October 10, 2024 • 12 mins
Seniors Week runs from October 14-20, with this year's theme "Connecting Generations".
In this episode of iHeart Tassie, Isabella Gaylor explores how Tasmania's older generation can get involved in the Seniors Week festivities, and how we can all work towards building a more integrated society.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
I Heeart.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
We believe and we want old Tasmanians to believe that
aging is a time of opportunity and contribution and being involved.
And one of our core focuses is trying to eliminate
ageism and the age of stereotypes within our community to
make it more inclusive.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Next week is Senior's Week, celebrating older Tasmanians and recognizing
the contributions that they make to our community. Running from
the fourteenth the twentieth of October, this year's theme is
Connecting Generations. I'm Isabella gay Law and in this episode
of iHeart Tuzzy, we'll learn more about how the older
generation can get involved across Tasmania and how we can
(00:42):
all work toward building a more integrated society.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
iHeart really important to recognize that we're all aging, we're
all getting older, and those voices of older folk and
as we age, that'll be us are represented in all areas,
whether that's social activity, whether that's policy, whether that's employment, volunteering,
et cetera. You know, we need to make sure that
(01:08):
there's is just as much focus because that's a really
crucial and important time of our life, just as being younger.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Is that's Bridgid Wilkinson, the CEO of CODA Tasmania. The
Council of the Aging CODA Tasmania is the peak advocacy
organization for older Tasmanians, aiming to raise awareness of the
importance of age equality within the community, whilst also offering
a range of programs and services in support of this.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Our poor focus that COOSA is to actually be the
voice and to support and represent older folk, and we
make sure that we're out in community and we're running
programs and services so that we can hear from older
people themselves and we can make sure that that representative
representation that we make is really accurately based on what
they're telling us, you know, breaking down that stereotype that
(01:56):
when we get older we can't be active and doing
so things. Week's a great way of showcasing that with
you know, nearly four hundred activities that are run an
operated majority of them by community groups and organizations that
have a lot of volunteers that are seen. But the
other part of Senior's Week is seen as an opportunity
I would have folk across the state to try something new,
(02:19):
so we can keep learning, we can keep exploring. We
can keep being curious when we get older.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Bruce Webber is the secretary of the Tasmanian Men's Shared
Association and standing member of the Channel Men's Shed in Margate,
a program supported by CODA Tasmania.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
I'm a recent in the last ten or fifteen years
retire into Tasmania for the lifestyle at Tasmania offers, and
there was an advertisement in the local newspaper anybody interested
in establishing a men's should meeting at the local hall.
(02:58):
So I thought, well, I don't know anybody in Tasmania.
He's an opportunity to make a few mates. So I attended,
and seemingly within days or weeks I was secretary. So
things moved there. And the thing that struck me particularly
(03:22):
was the evident need for men of a certain age
to meet together for social purposes. You may wonder why
men need to meet socially after they retire. Were largely
because they've lost their tribe. Their friends and mates are
(03:43):
all at work, and they've been put politely and without
saying it, on the scraping. So the reason for a
men's shed is very much made ship, but also meeting
with a peer group who recognized and responds to your
experience and skills.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
In light of Senior's Week, Bruce is encouraging the community
to get involved by either visiting the Tasmanian Menshed Association
Facebook page or by simply showing up to your local shed.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Give it a crack, goes, get out from in front
of the television set, master couch and see if there
is another life out there for you.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Mayo's House is a community hub located in Hobart. It
provides a facility for community groups or individuals to host events,
programs and services to the public. Denise Rodriguez is the coordinator.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Mayor House is a very safe and welcoming place where
you can be greeted by friendly staff and we have
volunteers which are a very important part of our program.
And people come for many reasons, but typically those who
come over an interest in meeting others and participating in
group bankstivities.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
So we sit under the City of Cobart connective city
divisions under positive paging. And you might ask what does
positive aging mean And according to the Australian Psychological Society,
they define it as the process of maintaining a positive attitude,
feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy and engaging
(05:22):
fully in life as you age, and our programs are
based on these principles, and we're very inclusive and supporter
of social connections which have huge benefits to mental and
physical health. And I know seen this week as next week,
but I would say we have seen this week every
week due to the programs that we run and also
(05:46):
the people who come in. Our role is to facilitate
the possibility of people coming in and making new connections
and also maintaining old connections.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Hobart resident Georgina has found a new community at Neahvor's house.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I'm seventy one years old.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
I've been retired for two and a half years after
being a sole operator in business, and so for twenty
odd years I had my family and my business and
that was what my life was. And then suddenly the
wheels fell off my trolley. My husband got dementia and
(06:22):
was a home for six years prior to his death.
