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Born in 1899, Only Death Stops World's Oldest Blogger

by PEP | July 13, 2008 at 02:54 pm

720 views | 27 Recommendations | 14 comments

For those who believe that cyberspace is only for the young, Olive Riley's story makes a firm counterpoint.

THE Australian woman renowned as the world's oldest internet blogger has made her final post, aged 108.

Olive Riley, of Woy Woy on NSW's central coast, died in a nursing home just after 6am (AEST) yesterday.

She will be mourned by family and an international readership in the thousands.

"It was mind blowing to her,'' her great grandson Darren Stone, of Brisbane, said.

"She had people communicating with her from as far away as Russia and America on a continual basis, not just once in a while.''

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PEP

at 15:09 on July 13th, 2008

Olive's blog is normally located here, but today it doesn't seem to be accessible.

This is a nifty video of Olive singing Smile, Smile, Smile.

Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:09 on July 13th, 2008

That's awesome.

PEP

at 15:19 on July 13th, 2008

Yea, it is. I have a friend who's turning 91 and who, despite multiple health problems throughout her life, is working on another novel. She wound up with breast cancer again, and has just finished a grueling round of chemo, but I bet that ASAP she'll be back at the book. Let alone sticking her fingers in local political pies. Thanks for the read and the flag, Jordan.

Vinny

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:11 on July 13th, 2008

Who's the oldest blogger now?.

PEP

at 15:23 on July 13th, 2008

Darned if I know. But I did turn up this: The Ageless Project.

"We're sending the message that the personal, creative side of the web is diverse and ageless. "...from the Project. Check out those born in the 1910's. :)

Thanks for the read and the flag.

PEP

at 15:25 on July 13th, 2008

If you want to read some darned good writing, check out this blog from a blogger born in 1917. An out-take, with an appreciate sigh: "Their laughter was simply symphonic. Never had it crossed my mind that the day would come I would find their laughter musical. It must have been the silly fences they built around themselves that had in the past made their laughter to sound like discordant notes which assaulted the senses. Not anymore. They have leaped out of their fences. They had freed the spirit chained within themselves and allowed the harmonious cadence of their laughter to be heard. I wondered when the last time was that they laughed with such joyful content. I had never seen them that happy before. Their laughter was just magical. It was enchanting. It conjured the image of a bird in flight; of a butterfly emerging out of its cocoon. It was a laughter of freedom."

Maireid Sullivan

at 18:24 on July 13th, 2008

Laughter releases healing harmones! :)

Just read the brilliant Grandma Julia post, PEP! (your first link above)

THANKS for that!

PEP

at 20:40 on July 13th, 2008

Thanks for the visit and the note! Isn't that a wonderful wonderful blog (Grandma Julia). I thought of you when I read that post. And thanks for the flag, too.