Australia’s oldest woman dies aged 112 after long illness

Australia is farewelling its oldest woman, Lorna Henstridge, who has died at the remarkable age of 112.

The South Australian centenarian turned 112 in June, but on Monday her family confirmed her death from a weeks-long battle with pneumonia to The Adelaide Advertiser.

Born in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War I, Henstridge lived through two world conflicts, two global pandemics and 26 Australian prime ministers.

On her 110th birthday in 2024 she told 9News how “very lucky” she felt to reach the milestone age.

Lorna put her longevity down to an active life.

“I think perhaps I’ve always been very active... (I) did play sport quite a lot.”

Her daily routine involved solving a crossword and going for a walk. She also enjoyed three coffee dates a week with her eldest daughter.

South Australian woman Lorna Henstridge was born in June 1914 and lived through two world wars and two global pandemics. nna\lslade

Henstridge also shared what was most important to her.

"I guess the main thing is to be respectful with other people and try and understand them always and learn a lot from everybody," she said.

Lorna spent much of her life in regional South Australia and up until the age of 105 she lived in her own home.

During her final years she lived in an assisted living facility in Bordertown.

She leaves nine great-grandchildren.