He died at the Royal seven or eight years ago,
and my children both moved away. So I suddenly found
that I was alone in hober with not many friends,
and then made his house is.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Slowly open to me.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
At first I used to do my Thai Chi and
run home and now I'm coming in and having a
cup of coffee, meeting everybody. The girls in the group
and the boys in the group are wonderful.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
One of the group classes being offered at Mayda's house
is tai Chi, a form of low impact Chinese exercise.
Instructor John Dickie says he gets a lot out of
the experience too.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
What I find is doing things together with other people,
and this is a highlight of my week. Doing things
together is what holds off finility are and you know
Alzheimer's dementia, and it's really important to have people that
you check in with every week, and that's the people
that you do something with.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And it is fair to say that the class is
also having a positive impact on the students.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
I've been coming to Tayshee for maybe five or six years,
but for the last two years John has.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Been my instructor and it's given me something to really
look forward.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
To twice a week. I love Maysa's house.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Because it is a very friendly, welcoming place and I've
met such a lot of very friendly people and I
make an effort.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Coming up in this week's episode of iHeart Tazzi. We
will talk more about this year's Seniors Week theme and
explore how we can eradicate agism within our communities.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I heard as He, I hearts as He.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
According to the World Health Organization, one of the top
three things to do to eradicate agism is to have
more intergenerational connection programs, which ties in with the theme
of Seniors Week this year.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
With that theme in mind, we wanted this year to
really try and enhance the connections across the generation. So
we know, don't we that a lot of people don't
live maybe near their family, A lot of grandparents don't
get to be near their teenage grandchildren or babies or
and we wanted to provide an opportunity for the event
(08:42):
hosts that are opening their doors the thing is Week
to invite younger folks in as well.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Bridgard Wilkinson, from Counsel of the Aging Tasmania says the
organization also runs agism awareness workshops to help educate people
on ages, stereotypes and myths about aging. Bridget says there's
one experience from a workshop that has stayed with her.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
And I just remember a woman sitting there and she
was nearly in tears, and she sort of was very
brave and said, look, I actually think I've been really
agis towards people in my family, and I hadn't realized
until I've done this workshop, and I'm actually going to
leave here and think about the way I speak and
the way I behave and my own biases a lot
(09:27):
more and thank you. And I just thought, well, look
that's what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Aren't we.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
We're here to try and help change and shift people's thinking.
And so that was a really touching moment that that
person felt really brave to say that in a group,
and that she was actually going to go away and
actually act differently and think differently and try and be
more conscious of her language and how she was treating
people in her circles.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
The Tasmanian's Mensched Association is continually striving for community connection
and inclusion. Secretary Bruce Weber is getting on board with
the Connecting Generations theme for Senior's Week.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
We've got seventy odd sheds in Tasmania. Everyone is unique
and different in how it gives back to the community
and also within the sheds we get an intergenerational effect
where we recently had a machine building project within my
(10:24):
own shed, and one of the members of a commented
that from the most senior to the most junior, this
particular project covered early twenties to late seventies, people all
involved and working together to a single end, and the
(10:45):
information flowing up the age train and down the age train.
It was happening to see that.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
And if you want to get involved, whether that might
be attending an event, starting a great plas or volunteering,
seen this week is a wonderful opportunity to take the
first step. Along with many others in the community. You
can find a Seniors Week program in all libraries, post
office and Service Tasmania outlets, as well as a variety
(11:15):
of community organizations and shops.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I guess everything that we stand for here at CODER
is treating people as individuals, treating them with respect, and
really valuing the voice of older Tasmanians. Ageism and the
way that we treat people differently because of their age.
It's really one of those interestingisms because it's the only
form of discrimination against our future self. Now, when you
(11:40):
hear it said like that, you think to yourself, oh,
why would I want to be part of that? Because
that's me in thirty, forty, fifty years time. So I
think what we'd love to see is that our communities
embrace aging, that we start thinking differently. I mean, it's
a great amazing thing that we're all living longer, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That's it for this week's episode of iHeart Tazzy. You
can find previous editions in our podcast feed. I'm Isabella Gailor.
