| Beatrice Riley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Emily Beatrice Ogilvy 13 October 1896 Poowong, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 15 May 2009 (aged 112 years, 214 days) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Title | Oldest Australian upon death |
Emily Beatrice "Bea" Riley (née Ogilvy; 13 October 1896 – 15 May 2009)[1] was a supercentenarian, who at age of 112, the oldest verified living person in Australia following the death of 112-year-old Myra Nicholson on 20 September 2007. She was also one of the 20 oldest verified people in the world, and the oldest living person in the Southern Hemisphere since the death of Marie-Louise Lhuillier on 28 December 2007.
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Beatrice Ogilvy was born on 13 October 1896 in Morwell, Victoria. She has been battling illness almost all of her life after she had one of her kidneys removed.[2] While she was young, one of her hobbies was horse-riding.[3] Later on, she moved to Melbourne to become a nurse.[3] Beatrice married Alexander Hele Riley in Victoria in 1926. They had two children, Clifford David Riley and Marilyn Beatrice Riley. Alexander died in 1986, aged 86 years.[3]
Riley lived independently until she was 99 years old.[2] She later moved to View Bank nursing home in Melbourne.[3] In c. 2003, she was able to keep up with her daily exercises, which included touching her toes.[2]
On the occasion of her 112th birthday in 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot showed their congratulations.[2]
Riley died on 15 May 2009 in View Bank nursing home in Melbourne. At the time of her death, she was survived by her son Cliff, six grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.[3]