109-year-old Australian knits pullovers for penguins
Alfred Date is the oldest man in Australia at the age of 109 - and can not say no. So it happened that Date knitted small sweaters for penguins. The history of the Phillip Island's Penguin Foundation was already circulating some time ago. The Foundation collected knit sweaters for small penguins to protect the animals from escaped oil in the event of an environmental disaster.
Around the world, people knitted sweaters for penguins. One of these people was Alfred Date. He had just arrived at his new home, a retirement home in New South Wales, when he was asked if he did not want to knit for a good cause. "I think I've only been here for 12 hours, maybe 13," Alfred told 9Stories. "Two nurses come into my room and say, 'We think you can knit.'" In fact, his great-great-grandfather's sister-in-law had given him knitting needles 80 years ago. His first assignment: knit a sweater for his nephew.
Even when the little penguins needed help, he could not refuse the request. The nurses brought him thick wool, because "with light wool you are wasting your time," says Date. Then the hardworking knitter got down to work and knitted pullovers for the penguins who live in an accomodation on Phillip Island. The support for the organization was so overwhelming that she soon did not need sweaters anymore.
The organization thanked Date for its contribution. He was the oldest knitter who knitted for the penguins. But Date is probably the oldest knitter in the world. "We knew he was over 100 years old, but we had no idea he was named the oldest person in Australia," said Danene Jones, who works for the Phillip Island's Penguin Foundation. "It is fantastic and we are honored to devote his time and diligence to the Penguin Foundation."
Date has passed on his passion for knitting for three generations and still knits scarves for friends and little caps for premature babies, even if his dexterity eases a bit. He does not want to make mistakes, says Date. But for someone so old, you'll excuse little mistakes.
