Check out the most recent BONZA Report (2018) with recommendations for employers and government to assist baby boomers, or keep reading for examples of BONZA's ongoing mature age advocacy.
Editor's view...
We are really on the Titanic sailing quietly but steadily towards the iceberg.
The mass of ice has been built from:
- So many of us; 5 million to retire in the next ten to twenty years thus creating a Skill Shortage as there are not enough young unemployed to replace such numbers and there will be more aged than young Australians for the first time in history
- Lack of future employment- baby boomers face the real prospect of never working full time again as many of us take redundancy and leave our secure jobs. Part time or casual maybe the best we can get. Only around 50% of jobs in the current workplace are full time. The rest are part time or casual
- Many of us still have financial commitments such as mortgage and education expenses but no income
- Our children are still being educated because some married later and some are reluctant to leave the nest as things are too good at home
- We will live longer as the average age of death for males and females is now in the early to mid 80s
- We will need to draw upon our life savings and superannuation before our golden years so we can live comfortably thus depleting our assets
- We will need government benefits earlier than previous generations
- We will need more health care, hospitals and nursing homes to cope with our numbers in our old age. Double the pace makers and the artificial hips for instance
- Our children will not get their inheritance and will be asked to pay more taxes to provide for us or at least look after us at home but our children are not having as many or any children to pay these taxes
- We will have to work longer- OZ PM has already introduced a retirement of 67 in 2023 and now 70 in 2035. Is this the thin end of the wedge? Will the Federal govt force baby boomers to work longer by cutting pensions to those younger than 70 and by hitting self-funded retirees with hefty superannuation taxes until they reach that age?
- When we withdraw our investments to live on after retirement, the baby boomer market value will be strong and some will spend large amounts
- We will be unable to draw upon our superannuation at the age we choose
- Our fitness levels will drop, as we cannot afford gym fees and health will deteriorate (particularly teeth)
- Trillions will be spent on our health by governments yet our teeth are rotting and affecting our health. Free or subsidised dental health is needed
- Older age groups do not participate enough in organised sports
- There will not be enough age care homes for us so our children will have the privilege of looking after us in granny flats(pay-back time for us perhaps)?
Bonza will endeavour to address these problems and what we can do about them through research and involvement of government and private bodies that can inform us of which is the best way to go with our lives.
Bonza will have some answers but we would like your opinions and ideas as well. We will then relay them to state and federal leaders.
Please contact us and let's help each other.
Brian Murphy
Editor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOOMERANG CENTRES - BABY BOOMER HUBS
OVERVIEW
Founded in 2001 BONZA is all about Baby Boomers who are aged 54 to 72 (born between 1946 - 1964) with over 5 million in Australia (ABS).
We have always been aware of our generation and our uniqueness in that we are a constant worry for our governments due to our numbers and the predicted cost of our ageing process to them.
I don't want to be a burden- do you? Let's prepare ourselves so that does not happen if we can prevent it.
In 2011, the first of the Boomers became eligible for aged pensions and the numbers doubled from the previous year. In the next couple of decades aged care becomes the focus.
Increased health problems will also dominate the annual budgets every year for the next 40 years and the security of single aged females will be another challenge to solve.
We are living longer so governments are encouraging us to work longer, stay healthier and invest our money wisely by planning for our futures.
The Boomer generation is strong on self-help and community spirit and the Boomerang Centres will embrace this culture by coordinating volunteers with those who need assistance. In addition they will provide a meeting place for boomers left in retirement away from family and friends. Further, they will provide affordable (some at no cost) classes and recreation activities to keep retirees healthy and mentally stimulated.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
Most boomers who have just reached retirement age are fitter and stronger than their counterparts in previous generations. Many are looking to a fulfilling retirement, volunteering to help others less fortunate or participating in community projects. But where do you start if you want to volunteer?
Other less fortunate seniors who are not as robust and find themselves away from traditional support groups, such as family and friends when they retire, need help with the basics. Where do they go if they need small chores done that their own health now will not allow them to do themselves?
Boomerang Centres will bring these two groups together.
People in the community who cannot mow or tidy their yards, shop for themselves because of mobility problems or perform many basic tasks without assistance, will be able to register with their local Boomerang Centre for assistance.
Similarly, those seeking to help their retired community members will be able to contact the Boomerang Centre to register their willingness to help.
COMMUNITY LEARNING AND GATHERING HUB
In addition to the self help facet of the Boomerang Centre, the venues will be a real community hub, hosting events and courses which will keep retirees healthy and active.
For those who have no transport to such centres, there will be coordinated volunteer transport to and from the centres.
Courses offered will include:
· Nutrition and Healthy Cooking
· Finance in Retirement
· Computer skills for seniors - getting started and more advanced
· Seniors Fitness – from easy exercise to bootcamps
· Dance and Zumba for fun and fitness
· Introduction to Lawn Bowls or other outdoor activity
· Indoor Bowls
· Coffee Mornings and Chat Groups
SUGGESTED STRATEGY
BONZA is suggesting to all tiers of government that community clubs (Bowls /Sports /Social / Croquet) be encouraged to become Boomerang Centres.
Community Clubs will be eligible for a State and/or Federal Government Grant to be a Boomerang Centre through their local government Councillor. It is envisaged that these set-up grants will be in the vicinity of $2,000 - $5,000. The grant will be applied for by the Local Councillor in conjunction with a host club to set up a Boomerang Centre in the most effective location within their Ward/District. Where the Councillor sees the need to split the grant to establish more than one Boomerang Centre within the Ward/District this will be allowed.
We are aware of the need to keep costs to government at a minimum and by using three tiers of government through already established networks, there will be little bureaucratic wastage in setting up the scheme.
Initial funding would be used for:
· Purchasing mowers, tools, cleaning equipment etc.
· Promoting the Hub within the local community
· Hiring professionals to provide classes involving seniors
· Purchasing equipment such as indoor bowls mats etc.
Clubs successful in establishing a Boomerang Centre would need to raise their own funds for ongoing running costs of the centre. Their application would outline fundraising measures and would include a five year plan to show how the centre would be funded and grow.
The Boomerang application will need:
· A current established community club which has a strong financial and community base.
· A local committee to plan for the identification and development of a local activities and practices that will enhance the lives of the local Boomers and other retirees.
· Be willing to be accountable for the plan and the administration of the funds to achieve set outcomes that will benefit and engage as many Boomers and retirees as possible.
· The ability to host activities and practices as social events or health and fitness classes, music, craft, community gardening or wider ranging such as engaging security companies who will check on the local retirees who are seen as vulnerable or coordinating the maintenance the properties of retirees who can no longer physically look after their homes.
· Activities will reflect local culture and be flexible in their thinking and planning.
· Ability to raise funds from the community and business sector at large to support ongoing projects in concert with all tiers of government.
BONZA wants to engage Boomers and give them a purpose to stay fit and healthy and support each other through the next four decades.
There will be a tremendous saving for all governments as Boomers spend time and money that they generate whilst supported by small grants in the initial establishment process or a few follow ups if the club is struggling to raise funds due to low socio economic demographics.
They should become self sufficient and set the pace for the Ageing world in successfully engaging the Baby Boomer ageing phenomena that is causing so much angst as it is a developing problem without precedent.
Being engaged keeps you healthier and you will live more comfortably in old age rather than waiting anxiously for death. This is a great opportunity to allow us to help ourselves.
We need to work together to make sure that we have a BONZA life as we age, enjoy each other’s company and leave a positive image of our time on this earth but a partnership with government is essential for accountability and marketing.
PROCESS
Mr Keith Blake of the Red Hill Community Sports Club, 22 Fulcher Rd, Red Hill has offered to be the first Boomerang Centre and in conjunction with Brian Murphy from BONZA will record and monitor the process of establishing a viable Boomer centre so that a package of practices developed and outcomes produced can be shown to other potential Boomerang centres throughout Australia.
Your support of this project would be appreciated by 5 million potential members of Boomerang Centres.
