Health

Health will need a community foucus. I see it as Community Health Centres where registered nurses see all the minor issues of strains, wounds , aches and pains and only forward major issues to hospital. Like a minor triage affect.

Keep your eye on self care issues. I am seeing many friends who are suffering depression from the signs of age. We can not turn back the clock but we can focus on doing positive things and staying healthy.

Try to look at it as the first day of your mature years and get excited about the challenges that this offers in supporting family and the community or trying things you have always wanted to do. It does not have to involve money. The local newspapers have many clubs to join and organisations to volunteer for.

I had a phone call from a lady who is working her way around Australia as a volunteer and is having a real adventure. She is staying at all sorts of places and not paying rent or food costs but no wages.

Rural Skills

Qld based community group Epic Community Services is looking for a partnership with a National Organisation that can compile a data base of bush/regional skills needed around Australia. The bush is suffering a huge skill shortage.

The proposal is that we have a list of jobs available on web site and a call centre so that you know what skills are required in the bush. Boomers would camp near or on site and work for 6-12 months at a negotiated wage before moving on to the next site.

Now that fuel costs have risen so alarmingly, the mature age people who wish to travel around this great land may be detered. This will allow them to gather some money while they assist locals with their skills. Everyone is a winner. Will keep you posted.

Climate Warming

I am still thinking about our contribution to climate warming now that the Rudd Governemnt is giving it priority. The majority of Boomers have always taken this world for granted. My X generation son keeps telling me that we have ruined it for them. Not only have we taken all the cheap housing with investment but we are greedy and want to use our financial equity to do more damage to that industry. Many X and Y generation will not be able to buy a house in his opinion.

On top of that he tells me that we have turned our back on this world and care little about what we have done or more what we haven't done to ensure the world is still inhabitable for future generations. Strong stuff from him but obviously something worth thinking about. What can we do to make a difference?

To seek redemption, we need to give time to climate change issues. Be aware of what our wastes are doing to the atmosphere. Volunteer our time and get involved.

Become more informed and then, in turn, inform others so that we can do our bit individually to help. Drastic steps are needed and we were never scared of changing things in the past so let's do it now.

We want to be challenged, to travel, to enjoy our grand children, to remenisce, to continue to learn, to keep laughing, have a social life and to work if and when we want to. To be part of the planning for Australia's future and not just be seen as history. Climate change is part of that planning.

In Conclusion

As an older Boomer, I am aware of my mortality but yet don't dwell on it. I still exercise, surf, read, and work hard but I now look at a gum tree or a wattle in full boom and I am so proud to be part of Australia and will be forever grateful for the sacrifices of our parents and grand-parents that have allowed us to live free in this great country.

A country where we can think free, live free and make choices to suit our individual needs. Have our own religion, work for our family's future, own our homes and have the government support us if we are in need. It has to be the best country in the world right now so let's keep it that way.

We have already accepted that we will not retire at 65. The nation needs us and on a personal level our bank balances need us to keep working.

The workforce needs Mature Age skills, the government needs taxes to pay for us in health and aged care and we need the cash so our bank accounts stay healthy and our assets intact. So don’t get caught up in the ‘I’m too old' mentality because only you will make that decision.

Tell companies that interview you for work about your mature skills and what you can offer them with these unique skills. ‘Talk the talk’ as the young ones say and proudly ‘walk the walk’. It doesn’t matter if you are not the boss anymore as it is less pressure. Take what you can get and allow for time out so you can enjoy life and live for tomorrow.
Our families need to know that we will take responsibility for ourselves well into our golden years and that we will be active in working, volunteering and role modeling for the younger Y and Z generations and not be a burden on them or the country.

We are ageing and we are many and we need to have some control over our futures.

Contact me on bvmurphy@bigpond.net.au