John Henry Lockett OAM (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. Lockett was born in the small Victorian town of Waanyarra, near Bendigo. He left school aged nine to work on a local farm. Later, he worked for his uncles in the Mallee. 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lockett After the war, Jack returned to The Mallee and selected a 640 acres (260 ha) 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 130,000 acres (53,000 ha), in the care of their children and grandchildren . Five newspaper cuttings referring to Jack Lockett First cutting Bendigo Advertiser Tuesday, March 17, 1987- page 8 For the Bowler (Headline) Senior man at veterans' day is 96-year-old Jack Lockett BDBA Veterans Day was a great success with 171 veteran and super-veteran bowlers taking part. Oldest bowler taking part was Mr Jack Lockett of the Bendigo East Club who is 96. RVBA councillor, Mr Ron Manning, presented 14 super veterans their badges during the day. Second cutting Bendigo Advertiser, Môn, Jan. 25 1982-3 A black and white photograph of brothers Alf, 94 and Jack, 91 Lockett in Eaglehawk. There is brief description of their lives in Tarnagulla in a family of ten siblings, their move together to their uncles' pioneering property in Northwest Victoria in 1912, Jack's World War 1 service and their currant addresses in Bendigo and Eaglehawk. Third cutting Bendigo Advertiser, Tuesday, September 24, 1991- page 13. (heading) BOWLS ROUND-UP A black and white photograph of three men wearing white shirts and trousers, dark jackets and ties Below the photo in large print - Centenarian starts season. ABOVE: Bendigo East Bowling Club president Frank Slater with the club's longest serving member Jack Lockett and BDBA president Vic Canobie at the opening of the 1991-92 season. Mr. Lockett sent down the first bowl. Fourth cutting Bendigo Advertiser, Friday, April 22, 1988 - Page 3. (headline) Licensed to drive till he's 102! Below there is a close up photograph of Jack's face and his DRIVER LICENCE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA. A collum to the right of the photograph is headed - But don't worry he gave up at 97 The article talks about the silliness of issuing a driving licence for someone to use till they are 102. It also highlights that his date of birth on the licence is 22/ 01/91 and the licence expires on 27/06/93 A two-year old motorist?! Fifth cutting The Litchfield Times, July5 2000 page 4 Heading in the middle of the page - Proud as punch below there a photograph of three adults and two children with one child holding a photograph of Jack Lockett with names under neath Debbie Hermann, Babara Lockett, Jake Hermann, Kelly Hermann and Kevin Lockett. jack lockett, mabel ingwersen, alf lockett, bendigo east bowling club, taragulla, the bendigo advertiser, the litchfield times, mallee farming