CONTACTS
Red Hill Community Sports Club
Keith Blake
Mobile: 0439 838 671
Bonza
Brian Murphy
Mobile: 0435 603 183
www.bonza.com.au
Founded in 2001 BONZA is all about Baby Boomers who are aged 54 to 72 (born between 1946 - 1964) with over 5 million in Australia (ABS).
We have always been aware of our generation and our uniqueness in that we are a constant worry for our governments due to our numbers and the predicted cost of our ageing process to them.
I don't want to be a burden- do you? Let's prepare ourselves so that does not happen if we can prevent it.
In 2011, the first of the Boomers became eligible for aged pensions and the numbers doubled from the previous year. In the next couple of decades aged care becomes the focus.
Increased health problems will also dominate the annual budgets every year for the next 40 years and the security of single aged females will be another challenge to solve.
We are living longer so governments are encouraging us to work longer, stay healthier and invest our money wisely by planning for our futures.
The Boomer generation is strong on self-help and community spirit and the Boomerang Centres will embrace this culture by coordinating volunteers with those who need assistance. In addition they will provide a meeting place for boomers left in retirement away from family and friends. Further, they will provide affordable (some at no cost) classes and recreation activities to keep retirees healthy and mentally stimulated.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
Most boomers who have just reached retirement age are fitter and stronger than their counterparts in previous generations. Many are looking to a fulfilling retirement, volunteering to help others less fortunate or participating in community projects. But where do you start if you want to volunteer?
Other less fortunate seniors who are not as robust and find themselves away from traditional support groups, such as family and friends when they retire, need help with the basics. Where do they go if they need small chores done that their own health now will not allow them to do themselves?
Boomerang Centres will bring these two groups together.
People in the community who cannot mow or tidy their yards, shop for themselves because of mobility problems or perform many basic tasks without assistance, will be able to register with their local Boomerang Centre for assistance.
Similarly, those seeking to help their retired community members will be able to contact the Boomerang Centre to register their willingness to help.
COMMUNITY LEARNING AND GATHERING HUB
In addition to the self help facet of the Boomerang Centre, the venues will be a real community hub, hosting events and courses which will keep retirees healthy and active.
For those who have no transport to such centres, there will be coordinated volunteer transport to and from the centres.
Courses offered will include:
· Nutrition and Healthy Cooking
· Finance in Retirement
· Computer skills for seniors - getting started and more advanced
· Seniors Fitness – from easy exercise to bootcamps
· Dance and Zumba for fun and fitness
· Introduction to Lawn Bowls or other outdoor activity
· Indoor Bowls
· Coffee Mornings and Chat Groups
SUGGESTED STRATEGY
BONZA is suggesting to all tiers of government that community clubs (Bowls /Sports /Social / Croquet) be encouraged to become Boomerang Centres.
Community Clubs will be eligible for a State and/or Federal Government Grant to be a Boomerang Centre through their local government Councillor. It is envisaged that these set-up grants will be in the vicinity of $2,000 - $5,000. The grant will be applied for by the Local Councillor in conjunction with a host club to set up a Boomerang Centre in the most effective location within their Ward/District. Where the Councillor sees the need to split the grant to establish more than one Boomerang Centre within the Ward/District this will be allowed.
We are aware of the need to keep costs to government at a minimum and by using three tiers of government through already established networks, there will be little bureaucratic wastage in setting up the scheme.
Initial funding would be used for:
· Purchasing mowers, tools, cleaning equipment etc.
· Promoting the Hub within the local community
· Hiring professionals to provide classes involving seniors
· Purchasing equipment such as indoor bowls mats etc.
Clubs successful in establishing a Boomerang Centre would need to raise their own funds for ongoing running costs of the centre. Their application would outline fundraising measures and would include a five year plan to show how the centre would be funded and grow.
The Boomerang application will need:
· A current established community club which has a strong financial and community base.
· A local committee to plan for the identification and development of a local activities and practices that will enhance the lives of the local Boomers and other retirees.
· Be willing to be accountable for the plan and the administration of the funds to achieve set outcomes that will benefit and engage as many Boomers and retirees as possible.
· The ability to host activities and practices as social events or health and fitness classes, music, craft, community gardening or wider ranging such as engaging security companies who will check on the local retirees who are seen as vulnerable or coordinating the maintenance the properties of retirees who can no longer physically look after their homes.
· Activities will reflect local culture and be flexible in their thinking and planning.
· Ability to raise funds from the community and business sector at large to support ongoing projects in concert with all tiers of government.
BONZA wants to engage Boomers and give them a purpose to stay fit and healthy and support each other through the next four decades.
There will be a tremendous saving for all governments as Boomers spend time and money that they generate whilst supported by small grants in the initial establishment process or a few follow ups if the club is struggling to raise funds due to low socio economic demographics.
They should become self sufficient and set the pace for the Ageing world in successfully engaging the Baby Boomer ageing phenomena that is causing so much angst as it is a developing problem without precedent.
Being engaged keeps you healthier and you will live more comfortably in old age rather than waiting anxiously for death. This is a great opportunity to allow us to help ourselves.
We need to work together to make sure that we have a BONZA life as we age, enjoy each other’s company and leave a positive image of our time on this earth but a partnership with government is essential for accountability and marketing.
PROCESS
Mr Keith Blake of the Red Hill Community Sports Club, 22 Fulcher Rd, Red Hill has offered to be the first Boomerang Centre and in conjunction with Brian Murphy from BONZA will record and monitor the process of establishing a viable Boomer centre so that a package of practices developed and outcomes produced can be shown to other potential Boomerang centres throughout Australia.
Your support of this project would be appreciated by 5 million potential members of Boomerang Centres.
CONTACTS
Red Hill Community Sports Club
Keith Blake
Mobile: 0439 838 671
Bonza
Brian Murphy
Mobile: 0435 603 183
www.bonza.com.au
Willing to Work: National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination against Older Australians and Australians with Disability
Submission No 21 Name Brian Murphy
Organisation name BONZA
Submission made by
☒ Older Australian who would like to work
Submission regarding Older Australians / Australians with Disability / Both
(a) Your experienceHave you (or the person you are submitting on behalf of) experienced employment discrimination?
Discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of a characteristic they have, such as their age, or disability.
It is also discrimination when there is a rule or policy that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on people who are older or people with a particular disability.
☒ Yes
☐ No
☒ Not sure
Did you take any action in relation to the employment discrimination you experienced?
☒ Yes
☐ No
Please tell us more, for example, what action you took and how effective you felt it was; or why you chose not to take any action.
I complained to Work Cover Qld but withdrew the complaint under pressure from my former workplace
Did your experience of employment discrimination impact on your participation in the workforce? (For example, did you have to stop work, change jobs or take sick leave?)
☒Yes
☐No
Please tell us more
I suffered extreme anxiety from dealing with management and took sick leave. I was asked to take it further if I had any complaints about management but when I did they suggested I resign which I decided was the best course of action as less stress than fighting them.
(b) BarriersDo you think older Australians/Australians with disability face barriers when they look for work or are in a job?
☒Yes
☐No
☐Not sure
If yes, or not sure, what do you think these barriers might be?
The problem in my opinion and certainly backed by thousands of mature age workers I have spoken to in my role as [redacted] Personal Advisor and later in community services dealing with unemployed is that once you show visible signs of ageing or management is aware you are in the over 50s age group is that you are no longer respected or appreciated.
My CEO suggested that they needed to look for a younger replacement as team leader as I was ageing so there was nowhere for me to go. I was not taken seriously when applying for job vacancies in the organisation and dressed down if I suggested any changes.
The barriers are drawn from the industrial age workplace when grey meant workers were keen to retire so they are earmarked. This is not the case in the info age workplace and mature age workers are willing and able to work on as there is no retirement age and we want to save as much superannuation as possible.
It is the same if you are under or unemployed and applying for jobs. There is little to no interest from employers whose mindset is dinosauric once they work out your age or when they interview you.
