Miriam Schmierer

Miriam Schmierer (née Baker) (20 August 1899 - 29 September 2011) was an Australian supercentenarian who became the oldest living person in Australia after the death of John Campbell Ross on 3 June 2009. She was the last-known surviving Australian born before the founding of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901.
Biography
Miriam Baker was born near Gatton, Queensland. She was married to dairy farmer Grenville Schmierer. In 1961, she retired with her husband to Hervey Bay, Queensland to live near their two sons, Austin and Mervyn. Thirty years later, she moved alone to the Master's Lodge, a retirement home where she resided until her death. She outlived all of her siblings, including her oldest sister who lived to be 103. Her life was very ordinary until she reached the age of 110, when she attracted public and scientific attention and "grw accustomed to meeting strangers, answering their questions, and making small speeches of thanks at functions where she’s been the centre of attention, a late flowering after years of shy obscurity milking cows". She attracted attention also as the last surviving Australian born before Australia became a nation. Her death left 110-year-old Eva McConnell as the oldest validated living Australian until her death on August 12, 2012, aged 111.

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