When the news came through, Australia's oldest Holocaust survivor, Richard Roberts, was absolutely speechless for almost the first time in his life.

His family had to remind him to breathe, anxious that the 103-year-old, who'd survived two Nazi concentration camps, was too overwhelmed to draw air.

But half-an-hour after hearing that his long-time live-in carer Lenie Fernandez had finally been granted special permission to return to nurse him after a trip home to the Philippines, he was able to celebrate.

"I can't believe it, I can't believe it!" he said, the colour flooding back into the old man's cheeks, and his eyes shining. "It is wonderful news. I would like to thank The Sun-Herald very much for helping make this happen."