Does employment discrimination have an impact on gaining and keeping employment for older Australians/Australians with disability?
☒Yes
☐No
☐Not sure
Are there any practices, attitudes or laws which discourage or prevent equal participation in employment of older Australians/Australians with disability?
☒Yes
☐No
☐Not sure
Please tell us more
Employers are keen to keep a younger workforce because of misconceptions and urban myths about older workers ability to cope.
Advertising for workers should indicate if mature age workers are encouraged to apply as so much time is wasted by applying for positions that have no interest in over 50s.
What are the incentives and disincentives for older Australians/Australians with disability to work?
Incentives:
The government have employer incentives that are being mostly ignored because we have an employer attitude which is anti-mature age worker.
Disincentives:
Older workers tend to be focused on retirement as has been their right for decades but a new millennium workplace has no room for a negative attitude to work from older workers.
Mature age need to be aware and focussed on the fact that they will need to work longer and they will need to have sustainable superannuation to get them through 1-4 decades of retirement.
Employers have to stop culling their workforce of mature age workers by offering them redundancies or firing them and instead focus on retaining them in a balanced workplace.
(c) Good practiceAre there examples of good practice and workplace policies in employing and retaining older Australians/ Australians with disability?
☐Yes
☐No
☒Not sure
Please tell us of examples of good practice in employing and retaining older Australians/ Australians with disability in work that you are aware of.
Not aware of any but would suggest the likes of Coles and Bunnings have adopted a mature age friendly workplace form what I have seen in employment advertising.
(d) SolutionsWhat action should be taken to address employment discrimination against older Australians/Australians with disability?
I would like government to accept a role of educating the employer of a need to have a mature age policy in all workplaces or taking a more serious approach and legislate for it.
This policy would outline incentives to keep mature age by allowing for extended no pay leave for travel, shared working weeks, mentor roles with younger generations and awards for long service that show mindful recognition and appreciation of their skills and contribution to the company/organisation.
The policy would allow and encourage mature age workers to stay on in their current roles but they would be diversified to make them feel wanted and proud of their contributions rather than the current negative practices in culling them.
The older workers should be encouraged to contribute to any such mature age policy in their workplace in conjunction with management and the developed policy should be clearly displayed in front office and on web sites that mature aged workers are valued in this workplace.
What should be done to enhance workforce participation of older Australians/Australians with disability?
If older Australians have been culled from workplaces then we need to find them meaningful jobs. They can been retrained but there are few options available. Security, traffic control, cleaning are a few areas but they will not take the numbers needed.
A government forum in each state should be encouraged to plan activities that could be initially financed by a grant to engage older workers. I believe we need huge projects in the community that can actively employ older workers such as Tutoring in schools- skills are many and varied but agriculture for sustainability, living history and reading for life are a few that come to mind which could employ thousands in schools and communities.
The forums should be no frills events that list ideas that could employ baby boomers in large numbers and then entrepreneurs/ organisations/small businesses could apply for grants to develop a business around the concept chosen from the public list of forum ideas.
Participants could be entrepreneurs, all tiers of government, community organisations, business and corporate. About twenty for each would be workable.
What outcomes or recommendations would you like to see from this National Inquiry?
Mature age workers are in trouble. Thousands are already under or unemployed and living off their savings and/or their superannuation that they will need later.
We need to find work for those who are looking and encourage employers to keep those who are still working as valued employees.
I would like to see a mature age policy in all workplaces and workers better informed on why they should not retire early plus a think tank forum on job suggestions for baby boomers.
I have spent 20 years trying to educate the community about these issues through my baby boomer website www.bonza.com.au and community presentations and will continue to do whatever I can to support my fellow boomers find or retain work.
Organisation name BONZA
Submission made by
☒ Older Australian who would like to work
Submission regarding Older Australians / Australians with Disability / Both
(a) Your experienceHave you (or the person you are submitting on behalf of) experienced employment discrimination?
Discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of a characteristic they have, such as their age, or disability.
It is also discrimination when there is a rule or policy that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on people who are older or people with a particular disability.
☒ Yes
☐ No
☒ Not sure
Did you take any action in relation to the employment discrimination you experienced?
☒ Yes
☐ No
Please tell us more, for example, what action you took and how effective you felt it was; or why you chose not to take any action.
I complained to Work Cover Qld but withdrew the complaint under pressure from my former workplace
Did your experience of employment discrimination impact on your participation in the workforce? (For example, did you have to stop work, change jobs or take sick leave?)
☒Yes
☐No
Please tell us more
I suffered extreme anxiety from dealing with management and took sick leave. I was asked to take it further if I had any complaints about management but when I did they suggested I resign which I decided was the best course of action as less stress than fighting them.
(b) BarriersDo you think older Australians/Australians with disability face barriers when they look for work or are in a job?
☒Yes
☐No
☐Not sure
If yes, or not sure, what do you think these barriers might be?
The problem in my opinion and certainly backed by thousands of mature age workers I have spoken to in my role as [redacted] Personal Advisor and later in community services dealing with unemployed is that once you show visible signs of ageing or management is aware you are in the over 50s age group is that you are no longer respected or appreciated.
My CEO suggested that they needed to look for a younger replacement as team leader as I was ageing so there was nowhere for me to go. I was not taken seriously when applying for job vacancies in the organisation and dressed down if I suggested any changes.
The barriers are drawn from the industrial age workplace when grey meant workers were keen to retire so they are earmarked. This is not the case in the info age workplace and mature age workers are willing and able to work on as there is no retirement age and we want to save as much superannuation as possible.
It is the same if you are under or unemployed and applying for jobs. There is little to no interest from employers whose mindset is dinosauric once they work out your age or when they interview you.
Does employment discrimination have an impact on gaining and keeping employment for older Australians/Australians with disability?
☒Yes
☐No
☐Not sure
Are there any practices, attitudes or laws which discourage or prevent equal participation in employment of older Australians/Australians with disability?
☒Yes
☐No
☐Not sure
Please tell us more
Employers are keen to keep a younger workforce because of misconceptions and urban myths about older workers ability to cope.
Advertising for workers should indicate if mature age workers are encouraged to apply as so much time is wasted by applying for positions that have no interest in over 50s.
What are the incentives and disincentives for older Australians/Australians with disability to work?
Incentives:
The government have employer incentives that are being mostly ignored because we have an employer attitude which is anti-mature age worker.
Disincentives:
Older workers tend to be focused on retirement as has been their right for decades but a new millennium workplace has no room for a negative attitude to work from older workers.
Mature age need to be aware and focussed on the fact that they will need to work longer and they will need to have sustainable superannuation to get them through 1-4 decades of retirement.
Employers have to stop culling their workforce of mature age workers by offering them redundancies or firing them and instead focus on retaining them in a balanced workplace.
(c) Good practiceAre there examples of good practice and workplace policies in employing and retaining older Australians/ Australians with disability?
☐Yes
☐No
☒Not sure
Please tell us of examples of good practice in employing and retaining older Australians/ Australians with disability in work that you are aware of.
Not aware of any but would suggest the likes of Coles and Bunnings have adopted a mature age friendly workplace form what I have seen in employment advertising.
(d) SolutionsWhat action should be taken to address employment discrimination against older Australians/Australians with disability?
I would like government to accept a role of educating the employer of a need to have a mature age policy in all workplaces or taking a more serious approach and legislate for it.
This policy would outline incentives to keep mature age by allowing for extended no pay leave for travel, shared working weeks, mentor roles with younger generations and awards for long service that show mindful recognition and appreciation of their skills and contribution to the company/organisation.
The policy would allow and encourage mature age workers to stay on in their current roles but they would be diversified to make them feel wanted and proud of their contributions rather than the current negative practices in culling them.
The older workers should be encouraged to contribute to any such mature age policy in their workplace in conjunction with management and the developed policy should be clearly displayed in front office and on web sites that mature aged workers are valued in this workplace.
What should be done to enhance workforce participation of older Australians/Australians with disability?
