Christina Cock
Encyclopedia
Christina Cock is recorded as the oldest verified supercentenarian
in Australian history, aged when she died. She is one of the 60 oldest verified people of all time. For over a year, Cock was the oldest person ever of the Southern Hemisphere, until being surpassed by María Capovilla
of Ecuador in 2004. Cock is the only Australian that have reached age 114 and is the oldest person from Oceania to have lived in three centuries.
being the second of 11 children. She married Wilbert Cock in 1913. The couple remained married for almost 73 years, until Wilbert's death at the age of 96 in 1986.
Following the death of 110-year-old Ada Cleggett on 8 December 1995, she became the oldest living Australian, aged 107. Five years later, on 21 November 2000, Cock broke the Australian longevity
record of 112 years 330 days, which was set by Caroline Maud Mockridge (11 December 1874 – 6 November 1987). In doing so, she became the oldest ever person from the Southern Hemisphere
. This record was broken on 10 February 2004 by Ecuador
ian María Capovilla
.
At the time of Cock's death, she was the second or 3rd-oldest person in the world. With the later questioning of Japanesewoman Kamato Hongo
's age, she may have missed becoming the real world's oldest person
by just six days (Grace Clawson of the United States
, born 15 November 1887 in the United Kingdom
, died 28 May 2002, aged 114 years 194 days). In any case, Cock had been Australia's oldest person for more than six years when she died, and no other Australian has yet reached age 114. The oldest Australian man on record, 111-year-old Jack Lockett
, died 3 days later.
Cock lived independently until she was 109 years old, when she broke her hip during a fall.
On 22 May 2002, Cock died in her sleep, due to a lung infection, with daughter Lesley Ricketson by her side, at Blackburn's Lake Park nursing home. Lake Park nursing home manager Megg Begg said that Cock was was still leading a full life up until the day she died. "She still had an interest in her music and food, particularly chocolate cake, and all her family; she was very much a family orientated person." Ricketson said "[s]he was very healthy, she never got sick, she used to eat well and never got anything wrong with her."
Cock was survived by two children, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
in Australian history, aged when she died. She is one of the 60 oldest verified people of all time. For over a year, Cock was the oldest person ever of the Southern Hemisphere, until being surpassed by 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 in 2004. Cock is the only Australian that have reached age 114 and is the oldest person from Oceania to have lived in three centuries.
Biography
Christina Clay was born in Gorae, just outside of Portland, VictoriaPortland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
being the second of 11 children. She married Wilbert Cock in 1913. The couple remained married for almost 73 years, until Wilbert's death at the age of 96 in 1986.
Following the death of 110-year-old Ada Cleggett on 8 December 1995, she became the oldest living Australian, aged 107. Five years later, on 21 November 2000, Cock broke the Australian 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 ....
record of 112 years 330 days, which was set by Caroline Maud Mockridge (11 December 1874 – 6 November 1987). In doing so, she became the oldest ever 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"...
. This record was broken on 10 February 2004 by 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...
ian 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...
.
At the time of Cock's death, she was the second or 3rd-oldest person in the world. With the later questioning of Japanesewoman Kamato Hongo
Kamato Hongo
was a Japanese supercentenarian and apparently the world's oldest recognized living person from March 2002 until her death. Aged 116 years 45 days at the time of her death, she was the last remaining documented person born before 1889.-Biography:...
's age, she may have missed becoming the real world's oldest person
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...
by just six days (Grace Clawson of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, born 15 November 1887 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, died 28 May 2002, aged 114 years 194 days). In any case, Cock had been Australia's oldest person for more than six years when she died, and no other Australian has yet reached age 114. The oldest Australian man on record, 111-year-old Jack Lockett
Jack Lockett
John Henry "Jack" Lockett OAM , was a farmer and an Australian veteran of the First World War. At the time of his death, aged 111 years, 123 days, he was the oldest man in Australia...
, died 3 days later.
Cock lived independently until she was 109 years old, when she broke her hip during a fall.
On 22 May 2002, Cock died in her sleep, due to a lung infection, with daughter Lesley Ricketson by her side, at Blackburn's Lake Park nursing home. Lake Park nursing home manager Megg Begg said that Cock was was still leading a full life up until the day she died. "She still had an interest in her music and food, particularly chocolate cake, and all her family; she was very much a family orientated person." Ricketson said "[s]he was very healthy, she never got sick, she used to eat well and never got anything wrong with her."
Cock was survived by two children, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.
See also
- List of Australian supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest people
- List of the verified oldest women
- List of oldest people by nation
- 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...