Oldest Man in World Celebrates 114th Birthday, Exchanging Messages with Second Oldest

Ken Weeks, Australia's oldest living person, marked his 113th birthday on October 5 by exchanging messages with João Marinho Neto, the only man in the world older than him, who celebrated his 114th birthday on the same day.

Weeks, from Grafton in New South Wales, received a special video message from Neto, who resides in Ceará, Brazil. Weeks recorded a video in return, thanking Neto and wishing him a happy birthday. The two men are separated by approximately 14,000 kilometers.

"Ken's 113th birthday is an extraordinary milestone," said Chris Mamarelis, CEO of Whiddon, the aged care facility where Weeks resides. "But for us, it was never about the number. It's about Ken, and the life he has lived to get here. Today, he connects with the only man on earth older than him. Two men, born a year and 14,000 kilometers apart, exchanging messages on the one day that belongs to both of them. That is not something we can plan for. It is a privilege to witness."

Mamarelis added, "I don't believe we will ever see this again. The world's two oldest men. One 113 today, the other 114. On the same day, wishing each other happy birthday from opposite sides of the world."

Weeks has lived at Whiddon Grafton since 2018, moving in shortly before his 105th birthday. Prior to entering care, he lived independently for decades and was still walking to town for shopping at age 100. He has resided in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales for over a century, growing up on a farm at Swan Creek as the eldest of five children.

During World War II, Weeks was involved in constructing wartime airfields. Throughout his career, he worked in construction and repairs, running several small businesses including a service station, milk bar, and repair shop. He married Jean McPhee in 1941, and they had two sons, Ian and Noel. The couple was married for 45 years until Jean's death in 1986.

His son Ian described his father's life as simple, noting a lack of modern health trends often associated with longevity. "He lived a plain simple life; no drinking, no smoking, though he ate white bread," Ian said. "He wasn't into today's health stuff, not very much sweet stuff, but it was all plain simple food."

While Weeks remains physically fit and relatively agile, his age has affected his voice. His granddaughter Eunice described him as a "gentle" and "kind" man, attributing his long life to "resilience, determination, and independence combined with his faith in God."

LongeviQuest, a global longevity research organization, recognizes Neto as the world's oldest living man and Weeks as the second-oldest living man.