If older Australians have been culled from workplaces then we need to find them meaningful jobs. They can been retrained but there are few options available. Security, traffic control, cleaning are a few areas but they will not take the numbers needed.
A government forum in each state should be encouraged to plan activities that could be initially financed by a grant to engage older workers. I believe we need huge projects in the community that can actively employ older workers such as Tutoring in schools- skills are many and varied but agriculture for sustainability, living history and reading for life are a few that come to mind which could employ thousands in schools and communities.
The forums should be no frills events that list ideas that could employ baby boomers in large numbers and then entrepreneurs/ organisations/small businesses could apply for grants to develop a business around the concept chosen from the public list of forum ideas.
Participants could be entrepreneurs, all tiers of government, community organisations, business and corporate. About twenty for each would be workable.
What outcomes or recommendations would you like to see from this National Inquiry?
Mature age workers are in trouble. Thousands are already under or unemployed and living off their savings and/or their superannuation that they will need later.
We need to find work for those who are looking and encourage employers to keep those who are still working as valued employees.
I would like to see a mature age policy in all workplaces and workers better informed on why they should not retire early plus a think tank forum on job suggestions for baby boomers.
I have spent 20 years trying to educate the community about these issues through my baby boomer website www.bonza.com.au and community presentations and will continue to do whatever I can to support my fellow boomers find or retain work.
KNOW YOUR EARTH - If you are researching baby boomers then you should have a look at the website of Dr Thomas E. Muller as a real news website.
http://www.knowyourearth.net/Scientific%20research%20by%20Tom%20Muller
http://www.knowyourearth.net/Scientific%20research%20by%20Tom%20Muller
BONZA REPORT 2020
BOOMERS TURNING 70
Baby Boomers are ageing rapidly with the younger ones turning 56 this year and the older ones now into their 70s. It is unknown territory for us as a large percentage of the population never had the privilege of living that long in the past therefore, we need to be heard. It is also true that there is some negativity about the ageing process from a societal point of view that needs to be addressed. What do Baby Boomers think about this decade in their lives?
“As older workers struggle within themselves, with spouses, families and friends, to make sense of their changing jobs and the options facing them, as they seek ways to maintain savings, lifestyles, appearances, self-respect and more in an increasingly jobless world, they are exploring the future for us. We need ways to hear more from them.”
Professor David Thomson
My Year 12 class at Indooroopilly High turns 70 this year and I feel like reflecting on our Boomer lives in this year’s BONZA Report. Our journey of life is now well and truly advanced and we, like you, have our own individual stories. As a pending 70-year-old, I feel like I am qualified to look at what that means to turn 70 in the context of my timeline of life as there is still a lot more life to live.
Not a lot has been written about this period of life previously for varied reasons so there are few game plans for us to follow. I thought it justified I develop one for this year’s BONZA Report on Baby Boomers wants and needs.
Firstly, it doesn’t matter that I have acquired certain skills during my life journey that enables me to justifiably speak on behalf of all 70-year old’s and give my opinion, but it is only my version in reality. Yes, I am an author, university graduate, change agent, personal adviser, counsellor, JP, teacher, life skills coach, company director, manager, editor and I could name twenty other role skills but it’s not about history, it’s about our future.
The truth is that I am staring down the barrel of 70s without a plan just as many of my fellow graduates are so I felt the need to research and develop my plan which could then assist others. I believe there is no greater wisdom than collective visions from those who are about to enter a certain age group and have varying ideas so collectively those wants and needs could be useful, so I decided to ask them to send me their thoughts on how they wish to live as a 70 year old.
I have previously written about the 4 stages of ageing in my books (A BONZA Life and Self-Propelled). It used to be three stages but now we are living longer, I have added a fourth stage and, if we believe in Quantum Computing (super computers that will be able to plan our future health needs and government forward planning by collating world data), then these computers will work out how to keep us alive longer in the future so we will live even longer. The four stages are:
So here I am, Ageing Brian, facing Stage three- Over 70’s. Our predecessors were mostly dead at 70 as stated so I have not accumulated a lot of material because there is not a lot written by those generations. They didn’t make it unfortunately due to poor health conditions and lifestyle of the day whereas my generation has been luckier.
Previous age milestones were easier in my opinion. Over 20 was a selfish period when I made light of life and had a damn good time indulging myself. By mid-20s I had married and by 30 had a family, job and accompanying responsibilities so life was busy.
By the 40 milestone I was suffering mid-life crisis with permed hair and running half marathons for exercise. My married life disintegrated soon after, but I was fortunate enough to then meet the love of my life and see out the ageing process now with her by my side.
This next decade worries me though because I am not sure how it will go and what I will do with myself, so I followed my logical pathway and decided to give Boomers a voice by asking others what they expected. This is a compilation of their thoughts both male and female of what they are expecting in their 70s so we all have something to focus and compare our expectations to and maybe learn a thing or two from other points of view.
I have included the thoughts and aspirations of male and female Boomers in the hope that it is a fair coverage of gender thinking at a time of our lives that has been ignored mostly in history.
Boomers have and will always be different in that we feel strongly about our rights, our health and fitness, our mental stability and our never-ending idealist vison of a better world and will do so until we can no longer participate economically and socially.
FEMALE VIEW OF TURNING 70
Being one of the boomer generation is a world away from my parent’s generation. We are mostly financially free with the provision of superannuation for all workers. We can retire when we want to as we are full of plans for our future.
We generally don’t stay in the one job for the whole of our careers, so don’t feel overly loyal to employers as we contemplate an early retirement.
We have the advantage of technology at our fingertips which helps us to be more independent – planning our travel, learning online, pursuing our hobbies, doing Pilates, yoga, meditation online at a time that suits us.
We are more educated than our parents and generally started our families later allowing us to travel first before settling down. We are more politically aware with news and information more readily available due to technology.
Our children can never keep track of us as we take off in our caravan, or head overseas for extended holidays. – Boomer Melbourne
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What’s it like to be a Baby Boomer in her seventies? Give or take a few creaky joints, it’s not very different from being a Baby Boomer in her sixties, fifties, forties. That, I think, is the point of Baby Boomers. Unlike the generations before us, we have an undeveloped sense of chronology.
We’re loathe to accept that age could be any obstacle to our plans. While most of our mothers had taken to wearing nice, neat frocks in their seventies, we are still wearing clothes we’d have been happy with at forty.
We’re busy researching the latest solo-driver, camp-in cars – like the VW Caddy. And planning to cross Australia. We take art classes, throw pots, engage with our community, are politically active and quite difficult to shock.
Our younger relatives often find us difficult; we can be opinionated, fractious even. But please don’t tell us “no”. We Baby Boomers in our seventies expect life to be fun, interesting, and, most importantly, still a challenge- Boomer Sydney
Life today compared to previous generations approaching our 70’s is vastly different. A slower pace has been replaced by a more rushed existence. Able to travel the World by car, sea and air. Technology allowing for immediate communication with friends and family. More knowledge about health and greater expectation of longevity due to medications and medical procedures.
More wealth in retirement due to women working as well as men. It’s not all roses because life can be more stressful than previously - dealing with issues affecting adult children and also with ageing parents. Times aren’t great right now but being “boomers” with our lives to live, and being the “rock” for others - we will survive- Boomer Brisbane
My seventies were ushered in with a party shared by family and friends, some in their 70s, some not yet in their 10s and the rest scattered throughout the decades. The music was from the 1950s and 1960s and, most notably, the most enthusiastic dancers were the seventies. The younger people sat and watched, evidently bemused by the sight of their elders' moves on the dance floor.
I cannot imagine my parent’s generation dancing with such abandon in their seventies. Which brings me to the question - What am I doing that is different to the lives led by the seventies in the previous generation?
My parents both grew up on farms in Latvia. My father's family, in particular, was on the wealthy side and so he enjoyed privileges, such as attending the coronation of King George VI and spending much of his time fishing while supervising the farm workers. He even travelled to Australia in the 1930s to visit his sister who had married here while on a holiday and was living on a rural property in Queensland.
