101-year-old Aussie athlete Henry Young reveals secret to long life

At 101 years old, Aussie tennis legend Henry Young isn’t winding down — he’s warming up.

The Adelaide centenarian*, who is currently training for a seniors’ tournament in Croatia* later this year, credits one very simple secret for keeping him match fit: milk.

“I’ve been drinking milk for as long as I can remember – so nearly a whole century now,” Mr Young said.

“It’s just part of life. I have it with breakfast, in tea, sometimes warmed up before bed.”

These days, he’s putting away six litres a week — that’s nearly a litre a day — as part of his long-time health routine.

“It keeps my bones strong, gives me energy, and fits into that healthy routine I’ve had all my life,” he said.

“I don’t feel 101 – I’m still out on the court a few times a week.

“Milk’s definitely one of my little secrets to a long, strong life — along with keeping moving and staying competitive.”

Mr Young — a former WWII fighter pilot and the first 100-year-old to compete at the International Tennis Federation Masters World Individual Championships in 2023 — shows no signs of slowing down.

He will say “cheers” on Sunday for World Milk Day, celebrating alongside Dairy Australia, which is reminding Aussies milk is more than a nutritious drink, it’s also a feel-good staple for all ages.

“Milk is packed with more than 10 essential vitamins and minerals,” Dairy Australia dietitian* Kristina Gorgievska said.

“It’s a natural wholefood that supports active, healthy lifestyles — from school kids to seniors like Henry.”

KING OF CALCIUM
Ahead of World Milk Day on  June 1, let’s take a moment to marvel at milk in honour of this year’s theme: Celebrating the Power of Dairy.

Milk is a powerhouse of dairy-based nutrition – the “superfood of slurps”, if you will.

So what is it about dairy milk that has millions of lifelong Aussie fans frothing*?

For a start, milk supports everything from strong bones to muscle recovery, because it’s packed with calcium, high-quality protein and essential nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, iodine and B vitamins.

And it boosts immune health, thanks to vitamin A, while riboflavin (B2) helps your body produce all the energy it needs.

Milk’s nutrients also help reduce the risk of some of the nation’s most common health concerns, according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines: heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome* and colorectal cancer.

Milk also plays a key role in maintaining a healthy weight and has a role both fuelling up before exercise and helping recovery afterwards. Its blend of protein, electrolytes* and essential vitamins is a natural go-to for strong, energised athletes – like the forever young Mr Young – and everyone living a healthy, active life.

Best of all, milk simply tastes great. Whether it’s poured over cereal, warmed up in winter, blended into a smoothie or enjoyed cold straight from the glass, it’s the white winner of a healthy Aussie diet.
*Source: Dairy Australia

POLL

GLOSSARY

• centenarian: someone who is 100 or more years old
• Croatia: country in southeastern Europe
• dietitian: health professional trained in diet and nutrition
• frothing: as well as being a pun or joke on milk froth, frothing can mean getting very excited
• metabolic syndrome: group of conditions that together raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more
• electrolytes: essential minerals like sodium, calcium, and potassium that are vital to key bodily functions

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QUICK QUIZ

1. How old is Aussie tennis legend Henry Young?
2. How many litres of milk does Mr Young drink per week?
3. What did Mr Young do during WWII?
4. What is the 2025 theme of World Milk Day?
5. Name at least three essential nutrients in milk named in the story?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Design a logo
Design a special logo for World Milk Day. Use ideas from the story, and inspiration from the amazing Henry Young!

Time: allow at least 30:minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Visual Communication Design

2. Extension
What do you think life will be like when you are 101 years old? Write a story about a typical day when you are that age.

Time: allow at least 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY
Exercise the body and the mind
Exercise is not only important for the body, but it’s a lot of fun as well. Let’s bring more exercise into classroom learning by creating a VCOP PE game.

You can add a VCOP challenge to pretty much any game, and it’s a great way to encourage the teacher to let the class play more games.

Here is an example to get you started, then you create one of your own.

VCOP dodgeball
The normal rules of dodgeball apply. Two teams throw soft balls at each other and if you get hit, you have to sit out. The team who knocks out all the players on the other team, wins.

VCOP challenge: when you get eliminated, collect a mini-whiteboard and a basic clause from the sidelines. Up-level the sentence (make it better) by adding VCOP. When you show the teacher your completed sentence, you can return to the game.

Play for a set amount of time and the team with the most players left on the court wins.

Support: use the “Up-Level It” card set – players have to complete one card from the set instead of completing all VCOP challenges.

What can you come up with?