at Burrendong, near Wellington in NSW. She had six children and today has 13 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 34 great-great-grandchildren.