In 1938, my father returned to Latvia, just in time to witness, and participate in, WW2. Latvia was, in turn, occupied by Germany and Russia. During one of the German occupations, my father was an interpreter for the German army at the siege of Leningrad (St Petersburg). The Germans were the rulers and eligible Latvians had to join up.
I was born in a Displaced Person's camp in Germany in 1947. In 1948, the family, together with my paternal grandmother, sailed for Australia and became share farmers on my Aunt's farm in Queensland. After saving enough for a deposit on a house, my family moved to Rosalie in Brisbane in 1951.
I entered Milton State School in 1953 with very little English but by the end of the year my English was a lot stronger than my Latvian. My parents attended courses in English and eventually they became quite proficient. Many times, though, they relied on me as speaker and interpreter, which I didn't enjoy.
Life was simple for my parents, walk to the corner shop for produce, sew one's own clothes, save for larger purchases. Entertainment at home was the radio. Transport was by train, tram, and bus as we had no car. The technology in the home that we are so used to came after my parents' time. My father died at 78 in 1983, my mother at 86 in 1994.
Most seventies people I know have at least some proficiency in the technology that has so changed our lives. I use the internet for news, information, and entertainment. I use Facebook and belong to several disparate groups, covering science, history, dog feeding, local events, recipes etc. I am a capable user of Word, having used it in my job as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired.
The internet has also made me aware of the many activities available outside the home. I am a volunteer with the Canine Court Companion Program and once a week visit the local courthouse with my Labrador dog, Sebastian. I support Sebastian in helping reduce the anxiety faced by many of the people sitting anxiously in the waiting rooms. This activity is hugely rewarding, and I usually leave court with a spring in my step.
I seek to further my outside interests and make new friends by belonging to local clubs such as gardening, bushwalking, and the CWA. I attend various workshops on topics of interest such as mushroom identification and permaculture.
My mother kept reasonably fit incidentally due to the many manual chores she was required to do. There was nothing automatic for her! Food cooked was chosen by tradition and availability of ingredients. Even in the early 1980s, when my parents were well into their seventies, vegetables such as zucchini and broccoli were a novelty. My father was something of a "foodie". He spent many hours scouring the shops of Brisbane for items such as yoghurt and halva, common now but unusual even when he was in his seventies in the 1970s and 1980s.
I keep reasonably fit by walking every day and doing weight-bearing exercises. I am informed in matters of nutrition and have a huge range of cuisines and ingredients to choose from. I dress in clothes that would not have been worn by my mother in her seventies as they would have been considered suitable for younger people only.
My father's health deteriorated in his seventies, largely due to his heavy smoking as a young man. In his later years he was a born-again non- smoker. I have never smoked. My mother had high blood pressure, which was controlled by medication. I seem to have inherited that condition and it, too, is well controlled.
My family travelled once every year, to Amity Point, for my father's annual holidays. In their seventies they had the occasional beach holiday but mostly just stayed home. While local holidays were affordable, overseas holidays were out of the question. In my seventies I have been to Japan twice and to America and Canada. I enjoy travelling and usually go with one of my children or alone.
When I visit my grandsons, I spend the time playing, not sitting, and chatting to the adults. I research appropriate toys and books to make informed purchases.
I enjoy going out for morning coffee and evening meals with family and friends. I cannot recall my parents going to a restaurant at any stage of their lives.
Despite, or maybe because of, my parents' backgrounds, they faced life with stoicism until the end. I hope that, with all my advantages, I will have the strength to keep dancing. – Boomer Northern NSW
MALE VIEW OF TURNING 70
What for the future for a septuagenarian? We have the opportunity to enjoy our seventies in ways previous generations couldn’t. The average lifespan for Australians (who have reached the age of 65 by 2015) is 84 for a male and 88 for a female, so guys, we have a few years in us yet. If you like to travel, do it.
I have been to the Birdsville Races seven times and the experience was all about meeting new people. Our Outback neighbours are a breed of their own, generous and welcoming. Then, when my wife sold our business we travelled and we lived in Spain for six months as soon as she retired. Living like a local is a great way to soak in the local culture and meet the people.
Then we took our first cruise. It was to New Zealand and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We quickly signed up for a World Cruise which we took in 2019. Again, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the World at leisure. Travel broadens the mind, they say, and it’s true. We have met some wonderful people on our travels and will travel locally until it’s safe to travel further afield.
My mum was always chatty, but I am more reserved and used to take a while to get to know people. Retirement has changed me, and I hope to meet and make many more friends as a septuagenarian. I also picked up a lost skill on the World Cruise and found that I still had the ability to draw and sketch. It is now a major part of my life.
Personally, as I move into my seventies, I can say I am busier than at any other stage of my life and looking forward to staying active and productive for the rest of the next decade. I have a wonderful extended family, a wonderful wife and a number of great friends.
My advice to others of this age is to keep active, keep up with technology, look for a hidden interest if you don’t have one, volunteer and, most importantly, have fun. We have been given a great opportunity to enjoy our seventies, one our antecedents would have loved to have had. Let’s not waste the opportunity. “- Boomer Brisbane
Age is just a number! Age is so overrated!
You are expected to retire at a certain age, even if you don’t want to.
Approaching my 70’s, still employed, still healthy and still independent, why the hell should I stop what I’m doing because of the numbers on my birth certificate!
I am of retiring age but I’m not in retiring mind.
Of course, I am slowing down and that’s just natural progression. I’ve worked my arse off to get where I am, had my kids who are all grown up and now I like taking more time to do what I like.
A simple pleasure as sleeping in is something I can do, doesn’t happen very often but I can if I want too.
I no longer want to be on the tools as much so now I delegate more which allows me to take a step back and look at my business from a different perspective.
I choose when and how much I work. It’s taken a long time to get to that stage but I’m so grateful I’ve had a good business that’s been successful and now helping me to my later years comfortably, and I’m not prepared to give up everything I worked for just because of my wrinkles and grey hair.
I know I’m getting older and that’s ok as I’m still young at heart which keeps things interesting. In saying that I bought myself a Harley, something I always wanted. Riding is a great outlet for me, should have done it years ago, and I share my passion of riding with my son who talked me into getting it. So glad he did.
I don’t know what I’m going to do in my 70’s but I’m not going to be told to stop or slow down! That’s my choice and I am excited to think I can do whatever I want, within reason of course, my wife will have the final say! – Boomer Gold Coast
This year in October I will become a seventy-year-old—it sounds awful when I say it. But I don’t feel like I’m seventy. Why is that, I wonder? Looking at my mirrored reflection, does the face staring at me look seventy... maybe, but younger than my dad at this age. He died at sixty-nine and he wasn’t in good health for quite a while. We are now living longer and doing better financially than previous generations. With new knowledge and science, we have improved our lives. How have we done it? As you would expect, Baby Boomers, our generation, was influenced by the previous one—though I’m not enamoured with the Boomers title. I would have preferred Bombers or Zoomers.
Our desire for secure income and a house started the accumulation of wealth that would be a financial saviour for many. Houses were cheaper back then, as our Millennial offspring keep reminding us, but the interest rate was 17%.
Today many seventy-year-olds have paid off a house and are involved in other investment strategies, something previous middle-class generations could only dream of. With the help of superannuation, which became compulsory in 1992, and profit on property sales, Boomers are using the stock market to advantage. We get professional advice when we need it and are more financially savvy than in past generations. We’ve come a long way since we got our little Commonwealth Bank passbook stamped at school.
And yes, we live longer. Most men I know of my age group say their fathers died earlier than seventy, some much earlier. What are we doing differently? Well... a few things. The big one is not smoking. That one killed my dad. We know better now about the danger of drugs of all persuasions. Alcohol is still a problem for all ages, although the seventy-plus age group drinks a little less than others. I should relay my wake-up call with booze as a lesson for others:
About four years ago, I was at home with painful tendonitis in my heel—bad enough to warrant using crutches. So, I’m in the garden and, feeling confident with my wooden assistants, hop up the three steps in my sloping back yard. I came back down and slipped... I fell backwards onto paving and whacked the back of my head. So, off to the hospital with concussion where the doctor is talking to me and this is the important part. He asks me, “Do you drink, and how much?”
