Myra Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Myra Leviston "Nicky" Nicholson (14 December 1894 – 20 September 2007) was the thrid oldest living Australian and the eleventh-oldest validated person in the world
following the death of French doyenne Marie-Simone Capony
on 15 September 2007.
, but was born at Clarkes Hill, near Ballarat on 14 December 1894. She descended from a family with a history of longevity
– many lived well into their 90, and a distant relative, Vera Labbett, lived to 109 Her husband, Harold, died in 1971.
She was still enjoying life at age 100
and described her centennial in 1994 as "lovely". However, shortly before her death, Nicholson was confined to her bed and said quote "I can't do anything by myself. I get sick of it".
Nicholson shopped independently until in her 90s. She lived on her own until the age of 102, and she became Australia's oldest person at the age of 109, upon the death of 111 year old Alice Lindsay, on 1 July 2004. In July 2006 she was the subject of a controversy in which she had to move out of the closing Blackburn Aged Care Facility and into her family's home.
On 28 August 2006, the death the previous day of the world's oldest person, María Capovilla
of Ecuador
, left Nicholson as the oldest person from the Southern Hemisphere
at the age of 111. British immigrant
Florence Finch
was still living in New Zealand, but her death on 10 April 2007 gave Nicholson the overall title at 112.
She died on 20 September 2007 due to a mild case of bronchitis
. Nicholson left one son, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
following the death of French doyenne Marie-Simone Capony
Marie-Simone Capony
Marie-Simone Capony was, at age 113, the oldest living person in France for more than a year and a retired teacher. She became the French doyenne following the death of 114-year-old Camille Loiseau in August 2006. At the time of her death, aged 113 years and 185 days, due to heart failure, she...
on 15 September 2007.
Biography
Nicholson came from Blackburn, VictoriaBlackburn, Victoria
Blackburn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Blackburn had a population of 11,958....
, but was born at Clarkes Hill, near Ballarat on 14 December 1894. She descended from a family with a history of longevity
Longevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
– many lived well into their 90, and a distant relative, Vera Labbett, lived to 109 Her husband, Harold, died in 1971.
She was still enjoying life at age 100
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
and described her centennial in 1994 as "lovely". However, shortly before her death, Nicholson was confined to her bed and said quote "I can't do anything by myself. I get sick of it".
Nicholson shopped independently until in her 90s. She lived on her own until the age of 102, and she became Australia's oldest person at the age of 109, upon the death of 111 year old Alice Lindsay, on 1 July 2004. In July 2006 she was the subject of a controversy in which she had to move out of the closing Blackburn Aged Care Facility and into her family's home.
On 28 August 2006, the death the previous day of the world's oldest person, María Capovilla
María Capovilla
María Esther Heredia de Capovilla was an Ecuadorian supercentenarian, and, at the time of her death at age 116 years 347 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining person born in the 1880s...
of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, left Nicholson as the oldest person from the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
at the age of 111. British immigrant
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
Florence Finch
Florence Finch
Florence Finch was a British born New Zealand supercentenarian. She moved to New Zealand permanently in 1969.She holds the longevity record for New Zealand....
was still living in New Zealand, but her death on 10 April 2007 gave Nicholson the overall title at 112.
She died on 20 September 2007 due to a mild case of bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
. Nicholson left one son, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
See also
- List of Australian supercentenarians
- LongevityLongevityThe word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....