A former farmer and veterinary surgeon who is 111 says the secret to a long life is living simply and “plenty of salt, sugar and fat”.
Dexter Kruger has become Australia’s oldest man at 111 years and 124 days after overtaking World War I veteran Jack Lockett, who died in 2002 aged 111 years and 123 days.
He spent most of his life on his 5,300-hectare cattle property in the Maranoa region in Queensland until he retired in the mid-90s.
Speaking from his care home about his life, he told Australian Broadcasting Corp : “It’s because I do things differently.
“I lived very close to nature and I ate mostly what I grew in the garden or the orchard or the farm.”
Born on January 13, 1910, before telephones or refrigeration, Mr Kruger has lived through world wars, droughts, depressions and pandemics.
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(Image: Dexter Kruger/ Youtube)
He now completes a strict morning exercise regime, going outdoors and works on his latest book – an autobiography of the century he has spent on the planet and manages to keep up with current affairs.
“I don’t think [today’s world] is a nicer place, I do not. People are not happy. They have too much debt … We have far too much money to spend on rubbish.
“Until we got all this computerised technology, life was much more relaxed. There are marvellous things you can do with a little chip, but we were once very much more relaxed.”
Mr Kruger’s 74-year-old son Greg said his father’s simple lifestyle and balanced diet, complete with “plenty of salt, sugar and fat”, had a lot to do with his age.
“He lived through a period that was a lot less stressful than what society is faced with today,” Greg Kruger said.
“He didn’t go around chasing the bright lights, he was happy being around horses and cattle.
“His system wasn’t worn out trying to process the junk food – he’s never been overweight, always active.”
Mr Kruger added that he was never a big smoker or drinker but did enjoy a weekly delicacy of chicken brains.
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He said: “You know, chickens have a head and in that is some brains, and they are delicious little things. There’s only one bite.”
Mr Kruger’s only advice for others seeking a long life is to simply “eat good food”.
“People do eat too much… they eat themselves into the grave,” he said. “ Take a day at a time and make the best of it.”
He has also set his sites on becoming Australia’s oldest person ever.
The title has long been held by Christina Cock, who died in 2002 aged 114 years and 148 days.
“I’d like to live until I find it too difficult to live,” Mr Kruger said. “I’m already one-third of the way to 112, and that’s a fair nudge.”
There are more than 6,000 centenarians currently living in Australia, according to the country’s Bureau of Statistics.