Catherina van der Linden, believed to be the oldest living Australian, died on Australia Day in Adelaide.
Mrs van der Linden, born Van Meegen in 1912, migrated to Australia from the Netherlands with her family in 1955 and attributed her longevity to staying active, still doing 10-minute cycling sessions until the end of last year.
South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas led the tributes to Ms Van der Linden, saying on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that meeting her had been a personal highlight for him.
Catherina van der Linden gives a toast during her 111th birthday last August
“It was one of the most wonderful moments meeting Mrs Van der Linden and hearing her story – migrating to Australia from the Netherlands and raising her beautiful family,” Mr Malinauskas wrote.
‘When I asked about her secret to a happily ever after, she told me two things: regular gym sessions and regular walks.’
Mrs van der Linden spent the last three years of her life in Southern Cross Care’s West Beach Residential Care, but before that she had been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels after a busy life raising her four children.
These children had 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
During her long life, Mrs. van der Linden worked as a grape picker, nursing assistant, typist and administrative assistant.
In 2023, Ms van der Linden’s son, Jerome van der Linden, received an email from a website informing him that his mother was Australia’s oldest living person.
Mrs van der Linden was born in 1912 and emigrated with her family from the Netherlands to Australia in 1955
Ms van der Linden said the secret to her longevity is ‘keeping moving and not sitting still’.
“I challenge myself sometimes when I get a little tired and I think it’s time… to do something with yourself so that you still have that energy that you had before,” she said in August.
‘I still go by bike, sometimes for 10 minutes and that’s a long time to cycle.’
On her 111th birthday, she also gave the advice: “Be happy with yourself and be satisfied with what life gives you.”
A spokeswoman for Southern Cross Care announced Mrs Van der Linden’s death and said their thoughts and prayers were with her family.
South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas led the tributes to Ms Van der Linden
“(Mrs van der Linden) became a role model for healthy aging for fellow residents, with her love of walking and regular gym sessions,” the spokeswoman said.
‘When asked for her advice for longevity on her 111th birthday last August, she said: ‘Be happy with yourself and be satisfied with what life gives you.’
“She will be fondly remembered by her family and by everyone in the Southern Cross Care community.”
Ms Van der Linden’s body has been donated to the University of Adelaide’s Body Donation Program ‘in the hope of advancing medical science through research’.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m.