By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE’S Memorial Hall was a sea of red hats (outrageous!) as more than 160 women, and a few men, took the opportunity to celebrate their ‘older’ status in style last week.
Actress Noeline Brown, in her role as Ambassador for Ageing, was the star attraction at the Celebrating Older People event organised by the Melba Community Support Program.
Delivering a message which encouraged her peers (she turned 71 two weeks ago) to do anything and everything they are able to, to lead active, healthy lives, Ms Brown spoke of changing attitudes, which she suspected could be blamed on the Baby Boomers.
Youth-worship sprung from the ’50s and ’60s – flower power and the Summer of Love – the result of a baby boomer explosion which had the numbers to impose their own culture and values on society.
Ms Brown said however, with the media beginning to recognise the potential of the ‘grey’ market and a growing recognition of what senior Australians were achieving in business, the arts and the community, times were changing.
“I think it’s about time maturing comes back in vogue,” she said to enthusiastic applause.
“We older Australians contribute greatly to our communities and our nation. We’re incredibly active and our influence is strong and is going to grow stronger in years to come.”
She said many people reaching 60 or 65 were simply not ready to retire and busted a few myths about older people in the workplace.
She spoke also of the contribution of volunteers saying that people 55 and over contributed around $75 billion per year in unpaid work.
On her Dancing with the Stars experience, she said it was a great reminder that fun should not be the prerogative of the young.
“I was 68 then, and I would have to say that getting thrown into the air by a man half my age was a fabulous experience,” she said.
“Ladies, if you get the chance … do it.” she added.
“The truth is, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be healthy and active into our seventies, eighties and beyond.”