Alfred Date, Australia’s oldest man at 109 years old, was a remarkable individual who never hesitated to lend a helping hand. His unwavering commitment to assisting those in need led him to create tiny sweaters for little penguins.
Alfred Date was among a group of skilled knitters from around the world chosen to craft sweaters for penguins, aimed at protecting them from oil spills. In March 2013, following an oil leak, the Penguin Foundation of Phillip Island sought expert knitters’ assistance. These sweaters, while adorable on the little penguins, were more than just a fashion statement. They prevented oil from sticking to the penguins’ feathers, ensuring that water couldn’t penetrate their inner down layers. Without these sweaters, the penguins would become cold, distressed, and unable to hunt due to their thick, oil-coated plumage.
Regardless of his age, Alfred Date vividly remembered the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the onset of World War I. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the “old lad” maintained his sense of humor as he revealed his secret to a long life: “getting up every morning.” Another key to living a long and happy life, he believed, was assisting others as much as possible. “It’s a terrific approach to get along in life,” Alfie said. “You make new acquaintances all the time, but you never make a fool of yourself.”
Alfie currently resides in a retirement facility on the Central Coast of New South Wales. When the nurses at the home learned of Alfie’s knitting skills, they approached him to help create sweaters for the penguins. With his eight decades of knitting experience, Alfie proceeded to craft these sweaters from the thick wool provided by the nurses. When asked why he used heavy wool, he simply stated, “If you’re using a ball of light wool, you’re wasting your time.” The foundation’s innovation of using sweaters on the penguins saved nearly 96 percent of the 438 penguins on Phillip Island from the devastating effects of the oil spill.
To prevent the penguins, who had been coated in oil, from ingesting the hazardous chemicals on their feathers, they were dressed in these sweaters by the time they arrived at the foundation. With a population of 32,000 little penguins attributed to Phillip Island, these penguins are only found in southern Australia and New Zealand.
Alfie learned to knit eight decades ago, thanks to his sister-in-law, who handed him a pair of knitting needles and some wool with the intention of making a sweater for her son. Despite his initial attempt, the mission was a success, and Alfie resolved to hone his knitting skills. With an excess of knitted sweaters donated for penguins in stock, the Penguin Foundation currently has more than enough sweaters for their needs. However, Alfie keeps himself busy by making scarves and beanies for his friends and premature newborns as a way to give back to his community.
The Penguin Foundation recently revealed that Alfie is Australia’s oldest man. Thanks to his inability to say no, countless young penguins now have a second chance at life. We owe a debt of gratitude to the man who never imagined himself crocheting sweaters for penguins. “It’s incredible, and we feel very fortunate to have him donating his time and work to the Penguin Foundation,” they stated. The photos depict sweaters that were actually worn by plush toy penguins. The Penguin Foundation received so many sweaters that they had to sell them to cover overhead costs.
UPDATE: Alfie Date, Australia’s oldest person, has peacefully passed away in his nursing home at the age of 110. He gained fame through his heartwarming act of crocheting sweaters for penguins in need.
