REGULAR FEATURES
M
y regular articles in this publication are usually about By Barry Clark long forgotten Bribie Island Historical Society historical events, old buildings and structures, and past pioneers who contributed to the rich commercial and social history of Bribie Island.
only by Japan and parts of Europe. Of any 100 boys born in Australia in 1920, only 12 survived to reach 100 years. However, Australians aged in their 90’s today are the fastest growing age group of any older Australians, and have increased by a bigger percentage than any other ten year age group over 60.
BORN IN NZ
Esme Tremewan, as she was born in Lower Hutt in New Zealand on 22 August 1921, came into quite a different world. The recent end of the First World War in 1918 brought Peace, and it remained that way until Esme was 18 years old, when World War 2 broke out in Europe in 1939. Esme did her schooling in Lower Hutt, before completing four years training in
This article is something different, having recently met a Bribie island lady soon to celebrate her 100th birthday. She is Esme Paton, who has had a long and interesting life, with 33 years on Bribie, and has contributed in many different ways to our community. Esme is a delightful lady, and at my first meeting her it was hard to believe she is about to celebrate her 100th birthday. Living to 100 years is more common these days. When Esme was born in 1921 life expectancy for women was only 63 years. Over the past 100 years, life expectancy for women in Australia has increased steadily, growing to 70 years by 1960, and for a girl born in Australia today she can expect a life of 85 years. Australia has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world, exceeded 42 www.thebribieislander.com.au
and in Australia it is a Queensland farmer who recently turned 111 years. Medical science suggests that 50% of babies born today, in the wealthy countries of the world, could live to be over 100 years old. This will be due to advances in medical science, but it has significant implications for global economies.
There are about 4900 people in Australia now over 100 years, and I am told that there is a lady on Bribie that is 109, and her sister in UK lived to be 113. The oldest person in the world today is Japanese at 118 years, The Bribie Islander
