Australia’s Oldest Man Knits Tiny Sweaters For Injured Penguins
How long does it take to master a craft? How about 80 years? Because 109-year-old Australian Alfred Date has been knitting since the 1930s and his latest/most famous endeavor was making mini sweaters… for endangered penguins!
Back in 2013, Victoria’s Phillip Island Penguin Foundation asked for volunteers to make sweaters for the rare “little penguins.” Alfie, who has yet to learn to say no, pitched in. Knitted penguin jumpers play an important role in saving little penguins affected by oil pollution.
Father to 7, grandparent to 20, he’s not only been an active knitter, but also a sportsman, having played golf till his 90’s.
His secret for longevity? “Waking up every morning”. See, he’s a joker, too!
More info: Phillip Island Penguin Foundation (h/t: ninemsn, mashable)
Image credits: PenguinFoundation
Image credits: ninemsn
Image credits: ninemsn
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Yes brilliant isn't it. Also like the superman outfit but with a "P" for penguin on it.
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This is less thanhalf a story. Why does he do this? How does it help the penguins? How do they get injured? How are they rehabilitated? etc.
If you click on the link it takes you to the site that explains why they wear the sweaters.
Load More Replies...
That's so cute and totally giving me ideas for when I get 109 years young
he is an amazing man and featured recently on TV still going strong I hope he has many more years and continues to knit for our little penguins till they recover.
These are really amazing and valuable websites you have shared with us. Thanks for the informative post.. www.KeywordBookmarks.com
Thanks, Alfred. The little penguins are worthy recipients of your kindness. Knitting rules! xxx
Oh, well done, you, Alfred. What a champ. Helping the little penguins. They are little treasures. And so is Alfred. xxx
How utterly precious! Go grampa go! You rock, you sweater superstar you!
Is there anything cuter than a penguin in a sweater? This sweetheart knits better than me!
It´s time to get going... if we want to grow that old! who will join me?
Such a small volunteer job which means a great deal to this gentle man and to the tiny birds he is helping.
Vous êtes un homme merveilleux. Je vous aime pour ce que vous êtes et ce que vous faites. Kiss of France
The jumpers are just fabulous and the Penguins are just the cutest I've ever seen. Well done people for saving little penguins
These are adorable! How'd he get them to line up for a group photo like that? :)
Wow, I love this. Kudos to this elderly gentleman for his adorable hobby and efforts to warm up these awesome birds!
He looks like he could be related to Ellen Degeneris. Maybe that's where he gets his sense of humour. A nice man.
I love it! well done, hope you keep waking up each morning, the world needs more people like you
How totally ridiculous can one get when they turn senile? Penguins live outside in below zero weather F. Why in a hot place like Australia
Some penguin species live in actual tropical locations where it never snows. Some even live in burrows, some are crossing roads to make nests near cities, under houses and in gardens. I'm not being rude but simply replying to your questions and I've verified these facts (which may surprise many folks!)
Load More Replies... I think this man is terrific. Still active with mind, hands, and a heart for animals. I wish I could speak with him.
lol! I looked at the photo and thought: "OMG! What cuties!" Then I realized they were stuffed toys! Cute sweaters though!
Alfie, you're wonderful! love your sweaters--keep waking up every morning!! (also, ihope yu ignore all the gammer geeks.
And I would guess that the penguin on the far right is a Pittsburgh Penguin!
What a wonderful, kind idea! I hope the pattern for those sweaters is published somewhere. I don`t knit, but others would, esp. in Austral
great photo and story................now for the phucking person correcting grammar..... your or your're an a*s hole
thats so nice! ur helping all these defenseless animals! and ur good @ knitting
But they aren't real penguins? Where's the pics of the real penguins wearing the jumpers?
who the heck cares whether there is a spelling mistake??? I admire this man for his compassion, not for his spelling !!!!
And Christian, while we're talking about "corrupted forms": it's "its corrupted form", not "it's".
http://abcnews.go.com/International/International/tiny-penguins-tiny-sweaters/story?id=28886035
Lovely story but Alfie is probably wondering what a "sweater" is. I'm sure he thinks he has been knitting jumpers for the penguins.
