Jack Lockett

John Henry Lockett (22 January 1891 – 25 May 2002) was the oldest man ever in Australia when he died aged 111 years, 123 days. As one of the last surviving veterans of World War I, he was acclaimed as a national hero during the last decade of his life. On 24 March 1916, he travelled to Mildura to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. He served in France with the 38th Battalion, earning promotion to sergeant and was discharged on 20 September 1919.

After the war, Lockett returned to The Mallee and selected a block of land in Linga, Victoria, deciding to make his living as a farmer. In 1923, he married Maybell Ingwerson and they had four children together. In 1963, the couple retired to Bendigo, leaving the farmland (which now covered more than , in the care of their children and grandchildren. In 1998, Lockett and his known fellow surviving veterans were awarded Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour by the French government for their service in the war. The ceremony was held in Lockett's home town of Bendigo, attended by Prime Minister John Howard, who described Lockett as a "priceless national treasure ... who represents so much of what is the true Australian spirit ... courage ... adventure ... a willingness to share adversity". On 11 June 2001, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Bendigo, particularly as a representative of Australia war veterans. Lockett died of kidney failure at age 111 years, 123 days, shortly after fellow supercentenarian Christina Cock, the oldest woman and person ever in Australia and Oceania. He was honoured with a state funeral, and described as "a hero of the nation" who "was indeed the quintessential Australian battler. Whatever hand of cards fate dealt him, his response was, 'No worries'."

At the time of his death, Lockett was survived by four children: Jack, Kevin, Joyce and Ron; fifteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren. He was Australia's oldest verified male until 2021 when Dexter Kruger set a new national record.

Honours and awards

Medal of the Order of Australia (awarded 11 June 2001) British War Medal Victory Medal 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal (awarded 21 April 1999) Centenary Medal (awarded 1 January 2002) Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour (awarded 4 July 1998)