'I think if you are unhappy, try and talk to somebody positive. Ask, because people are happy to share with you, if you’re nervous.'

This week's guest is octogenarian, Jill Shaw, from Tewantin, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Jill lives in a residential aged care facility, Carramar, one of the 2 facilities owned by not-for-profit, Noosa Care Inc.

Jill was referred to me as a positive, happy 81 year old lady to have on the show. Jill had literally celebrated her 81st birthday the week before our first meeting. I hadn't realised at the time that Jill is also a long time sewing buddy of my mum, Aileen, who lives in Tewantin too.

Jill and I meandered across her life which started 1 month after the Second World War began. Jill was then living in Scotland, and spent most of her childhood and adult life in Bristol, UK, before coming to Australia 25 years ago, with husband, Brian. 

We talked TB, favourite visiting day treats and plaster-cast beds for 2 years of her childhood. Going home to war-time bomb shelters and rations. Also, what we take for granted now that women of Jill's era wished in their hearts they had access to. Like many women who've been on the show, Jill turned her own heart-wrenching experience of motherhood, into something that is about doing good. Jill, in a non-professional capacity, said yes to mentoring other mums who'd experienced miscarriages and stillbirth, until they were ready to get on their feet again.  Jill talks about her very happy and long marriage to Brian, now passed on, and her own choice to have the support provided within residential aged care. Aged care - now during Covid, and in general: the good things and what it was like to move in. On the flip-side, Jill ponders what it would have been like for her, if she'd continued to stay, and care for herself, in her own home, particularly given the risks involved for our elders this year.

I so absolutely love that Jill's favourite song is "You Are My Sunshine", given Jill's nickname was "Sunshine" as a child. Today, Jill had a beautiful sunshine yellow frock on, with a little yellow sunshine badge attached at the bodice.

Keep loving life Jill and keep sewing that stash of fabric you have.

Thank you for joining me on the podcast.

Susan