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November 2009

BONZA LIFE– A Newsletter for Babyboomers

Had a great article submitted by reader Ross Honeywill who is Chairman of Neo Consulting http://www.neogroup.net , titled ‘Boomers Strike Back’. We will feature it on our home page.

He makes the point that:

“One million of Australia’s five million Boomers are part of an influential breed known as the New Economic Order or Neo. These NEOBoomers out-perform, out-rank and out-spend the younger generations 2:1.”

This is a very worthy article and I know you will enjoy reading it. With the likes of PM Rudd and President Obama in the NEOBoomers ranks, the Boomers are still high priority in performance.

Also, as a matter of interest, PM Kevin Rudd will soon release another Intergenerational Report. This is the document that presents government research into Ageing Australia and how the different generations will be effected.

The 2002 and the 2007 versions are in the link section on the BONZA home page at the top of the page and we should all take the time to gain more knowledge on what to expect.

That’s why I was pleased that X generationer Ruby Jansen emailed me to inform me of her outstanding Boomer site the Eboomer. www.theeboomer.com.

It is so refreshing to realise that the younger ones do care that we will be the first generation in history to grow very old (on average to our eighties and nineties) and the financial pressure we and the government will be under to support our pensions, aged care and health requirements.

If you want ideas for work and income then support Ruby’s efforts please.

It is also great news that Boomer Arron Davidson, www.tidalenergy.com.au ,from last month’s newsletter item on Tidal Energy has signed his first overseas contract. Means jobs for Australians and Boomers still caring about the environment.

Finally, I have to thank our good friend, supporter and researcher Professor Thomas Muller, www.theplanetaryprize.com , for his predictions that Boomers would spend more time on our families as we age.

Having just visited the home town of my father John Murphy who left his family in 1926 in Ireland (and never saw any of them again) to journey alone to Australia, I was very moved to stand in his street in Waterford last month with 3 of his grandchildren and honour his achievements.

My children know a lot more about their heritage and they were more than just interested.

One of Professor Muller’s other predictions was that we would travel a lot more and he is practicing that by constantly touring the world and checking out the wildlife. You can follow his exploits on his web site, the planetaryprize.

As sobering as the future we face is, it will be whatever we make of it as individuals so remember your timeline and get on with life. It is pleasing though that so many good people care about our future, isn’t it?

Life churns on so make it a BONZA one!

NOTE:

BONZA advocates for:

1. Mature Age Leave for over 50s so they can have some quality time out from their workplace and freshen up doing interest things.

2. Over 50s need a separate government office, Maturelink, to highlight the importance of Mature Age looking to Move Forward in life not plan for retirement only in our older years. This is even more essential now we have to work to 67.

3. A need for incentives from government for families to build granny flats for the aged care of family members at home. A family approach to an Ageing Australia in line with European and Asian cultures.

4. A need for Community Health Clinics that the aged can attend and not clog the hospital system just as we had some priority at birth due to our numbers.

5. A strong community based program for aged to take an interest in the local community through supporting schools, group exercising, supporting welfare groups and strong social clubs for the aged.

6. Government incentives to allow us to retain/build assets so that we can support ourselves more as we age.

7. Developments of the Uni of the Third Age so that minds are kept active through study and research.

8. Break Centrelink up into a smaller office. Aged Pension to Retirement Offices, Familes to Medicare (completely), Disabled to revamped CRS offices, Youth to Youthlink (could be in Centrelink with Maturelink so mentor roles are easier) and Newstart to Job Network who could also pay them when there is compliance with job seeking.

9. Skills for the Bush project. A database of jobs available in Regional Australia set up through Local Govt so that over 50s can work their way around Australia. This would fit in well with the Mature Age Leave concept.

10 A Mature Age Policy for every workplace so employers can offer loyal staff some incentive to keep going. They will need their skills as the skill shortage approaches.

11. A referendum to decide whether euthanasia should be part of Australian life.

Lots to do folks so let’s get on with it and have a BONZA LIFE!

Brian Murphy
Editor
BONZA
www.bonza.com.au

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