Suddenly Senior

Clive Hamilton is one of Australia’s most well-known public intellectuals. He’s a Professor of Public Ethics and is the founder of the The Australia Institute. A provocateur since youth he's plans to continue challenging baseless assumptions, even when he's no longer paid to. While he admits that many problems still confront the globe, he says Boomers needs to remember the victories they have won. And he's also keen to champion the many benefits of an ageing population. 

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Miriam Margolyse has graced our screens for many years. She’s gone from sexy voice-over girl, to serious thesbian, to self-described Fat Jewish Lesbian in TV comedy, and then to film roles in Babe and Harry Potter to name a few. Now, at the age of 81, she’s a regular maker of documentaries showing no signs of stopping. She doesn't like being old but says it allows us to challenge ourselves and explore new territory. But don't forget the spare pair of knickers!

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For the last couple of months Angela and Ian have been having a blast chatting with mates about growing old. This week they're probing themselves about ageing. Ange reveals some of her most frustrating recent 'senior moments', while Ian shares intimate details of his shoe collection, and why he won't be caught dead in a pair of track pants.

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Meredith Burgmann has been an activist since her university days and went on to become a Labor MP in NSW. Radicalised by the Vietnam War she’s been arrested many times, attended countless rallies, and even received a jail term. While she’s still an activist she does admit to sneaking off early from rallies these days. She plans to be part of the generation that improves aged care services, and has already planned how she’ll spend her days if she ends up in one.

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A true trail blazer in sports journalism Debbie Spillane was the first woman to commentate cricket on ABC Radio. She went on to co-host Hard Coffee on triple j, and then claim the Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement.  Now happily retired and bra-less on the NSW mid-North Coast she doesn’t want to do anything other than play guitar, wear overalls, and solve Wordle.

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Joe Camilleri has been rocking the blues groove for decades and with a string of hits to name has well deserved his place in the ARIA Hall of Fame. Ask him what shape he’s in these days and he reckons that he feels 25 on stage, but 105 as soon as he gets off. When he’s not touring he retreats to his country home, writes music, prunes the plum trees, and watches Tipping Point with a cup of tea.

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It’s been some decades since Derek Smalls came to fame as the bass player in the rock band Spinal Tap. A documentary about the band made him a household name but the phone hasn’t rung much in the years after its release. He did release a solo album with help from the British Fund for Ageing Rockers but now spends most of time reading crime fiction and managing toe fungus. Oh, and he eats a banana every day.

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Renee Geyer is fierce, funny, and arguably Australia’s finest voice. She’s never been the quiet type and old age certainly isn’t tempering her voice.  She refuses to go quietly into retirement and plans to be singing to us for quite a few years yet.

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There’s not much that Wendy Harmer hasn’t conquered. A successful comedian, author, and broadcaster, she’s recently stepped aside from a very demanding breakfast radio gig. Now she’s looking forward to a relaxing lie down while she mentally adjusts to the next chapter in her life.

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After being at the helm of Vogue Australia for more than a decade Kirstie Clements knows a thing or two about style. She’s a senior now too, so she’s well placed to offer sartorial tips to those of us who can’t find our older style groove. Her advice? Buy fewer and buy better.... and wear whatever the fuck you like.

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