‘Yes,’ I say, ‘Around a bottle of wine most nights.’
Well, he nearly choked. ‘What, your liver must be buggered.’
Fortunately, it wasn’t, but I had enough of a scare to stop drinking. I still have a couple on special occasions. But the message was simple, ‘too much alcohol will kill you,’ and I hope to live a little longer now.
You can’t escape health issues as you age, but minimising risks is not that difficult. A good diet is fundamental. Some crave sweet stuff. I understand. My sister is one. She’s diabetic and can’t pass up ice cream. Moderation and a routine for meals is the key. Frozen berries are great with low-fat yoghurt for breakfast and full of antioxidants. We are smarter now, so no excuse for overdoing the processed meat and high-fat products. The get-togethers with peers these days usually involve a recount of the latest malady onset and what new drug we’re taking. The medical breakthroughs are coming fast (Quantum Computing helps) but can’t solve every problem.
‘What about my emotional well-being,’ you say? ‘I’m feeling depressed. I’m anxious.’ Mental health issues seem to be growing alarmingly for all generations. Professional help is the way to deal with serious problems. Retirement sometimes brings feelings of disconnection, boredom, lack of self-esteem, especially with men who don’t seem as resilient as women.
From observations, our generation is coming to terms with these issues. I’ve seen the mature age ‘nailing it’ with beautiful art, amazing craftwork and written work, stories and novels. My brother, approaching eighty, pumps out wonderful wood turned pieces, bowls, pens, salt and pepper shakers. And the myth that older people are shy about using technology is just that... a myth. We write blogs, use social media and start-up online businesses using skills we learned at work or on Google. My wife and daughter are flat-out making clay and resin earrings and selling in shops and on-line. I do my bit to help. And while we’re doing that, we fit it in some travelling. Finding meaningful activities that give a sense of satisfaction is good for the soul and good for our mental health.
Our age group has many common issues. We all want happiness, good health and long life. What works for me may not for others. Some of us have partners, some live alone. Many have their own houses and others rent. A caravanning life is all that some want. I couldn’t think of anything worse—no ensuite or king-sized bed. My aspirations are simple—to find satisfaction or joy in the very next thing I do, then the next, and the next. It may be writing a short story, planting a geranium, painting, drawing, watching The Lions AFL (forget the Broncos) or Netflix, having a nap, or coffee with my wife or a friend. Even, dare I say, having the Grandkids visit. Despite the current woes with the pandemic, global unrest and race tensions, we have much to be thankful for in our country. The nasty stuff will pass, and I recommend taking the ‘glass-half-full’ approach- Boomer Brisbane
So, there you have it, what Boomers think of being 70 and what they envisage it will be like. In my opinion the key points for your plans from these contributors, whether you are an individual or government official planning for our futures, are:
In summary, Over 50s is the Decade of Awareness of Ageing, Over 60s the Decade of Planning for Retirement, Over 70s the Decade of Enjoying our Retirement and Over 80s the Decade of Thankfulness for the legacy we leave.
Little mention was made in the feedback of the doom and gloom that 2020 Pandemic has bestowed on us nor negativity about ageing. The feedback disclosed an optimistic, focused and vibrant generation who want their 70s to be purposeful. They are embracing it and in the tradition of ‘OK Boomers’, will continue to enhance their lives so younger generations look to a positive future with Boomers role-modelling how to age with grace and enthusiasm.
Over70s is the new frontier, and the Boomers will confront it, investigate it and open it up with attitude and glee. We look forward to the challenge.
You now have a game plan Boomers so start planning and I hope our feedback assists other generations as well but always remember, in the words of John Winston Lennon "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Brian Murphy, Keith Blake and Rob Sutherland- Boomer Advocates and BONZA Executive
www.bonza.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/BonzaBabyboomersOfNewZealandAndAustralia
BOOMERS TURNING 70
Baby Boomers are ageing rapidly with the younger ones turning 56 this year and the older ones now into their 70s. It is unknown territory for us as a large percentage of the population never had the privilege of living that long in the past therefore, we need to be heard. It is also true that there is some negativity about the ageing process from a societal point of view that needs to be addressed. What do Baby Boomers think about this decade in their lives?
“As older workers struggle within themselves, with spouses, families and friends, to make sense of their changing jobs and the options facing them, as they seek ways to maintain savings, lifestyles, appearances, self-respect and more in an increasingly jobless world, they are exploring the future for us. We need ways to hear more from them.”
Professor David Thomson
My Year 12 class at Indooroopilly High turns 70 this year and I feel like reflecting on our Boomer lives in this year’s BONZA Report. Our journey of life is now well and truly advanced and we, like you, have our own individual stories. As a pending 70-year-old, I feel like I am qualified to look at what that means to turn 70 in the context of my timeline of life as there is still a lot more life to live.
Not a lot has been written about this period of life previously for varied reasons so there are few game plans for us to follow. I thought it justified I develop one for this year’s BONZA Report on Baby Boomers wants and needs.
Firstly, it doesn’t matter that I have acquired certain skills during my life journey that enables me to justifiably speak on behalf of all 70-year old’s and give my opinion, but it is only my version in reality. Yes, I am an author, university graduate, change agent, personal adviser, counsellor, JP, teacher, life skills coach, company director, manager, editor and I could name twenty other role skills but it’s not about history, it’s about our future.
The truth is that I am staring down the barrel of 70s without a plan just as many of my fellow graduates are so I felt the need to research and develop my plan which could then assist others. I believe there is no greater wisdom than collective visions from those who are about to enter a certain age group and have varying ideas so collectively those wants and needs could be useful, so I decided to ask them to send me their thoughts on how they wish to live as a 70 year old.
I have previously written about the 4 stages of ageing in my books (A BONZA Life and Self-Propelled). It used to be three stages but now we are living longer, I have added a fourth stage and, if we believe in Quantum Computing (super computers that will be able to plan our future health needs and government forward planning by collating world data), then these computers will work out how to keep us alive longer in the future so we will live even longer. The four stages are:
- Over 50s who are introduced to ageism through workplace and societal jokes about grey hair and slowing down. We ourselves start to notice wrinkles and age spots
- Over 60 when we see the finish line at work and realise the importance of superannuation deposits to build up our savings fund for retirement and plan our future
- Over 70s (the dreaded medical decade) when we start to focus on our health and medical problems as our bodies pay us back for a lifetime of neglect in many cases and still try to live a lifestyle with friends and family
- Over 80s is the new stage as it was not on the radar when we were young as most seniors had died in their 60s and 70s
So here I am, Ageing Brian, facing Stage three- Over 70’s. Our predecessors were mostly dead at 70 as stated so I have not accumulated a lot of material because there is not a lot written by those generations. They didn’t make it unfortunately due to poor health conditions and lifestyle of the day whereas my generation has been luckier.
Previous age milestones were easier in my opinion. Over 20 was a selfish period when I made light of life and had a damn good time indulging myself. By mid-20s I had married and by 30 had a family, job and accompanying responsibilities so life was busy.
By the 40 milestone I was suffering mid-life crisis with permed hair and running half marathons for exercise. My married life disintegrated soon after, but I was fortunate enough to then meet the love of my life and see out the ageing process now with her by my side.
This next decade worries me though because I am not sure how it will go and what I will do with myself, so I followed my logical pathway and decided to give Boomers a voice by asking others what they expected. This is a compilation of their thoughts both male and female of what they are expecting in their 70s so we all have something to focus and compare our expectations to and maybe learn a thing or two from other points of view.
I have included the thoughts and aspirations of male and female Boomers in the hope that it is a fair coverage of gender thinking at a time of our lives that has been ignored mostly in history.
Boomers have and will always be different in that we feel strongly about our rights, our health and fitness, our mental stability and our never-ending idealist vison of a better world and will do so until we can no longer participate economically and socially.
