Jean Nysen - 102 years

Jean shares her life story with a sense of wonder that has stayed with her for more than a century. At 102 years of age, and recently honoured at the My Guardian Centenarians Lunch, she reflects on a childhood carried across oceans, a wedding day she treasures and the joy she found in music and travel.

Jean says she came from the Southern Ocean and did not touch ground until the ship reached Perth. She remembers going ashore and being placed on a big rug in the biggest hotel in Perth, one of her earliest memories of life on land.

For the first eight years of her life there was always a ship to look over. She watched bands playing on board and lived a childhood that was filled with movement, sound and adventure. By the time she was six years old she had already travelled to England and Australia three times.

One of Jean’s fondest memories is her wedding day in Sydney at St Mary’s Cathedral, a moment she describes with affection. Her husband was named Teodor Nyson and served as a lieutenant in the Dutch Navy. Their life together remains one of her greatest joys.

Jean has always loved music especially classics although she enjoyed jazz as well. Music brought her energy and comfort and became a constant companion through many stages of her life.

Jean looks back on her life with gratitude for the places she travelled the sounds she heard and the people she loved. Her memories are rich with movement and curiosity shaped by a childhood spent at sea and a life filled with opportunity and adventure.

On 23 October 2025, Jean joined remarkable Australians aged 100 and over at the My Guardian Centenarians Lunch at NSW Parliament House. The gathering earned a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest gathering of centenarians and celebrated more than fifteen thousand combined years of lived experience.

The celebration also aligned with the national transition to the Support at Home program which will help older Australians access personalised care and greater independence. It highlighted the continuing importance of Home Care Packages for those who wish to live safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Jean’s story reflects the importance of meaningful care understanding and companionship as people age. Many older Australians benefit from Home Care Packages or the new Support at Home program which offer personalised support to help them continue living well. Some residents also receive additional help from organisations such as My Guardian a trusted aged care and disability provider that helps older Australians maintain independence with tailored in home care.

These supports together with family love and community connection ensure that remarkable people like Jean continue enjoying the memories and moments that matter most.

Jean’s life is a beautiful reflection of music travel love and resilience. We are honoured to share her story and celebrate her wonderful one hundred and two years.

In the spirit of Australia Day, we acknowledge the people whose lives quietly shaped our country. Her journey reminds us that Australia’s identity is built not only through milestones, but through lived experience, love and resilience across generations.