Thanks for the company My Heart Tazzy.
I Heeart.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
We believe and we want old Tasmanians to believe that
aging is a time of opportunity and contribution and being involved.
And one of our core focuses is trying to eliminate
ageism and the age of stereotypes within our community to
make it more inclusive.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Next week is Senior's Week, celebrating older Tasmanians and recognizing
the contributions that they make to our community. Running from
the fourteenth the twentieth of October, this year's theme is
Connecting Generations. I'm Isabella gay Law and in this episode
of iHeart Tuzzy, we'll learn more about how the older
generation can get involved across Tasmania and how we can
(00:42):
all work toward building a more integrated society.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
iHeart really important to recognize that we're all aging, we're
all getting older, and those voices of older folk and
as we age, that'll be us are represented in all areas,
whether that's social activity, whether that's policy, whether that's employment, volunteering,
et cetera. You know, we need to make sure that
(01:08):
there's is just as much focus because that's a really
crucial and important time of our life, just as being younger.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Is that's Bridgid Wilkinson, the CEO of CODA Tasmania. The
Council of the Aging CODA Tasmania is the peak advocacy
organization for older Tasmanians, aiming to raise awareness of the
importance of age equality within the community, whilst also offering
a range of programs and services in support of this.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Our poor focus that COOSA is to actually be the
voice and to support and represent older folk, and we
make sure that we're out in community and we're running
programs and services so that we can hear from older
people themselves and we can make sure that that representative
representation that we make is really accurately based on what
they're telling us, you know, breaking down that stereotype that
(01:56):
when we get older we can't be active and doing
so things. Week's a great way of showcasing that with
you know, nearly four hundred activities that are run an
operated majority of them by community groups and organizations that
have a lot of volunteers that are seen. But the
other part of Senior's Week is seen as an opportunity
I would have folk across the state to try something new,
(02:19):
so we can keep learning, we can keep exploring. We
can keep being curious when we get older.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Bruce Webber is the secretary of the Tasmanian Men's Shared
Association and standing member of the Channel Men's Shed in Margate,
a program supported by CODA Tasmania.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
I'm a recent in the last ten or fifteen years
retire into Tasmania for the lifestyle at Tasmania offers, and
there was an advertisement in the local newspaper anybody interested
in establishing a men's should meeting at the local hall.
(02:58):
So I thought, well, I don't know anybody in Tasmania.
He's an opportunity to make a few mates. So I attended,
and seemingly within days or weeks I was secretary. So
things moved there. And the thing that struck me particularly
(03:22):
was the evident need for men of a certain age
to meet together for social purposes. You may wonder why
men need to meet socially after they retire. Were largely
because they've lost their tribe. Their friends and mates are
(03:43):
all at work, and they've been put politely and without
saying it, on the scraping. So the reason for a
men's shed is very much made ship, but also meeting
with a peer group who recognized and responds to your
experience and skills.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
In light of Senior's Week, Bruce is encouraging the community
to get involved by either visiting the Tasmanian Menshed Association
Facebook page or by simply showing up to your local shed.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Give it a crack, goes, get out from in front
of the television set, master couch and see if there
is another life out there for you.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Mayo's House is a community hub located in Hobart. It
provides a facility for community groups or individuals to host events,
programs and services to the public. Denise Rodriguez is the coordinator.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Mayor House is a very safe and welcoming place where
you can be greeted by friendly staff and we have
volunteers which are a very important part of our program.
And people come for many reasons, but typically those who
come over an interest in meeting others and participating in
group bankstivities.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
So we sit under the City of Cobart connective city
divisions under positive paging. And you might ask what does
positive aging mean And according to the Australian Psychological Society,
they define it as the process of maintaining a positive attitude,
feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy and engaging
(05:22):
fully in life as you age, and our programs are
based on these principles, and we're very inclusive and supporter
of social connections which have huge benefits to mental and
physical health. And I know seen this week as next week,
but I would say we have seen this week every
week due to the programs that we run and also
(05:46):
the people who come in. Our role is to facilitate
the possibility of people coming in and making new connections
and also maintaining old connections.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Hobart resident Georgina has found a new community at Neahvor's house.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I'm seventy one years old.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
I've been retired for two and a half years after
being a sole operator in business, and so for twenty
odd years I had my family and my business and
that was what my life was. And then suddenly the
wheels fell off my trolley. My husband got dementia and
(06:22):
was a home for six years prior to his death.