FEMALE VIEW OF TURNING 70
Being one of the boomer generation is a world away from my parent’s generation. We are mostly financially free with the provision of superannuation for all workers. We can retire when we want to as we are full of plans for our future.
We generally don’t stay in the one job for the whole of our careers, so don’t feel overly loyal to employers as we contemplate an early retirement.
We have the advantage of technology at our fingertips which helps us to be more independent – planning our travel, learning online, pursuing our hobbies, doing Pilates, yoga, meditation online at a time that suits us.
We are more educated than our parents and generally started our families later allowing us to travel first before settling down. We are more politically aware with news and information more readily available due to technology.
Our children can never keep track of us as we take off in our caravan, or head overseas for extended holidays. – Boomer Melbourne
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What’s it like to be a Baby Boomer in her seventies? Give or take a few creaky joints, it’s not very different from being a Baby Boomer in her sixties, fifties, forties. That, I think, is the point of Baby Boomers. Unlike the generations before us, we have an undeveloped sense of chronology.
We’re loathe to accept that age could be any obstacle to our plans. While most of our mothers had taken to wearing nice, neat frocks in their seventies, we are still wearing clothes we’d have been happy with at forty.
We’re busy researching the latest solo-driver, camp-in cars – like the VW Caddy. And planning to cross Australia. We take art classes, throw pots, engage with our community, are politically active and quite difficult to shock.
Our younger relatives often find us difficult; we can be opinionated, fractious even. But please don’t tell us “no”. We Baby Boomers in our seventies expect life to be fun, interesting, and, most importantly, still a challenge- Boomer Sydney
Life today compared to previous generations approaching our 70’s is vastly different. A slower pace has been replaced by a more rushed existence. Able to travel the World by car, sea and air. Technology allowing for immediate communication with friends and family. More knowledge about health and greater expectation of longevity due to medications and medical procedures.
More wealth in retirement due to women working as well as men. It’s not all roses because life can be more stressful than previously - dealing with issues affecting adult children and also with ageing parents. Times aren’t great right now but being “boomers” with our lives to live, and being the “rock” for others - we will survive- Boomer Brisbane
My seventies were ushered in with a party shared by family and friends, some in their 70s, some not yet in their 10s and the rest scattered throughout the decades. The music was from the 1950s and 1960s and, most notably, the most enthusiastic dancers were the seventies. The younger people sat and watched, evidently bemused by the sight of their elders' moves on the dance floor.
I cannot imagine my parent’s generation dancing with such abandon in their seventies. Which brings me to the question - What am I doing that is different to the lives led by the seventies in the previous generation?
My parents both grew up on farms in Latvia. My father's family, in particular, was on the wealthy side and so he enjoyed privileges, such as attending the coronation of King George VI and spending much of his time fishing while supervising the farm workers. He even travelled to Australia in the 1930s to visit his sister who had married here while on a holiday and was living on a rural property in Queensland.
In 1938, my father returned to Latvia, just in time to witness, and participate in, WW2. Latvia was, in turn, occupied by Germany and Russia. During one of the German occupations, my father was an interpreter for the German army at the siege of Leningrad (St Petersburg). The Germans were the rulers and eligible Latvians had to join up.
I was born in a Displaced Person's camp in Germany in 1947. In 1948, the family, together with my paternal grandmother, sailed for Australia and became share farmers on my Aunt's farm in Queensland. After saving enough for a deposit on a house, my family moved to Rosalie in Brisbane in 1951.
I entered Milton State School in 1953 with very little English but by the end of the year my English was a lot stronger than my Latvian. My parents attended courses in English and eventually they became quite proficient. Many times, though, they relied on me as speaker and interpreter, which I didn't enjoy.
Life was simple for my parents, walk to the corner shop for produce, sew one's own clothes, save for larger purchases. Entertainment at home was the radio. Transport was by train, tram, and bus as we had no car. The technology in the home that we are so used to came after my parents' time. My father died at 78 in 1983, my mother at 86 in 1994.
Most seventies people I know have at least some proficiency in the technology that has so changed our lives. I use the internet for news, information, and entertainment. I use Facebook and belong to several disparate groups, covering science, history, dog feeding, local events, recipes etc. I am a capable user of Word, having used it in my job as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired.
The internet has also made me aware of the many activities available outside the home. I am a volunteer with the Canine Court Companion Program and once a week visit the local courthouse with my Labrador dog, Sebastian. I support Sebastian in helping reduce the anxiety faced by many of the people sitting anxiously in the waiting rooms. This activity is hugely rewarding, and I usually leave court with a spring in my step.
I seek to further my outside interests and make new friends by belonging to local clubs such as gardening, bushwalking, and the CWA. I attend various workshops on topics of interest such as mushroom identification and permaculture.
My mother kept reasonably fit incidentally due to the many manual chores she was required to do. There was nothing automatic for her! Food cooked was chosen by tradition and availability of ingredients. Even in the early 1980s, when my parents were well into their seventies, vegetables such as zucchini and broccoli were a novelty. My father was something of a "foodie". He spent many hours scouring the shops of Brisbane for items such as yoghurt and halva, common now but unusual even when he was in his seventies in the 1970s and 1980s.
I keep reasonably fit by walking every day and doing weight-bearing exercises. I am informed in matters of nutrition and have a huge range of cuisines and ingredients to choose from. I dress in clothes that would not have been worn by my mother in her seventies as they would have been considered suitable for younger people only.
My father's health deteriorated in his seventies, largely due to his heavy smoking as a young man. In his later years he was a born-again non- smoker. I have never smoked. My mother had high blood pressure, which was controlled by medication. I seem to have inherited that condition and it, too, is well controlled.
My family travelled once every year, to Amity Point, for my father's annual holidays. In their seventies they had the occasional beach holiday but mostly just stayed home. While local holidays were affordable, overseas holidays were out of the question. In my seventies I have been to Japan twice and to America and Canada. I enjoy travelling and usually go with one of my children or alone.
When I visit my grandsons, I spend the time playing, not sitting, and chatting to the adults. I research appropriate toys and books to make informed purchases.
I enjoy going out for morning coffee and evening meals with family and friends. I cannot recall my parents going to a restaurant at any stage of their lives.
Despite, or maybe because of, my parents' backgrounds, they faced life with stoicism until the end. I hope that, with all my advantages, I will have the strength to keep dancing. – Boomer Northern NSW
MALE VIEW OF TURNING 70
What for the future for a septuagenarian? We have the opportunity to enjoy our seventies in ways previous generations couldn’t. The average lifespan for Australians (who have reached the age of 65 by 2015) is 84 for a male and 88 for a female, so guys, we have a few years in us yet. If you like to travel, do it.
I have been to the Birdsville Races seven times and the experience was all about meeting new people. Our Outback neighbours are a breed of their own, generous and welcoming. Then, when my wife sold our business we travelled and we lived in Spain for six months as soon as she retired. Living like a local is a great way to soak in the local culture and meet the people.
Then we took our first cruise. It was to New Zealand and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We quickly signed up for a World Cruise which we took in 2019. Again, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the World at leisure. Travel broadens the mind, they say, and it’s true. We have met some wonderful people on our travels and will travel locally until it’s safe to travel further afield.
My mum was always chatty, but I am more reserved and used to take a while to get to know people. Retirement has changed me, and I hope to meet and make many more friends as a septuagenarian. I also picked up a lost skill on the World Cruise and found that I still had the ability to draw and sketch. It is now a major part of my life.
Personally, as I move into my seventies, I can say I am busier than at any other stage of my life and looking forward to staying active and productive for the rest of the next decade. I have a wonderful extended family, a wonderful wife and a number of great friends.
My advice to others of this age is to keep active, keep up with technology, look for a hidden interest if you don’t have one, volunteer and, most importantly, have fun. We have been given a great opportunity to enjoy our seventies, one our antecedents would have loved to have had. Let’s not waste the opportunity. “- Boomer Brisbane
Age is just a number! Age is so overrated!
