Celebrating birthdays that come once every four years
March 28, 2024
Peak advocacy body appoints new Board Directors
April 2, 2024
Catherina van der Linden, who was Australia’s oldest person, has died at the aged of 111.
A resident of Southern Cross Care in South Australia, Catherina gently went into the night on Australia Day surrounded by her loving family and supported by our compassionate staff.
Born in the Netherlands in 1912, Catherina migrated to Australia with her husband and young family in 1955 and went on to hold a variety of jobs, including nursing assistant, clerical assistant and a season of grape picking.
At the time of her passing, Catherina van der Linden was the oldest Dutch person in the world.
Catherina moved into Southern Cross Care’s West Beach Residential Care home in 2019 and soon became a healthy ageing role model for fellow residents, with her love of walking and regular gym sessions.
When asked on her 111th birthday in August last year about her advice for a long life, she said “Be happy with yourself and be content with what life gives you…” And of course, “keep moving, don’t sit still”.
Catherina is survived by her four children, 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She will be lovingly remembered by her family and by all in the Southern Cross Care community.
As per Catherina’s wishes, her body has been donated to The University of Adelaide Body Donation Program in the hope of helping to advance medical science through research.
Her passing was widely covered by news organisations.
SOURCE: Southern Cross Care