He died at the Royal seven or eight years ago,
and my children both moved away. So I suddenly found
that I was alone in hober with not many friends,
and then made his house is.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Slowly open to me.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
At first I used to do my Thai Chi and
run home and now I'm coming in and having a
cup of coffee, meeting everybody. The girls in the group
and the boys in the group are wonderful.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
One of the group classes being offered at Mayda's house
is tai Chi, a form of low impact Chinese exercise.
Instructor John Dickie says he gets a lot out of
the experience too.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
What I find is doing things together with other people,
and this is a highlight of my week. Doing things
together is what holds off finility are and you know
Alzheimer's dementia, and it's really important to have people that
you check in with every week, and that's the people
that you do something with.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And it is fair to say that the class is
also having a positive impact on the students.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
I've been coming to Tayshee for maybe five or six years,
but for the last two years John has.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Been my instructor and it's given me something to really
look forward.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
To twice a week. I love Maysa's house.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Because it is a very friendly, welcoming place and I've
met such a lot of very friendly people and I
make an effort.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Coming up in this week's episode of iHeart Tazzi. We
will talk more about this year's Seniors Week theme and
explore how we can eradicate agism within our communities.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I heard as He, I hearts as He.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
According to the World Health Organization, one of the top
three things to do to eradicate agism is to have
more intergenerational connection programs, which ties in with the theme
of Seniors Week this year.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
With that theme in mind, we wanted this year to
really try and enhance the connections across the generation. So
we know, don't we that a lot of people don't
live maybe near their family, A lot of grandparents don't
get to be near their teenage grandchildren or babies or
and we wanted to provide an opportunity for the event
(08:42):
hosts that are opening their doors the thing is Week
to invite younger folks in as well.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Bridgard Wilkinson, from Counsel of the Aging Tasmania says the
organization also runs agism awareness workshops to help educate people
on ages, stereotypes and myths about aging. Bridget says there's
one experience from a workshop that has stayed with her.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
And I just remember a woman sitting there and she
was nearly in tears, and she sort of was very
brave and said, look, I actually think I've been really
agis towards people in my family, and I hadn't realized
until I've done this workshop, and I'm actually going to
leave here and think about the way I speak and
the way I behave and my own biases a lot
(09:27):
more and thank you. And I just thought, well, look
that's what we're here for.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Aren't we.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
We're here to try and help change and shift people's thinking.
And so that was a really touching moment that that
person felt really brave to say that in a group,
and that she was actually going to go away and
actually act differently and think differently and try and be
more conscious of her language and how she was treating
people in her circles.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
The Tasmanian's Mensched Association is continually striving for community connection
and inclusion. Secretary Bruce Weber is getting on board with
the Connecting Generations theme for Senior's Week.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
We've got seventy odd sheds in Tasmania. Everyone is unique
and different in how it gives back to the community
and also within the sheds we get an intergenerational effect
where we recently had a machine building project within my
(10:24):
own shed, and one of the members of a commented
that from the most senior to the most junior, this
particular project covered early twenties to late seventies, people all
involved and working together to a single end, and the
(10:45):
information flowing up the age train and down the age train.
It was happening to see that.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
And if you want to get involved, whether that might
be attending an event, starting a great plas or volunteering,
seen this week is a wonderful opportunity to take the
first step. Along with many others in the community. You
can find a Seniors Week program in all libraries, post
office and Service Tasmania outlets, as well as a variety
(11:15):
of community organizations and shops.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I guess everything that we stand for here at CODER
is treating people as individuals, treating them with respect, and
really valuing the voice of older Tasmanians. Ageism and the
way that we treat people differently because of their age.
It's really one of those interestingisms because it's the only
form of discrimination against our future self. Now, when you
(11:40):
hear it said like that, you think to yourself, oh,
why would I want to be part of that? Because
that's me in thirty, forty, fifty years time. So I
think what we'd love to see is that our communities
embrace aging, that we start thinking differently. I mean, it's
a great amazing thing that we're all living longer, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That's it for this week's episode of iHeart Tazzy. You
can find previous editions in our podcast feed. I'm Isabella Gailor.
Thanks for the company My Heart Tazzy.
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