There are times when you hear a story and it restores your faith in humanity, you even ask yourself if this is really a true story !? The tale of Alfred Date, Alfie as he was known to most people is indeed an uplifting adventure.
Alfie was 109 years old, the oldest person living in Australia, when he arrived in a retirement home and within a few hours he was asked if he could knit or crochet ! Alfie had been knitting and crocheting for over 80 years he had marvellous knitting skills. The Penguin foundation asked if he would help them. Alfie’s philosophy of life had always been to help others, animals or people, so of course he said yes.
There had been an oil spill around Philip Island, the little penguins who live there are a rare species found only in Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunatley the penguins were suffering, the oil was covering their feathers, they were cold, they could not hunt , they were ingesting the poisonous, toxic oil while trying to clean their feathers. The Philip Island Penguin Foundation in conjunction with the Knits for Nature association put a call out for knitters to knit jumpers for the small penguins, to keep them warm, while they were waiting to be cleaned.
Alfie got his knitting needles working, he said he never thought at that at his age he would be knitting jumpers for penguins ! Many knitters worldwide responded, they were sent a knitting pattern for the sweaters, and in this way 96% of the penguins on Philip Island were saved. In fact the Association was overwhelmed by people’s response they had more than enough sweaters for the penguins.
Alfie however continued knitting, scarves for friends and beanie hats for premature babies, Alfie continued to give, something he had been doing all his long life. When asked how he managed to live to be so old he said it was due to getting up early and to helping others. A wonderful, gentle person who realised he was here on earth to help.
Great-great grandfather Alfie died quietly and peacefully, in his sleep in his retirement home in New South Wales, in 2016, but his legend lives on, he will always be remembered for helping the penguins in need by using his wonderful knitting skills and providing the cold penguins with warming sweaters.
Such a heart-warming story, difficult not to have a smile on your face when you hear about it, and to take note and marvel at Alfie’s generous spirit.