You are expected to retire at a certain age, even if you don’t want to.
Approaching my 70’s, still employed, still healthy and still independent, why the hell should I stop what I’m doing because of the numbers on my birth certificate!
I am of retiring age but I’m not in retiring mind.
Of course, I am slowing down and that’s just natural progression. I’ve worked my arse off to get where I am, had my kids who are all grown up and now I like taking more time to do what I like.
A simple pleasure as sleeping in is something I can do, doesn’t happen very often but I can if I want too.
I no longer want to be on the tools as much so now I delegate more which allows me to take a step back and look at my business from a different perspective.
I choose when and how much I work. It’s taken a long time to get to that stage but I’m so grateful I’ve had a good business that’s been successful and now helping me to my later years comfortably, and I’m not prepared to give up everything I worked for just because of my wrinkles and grey hair.
I know I’m getting older and that’s ok as I’m still young at heart which keeps things interesting. In saying that I bought myself a Harley, something I always wanted. Riding is a great outlet for me, should have done it years ago, and I share my passion of riding with my son who talked me into getting it. So glad he did.
I don’t know what I’m going to do in my 70’s but I’m not going to be told to stop or slow down! That’s my choice and I am excited to think I can do whatever I want, within reason of course, my wife will have the final say! – Boomer Gold Coast
This year in October I will become a seventy-year-old—it sounds awful when I say it. But I don’t feel like I’m seventy. Why is that, I wonder? Looking at my mirrored reflection, does the face staring at me look seventy... maybe, but younger than my dad at this age. He died at sixty-nine and he wasn’t in good health for quite a while. We are now living longer and doing better financially than previous generations. With new knowledge and science, we have improved our lives. How have we done it? As you would expect, Baby Boomers, our generation, was influenced by the previous one—though I’m not enamoured with the Boomers title. I would have preferred Bombers or Zoomers.
Our desire for secure income and a house started the accumulation of wealth that would be a financial saviour for many. Houses were cheaper back then, as our Millennial offspring keep reminding us, but the interest rate was 17%.
Today many seventy-year-olds have paid off a house and are involved in other investment strategies, something previous middle-class generations could only dream of. With the help of superannuation, which became compulsory in 1992, and profit on property sales, Boomers are using the stock market to advantage. We get professional advice when we need it and are more financially savvy than in past generations. We’ve come a long way since we got our little Commonwealth Bank passbook stamped at school.
And yes, we live longer. Most men I know of my age group say their fathers died earlier than seventy, some much earlier. What are we doing differently? Well... a few things. The big one is not smoking. That one killed my dad. We know better now about the danger of drugs of all persuasions. Alcohol is still a problem for all ages, although the seventy-plus age group drinks a little less than others. I should relay my wake-up call with booze as a lesson for others:
About four years ago, I was at home with painful tendonitis in my heel—bad enough to warrant using crutches. So, I’m in the garden and, feeling confident with my wooden assistants, hop up the three steps in my sloping back yard. I came back down and slipped... I fell backwards onto paving and whacked the back of my head. So, off to the hospital with concussion where the doctor is talking to me and this is the important part. He asks me, “Do you drink, and how much?”
‘Yes,’ I say, ‘Around a bottle of wine most nights.’
Well, he nearly choked. ‘What, your liver must be buggered.’
Fortunately, it wasn’t, but I had enough of a scare to stop drinking. I still have a couple on special occasions. But the message was simple, ‘too much alcohol will kill you,’ and I hope to live a little longer now.
You can’t escape health issues as you age, but minimising risks is not that difficult. A good diet is fundamental. Some crave sweet stuff. I understand. My sister is one. She’s diabetic and can’t pass up ice cream. Moderation and a routine for meals is the key. Frozen berries are great with low-fat yoghurt for breakfast and full of antioxidants. We are smarter now, so no excuse for overdoing the processed meat and high-fat products. The get-togethers with peers these days usually involve a recount of the latest malady onset and what new drug we’re taking. The medical breakthroughs are coming fast (Quantum Computing helps) but can’t solve every problem.
‘What about my emotional well-being,’ you say? ‘I’m feeling depressed. I’m anxious.’ Mental health issues seem to be growing alarmingly for all generations. Professional help is the way to deal with serious problems. Retirement sometimes brings feelings of disconnection, boredom, lack of self-esteem, especially with men who don’t seem as resilient as women.
From observations, our generation is coming to terms with these issues. I’ve seen the mature age ‘nailing it’ with beautiful art, amazing craftwork and written work, stories and novels. My brother, approaching eighty, pumps out wonderful wood turned pieces, bowls, pens, salt and pepper shakers. And the myth that older people are shy about using technology is just that... a myth. We write blogs, use social media and start-up online businesses using skills we learned at work or on Google. My wife and daughter are flat-out making clay and resin earrings and selling in shops and on-line. I do my bit to help. And while we’re doing that, we fit it in some travelling. Finding meaningful activities that give a sense of satisfaction is good for the soul and good for our mental health.
Our age group has many common issues. We all want happiness, good health and long life. What works for me may not for others. Some of us have partners, some live alone. Many have their own houses and others rent. A caravanning life is all that some want. I couldn’t think of anything worse—no ensuite or king-sized bed. My aspirations are simple—to find satisfaction or joy in the very next thing I do, then the next, and the next. It may be writing a short story, planting a geranium, painting, drawing, watching The Lions AFL (forget the Broncos) or Netflix, having a nap, or coffee with my wife or a friend. Even, dare I say, having the Grandkids visit. Despite the current woes with the pandemic, global unrest and race tensions, we have much to be thankful for in our country. The nasty stuff will pass, and I recommend taking the ‘glass-half-full’ approach- Boomer Brisbane
So, there you have it, what Boomers think of being 70 and what they envisage it will be like. In my opinion the key points for your plans from these contributors, whether you are an individual or government official planning for our futures, are:
- Financial freedom from superannuation gives us stability
- Plan your future (retire or don’t)
- Change jobs even now if you need to
- Little loyalty to employers without them encouraging it (a need for a Mature Age Policy in workplaces so we feel wanted)
- Technology a bonus (opens the world to our homes including courses and Quantum Computers have the capacity to find ways of keeping us all alive even longer)
- Travel is a must for most
- Hobbies essential
- Exercise and fitness (Pilates, yoga, walking, gym, Tia Che) key to good health
- Meditation and alternative medicine part of our lives
- Just be you as you were in previous decades (keep doing what you enjoy)
- Don’t feel as old as previous generations at this age (dress, activities, mindfulness, liberated thinking, age is just a number)
- Engage with community (volunteer, U3A, hobbies)
- Wiser because our advanced people skills (problem-solving, negotiating, dealing with difficult people etc)
- Expectations of a fun-filled, interesting life
- Time for family and friends whilst remembering we are walking history
- Enjoying life and meeting new people
- Awareness and pride of our nation and the benefits of living in Australia
In summary, Over 50s is the Decade of Awareness of Ageing, Over 60s the Decade of Planning for Retirement, Over 70s the Decade of Enjoying our Retirement and Over 80s the Decade of Thankfulness for the legacy we leave.
Little mention was made in the feedback of the doom and gloom that 2020 Pandemic has bestowed on us nor negativity about ageing. The feedback disclosed an optimistic, focused and vibrant generation who want their 70s to be purposeful. They are embracing it and in the tradition of ‘OK Boomers’, will continue to enhance their lives so younger generations look to a positive future with Boomers role-modelling how to age with grace and enthusiasm.
Over70s is the new frontier, and the Boomers will confront it, investigate it and open it up with attitude and glee. We look forward to the challenge.
You now have a game plan Boomers so start planning and I hope our feedback assists other generations as well but always remember, in the words of John Winston Lennon "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Brian Murphy, Keith Blake and Rob Sutherland- Boomer Advocates and BONZA Executive
www.bonza.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/BonzaBabyboomersOfNewZealandAndAustralia