Australia’s oldest man passes away in his sleep peacefully

Living past your 110th birthday may sound like a dream for some and a nightmare for others.

For Australia’s oldest man, Frank Mawer, it was a long ride full of excitement and extraordinary adventures.

He was born on August 15 1912 and lived independently until last November, after which he took residence in his son Philip's house at Central Tilba.

“He lived life to the full even in recent months. He insisted on sitting up for meals, he did his exercises every day, and had plenty of visitors,” Mawer’s other son, Barry, said.

“He went to have his afternoon nap on Saturday afternoon and never woke up.”

In 1939, Mawer married his sweetheart Elizabeth, an Irish immigrant, with whom he raised six children.

Over the years, the family grew to include 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great, great-grandchildren.

They loved to spend holidays at the Blue Lagoon Beach Resort at Bateau Bay on the NSW Central Coast before Christmas – an activity they did for over 60 years, usually at the same beachfront site.

The fondness of that caravan park and the memories led to a street named after them in their honour.

Although Mawer couldn’t share his final years with his wife, who passed away in 2011 at 92, he felt blessed to have had her by his side for the main parts of his life.

“It was a long marriage to a lovely girl,” Mawer said in a previous statement.

When asked during an interview in 2020 what Mawer’s secret was to living such a long life, he said it was quite simple – no smoking, drinking and gambling.

“These are three things you can choose. The way you live makes a difference. And the schooling costs of my six children was a worthy investment,” Mawer said.

While he had stopped drinking at age 30 and didn’t touch alcohol for 80 years, Mawer enjoyed spending time with his family and eating Portuguese tarts from a local bakery.

During Mawer’s time living independently in his apartment at Gymea in Sydney’s south, he was supported by HammondCare At Home staff.

Chief of HammondCare, Mike Baird, said he was honoured to have cared for Mawer for all those years.

“Frank was the most inspiring individual – a gracious man and a man of faith,” Baird said.

“We’re proud to have helped him live his life to the full to the end.”

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