News

WA’s oldest man leaves JHC staff smiling

Nov 10, 2022

In 40 years of nursing, Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) Director of Clinical Services, Mary Ferrier, hasn’t come across anyone quite like Gordon Ewers.

The 106-years old Madeley resident is believed to be the oldest man in Western Australia and the third oldest person in Australia, but it was his lively personality, sharp mind and quick wit that caught Mary’s attention.

“I heard that we had a 106-year old patient on one of our wards and I was very keen to meet him,” she said. “After all it isn’t every day you meet someone who is 106!”

Mary said she loved meeting Mr Ewers, who she described as a “character”.

“He is quite remarkable for his age. He looks terrific, is sharp as a tack and has a wonderful sense of humour,” she said. “When he realised I was from Glasgow he started singing “I belong to Glasgow, good old Glasgow town” and I found myself singing along with him.”

Mr Ewers was born in Perth in 1916, and has lived through two world wars, the Great Depression and two global pandemics: the Spanish flu and COVID-19.

One of three boys, Mr Ewers grew up in Applecross where his father was the headmaster of the two classroom primary school. As children, he and his two brothers used to play by the river and in the bush with home-made toys.

Mr Ewers won a scholarship to Perth Modern School and, after matriculating, worked in the Customs Department where he had a long and fulfilling career.

He and his wife had 63 years of marriage and went on to have two daughters, who are both in their 70s.

Up until 100, Mr Ewers was in good health and only visited a hospital twice – once for a broken wrist when he was 12 and was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital and later in his 50s when he had his gall bladder removed.

Despite having only been to hospital a few times, Mr Ewers has observed monumental changes in the health system over his lifetime.

“Hospitals have developed using global knowledge that can be shared because of the increase in information and methods of communicating,” he said. “Back when we were young a lot of knowledge came from friends’ advice rather than medical textbooks.”

“The most obvious change within the healthcare setting is in technology. While I wasn’t in hospitals much, I visited people there and there was more personal care with very little help from machines.”

Mr Ewers, who is currently having daily physio for a back problem which developed from turning sharply, says nothing beats “the care of a good nurse”.

Mr Ewers says his secret to a long life is simple.

“Live sensibly, breath regularly, think positively and live hopefully,” he said. “My Christian faith gave me purpose and fulfilment in life.”

Mr Ewers also said a moderate lifestyle was essential.

“I never smoked or drank alcohol, and I used to have a glass of lemon water every day,” he said. “I was also active playing lacross, cricket, tennis and table tennis.”