Eva McConnell, 110

Eva McConnell, at her 110th birthday party.

Eva McConnell (born 5 May, 1901) is an Australian supercentenarian who is the oldest verified person in Australia following the death of Miriam Schmierer on 29th September, 2011. She currently lives in Mollymock, NSW. Eva was still chopping wood when she was 100, and at 102 still lived on her own and cooked for herself. She moved to Mollymook to live with her daughter six years ago. Presently, she has six children, 13 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 34 great-great-grandchildren. She still lives in a home as of her 110th birthday. Her response when her daughter told her that she was the oldest person in Australia was “well, fancy that”. “We would climb trees and the roof of the house. We would go to parties and our family would have concerts, playing music at night.” She now lives in Mollymook, but has fond memories of growing up on the local farm near Wellington as one of 12 children. “We did lots of farm work and got up to a lot of mischief too,” she said. When Burrendong Dam was filled, she was sad to lose her childhood home. “I felt pretty miserable,” she said. "All the houses and some of the properties were very good. Now they’re all under water.” Later in life, she lived in Mumbil before moving to Mollymook to live with her daughter, Nola West-Newman. “She has lots of relatives in Wellington,” her niece and Wellington local Betty Lindner said. “We’re all very proud.”