Alfred Date, you are an amazing man! The sweaters you knit are one of a kind- I love the style you incorporate. These are lucky birds <3
Post the pattern and where we should send them to. I would love to knit some
This gives the impression that this wonderful man knitted all the pictured sweaters. He did knit sweaters, but not those. Read the links.
such beautiful and creative sweaters! LOVE this! only wish we knew more about the little penguins... :(
His knit in his hand is different from the outfits. The outfits appear to be machine knitted, like a used glove or thick sock. Open your eyes people.
Yes brilliant isn't it. Also like the superman outfit but with a "P" for penguin on it.
Load More Replies... This is less thanhalf a story. Why does he do this? How does it help the penguins? How do they get injured? How are they rehabilitated? etc.
If you click on the link it takes you to the site that explains why they wear the sweaters.
Load More Replies... That's so cute and totally giving me ideas for when I get 109 years young
he is an amazing man and featured recently on TV still going strong I hope he has many more years and continues to knit for our little penguins till they recover.
These are really amazing and valuable websites you have shared with us. Thanks for the informative post.. www.KeywordBookmarks.com
Thanks, Alfred. The little penguins are worthy recipients of your kindness. Knitting rules! xxx
Oh, well done, you, Alfred. What a champ. Helping the little penguins. They are little treasures. And so is Alfred. xxx
How utterly precious! Go grampa go! You rock, you sweater superstar you!
Is there anything cuter than a penguin in a sweater? This sweetheart knits better than me!
It´s time to get going... if we want to grow that old! who will join me?
Such a small volunteer job which means a great deal to this gentle man and to the tiny birds he is helping.
Vous êtes un homme merveilleux. Je vous aime pour ce que vous êtes et ce que vous faites. Kiss of France
The jumpers are just fabulous and the Penguins are just the cutest I've ever seen. Well done people for saving little penguins
These are adorable! How'd he get them to line up for a group photo like that? :)
Wow, I love this. Kudos to this elderly gentleman for his adorable hobby and efforts to warm up these awesome birds!
He looks like he could be related to Ellen Degeneris. Maybe that's where he gets his sense of humour. A nice man.
I love it! well done, hope you keep waking up each morning, the world needs more people like you
How totally ridiculous can one get when they turn senile? Penguins live outside in below zero weather F. Why in a hot place like Australia
Some penguin species live in actual tropical locations where it never snows. Some even live in burrows, some are crossing roads to make nests near cities, under houses and in gardens. I'm not being rude but simply replying to your questions and I've verified these facts (which may surprise many folks!)
Load More Replies... I think this man is terrific. Still active with mind, hands, and a heart for animals. I wish I could speak with him.
lol! I looked at the photo and thought: "OMG! What cuties!" Then I realized they were stuffed toys! Cute sweaters though!
Alfie, you're wonderful! love your sweaters--keep waking up every morning!! (also, ihope yu ignore all the gammer geeks.
And I would guess that the penguin on the far right is a Pittsburgh Penguin!
What a wonderful, kind idea! I hope the pattern for those sweaters is published somewhere. I don`t knit, but others would, esp. in Austral
great photo and story................now for the phucking person correcting grammar..... your or your're an a*s hole
thats so nice! ur helping all these defenseless animals! and ur good @ knitting
But they aren't real penguins? Where's the pics of the real penguins wearing the jumpers?
who the heck cares whether there is a spelling mistake??? I admire this man for his compassion, not for his spelling !!!!
And Christian, while we're talking about "corrupted forms": it's "its corrupted form", not "it's".
http://abcnews.go.com/International/International/tiny-penguins-tiny-sweaters/story?id=28886035
Lovely story but Alfie is probably wondering what a "sweater" is. I'm sure he thinks he has been knitting jumpers for the penguins.
Alfred Date, you are an amazing man! The sweaters you knit are one of a kind- I love the style you incorporate. These are lucky birds <3
Post the pattern and where we should send them to. I would love to knit some
This gives the impression that this wonderful man knitted all the pictured sweaters. He did knit sweaters, but not those. Read the links.
such beautiful and creative sweaters! LOVE this! only wish we knew more about the little penguins... :(
His knit in his hand is different from the outfits. The outfits appear to be machine knitted, like a used glove or thick sock. Open your eyes people.
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