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Seniors' Stories | Volume 4 Seniors’ Stories Seniors’ Stories Volume 4 Volume Volume 4 FRONT COVER: OPEN CATEGORY WINNING ENTRY Angus Lee Forbes Ilona was named after her Great Grandmother, a truly great woman. Born in Hungary, she arrived in Australia during the onset of World War Two. Ninety years and four generations separate the two. Connected by name, both adore spending time with one another. Acknowledgements This collection of 100 stories is the fourth volume of Seniors Stories written by seniors from throughout NSW. The theme of this year’s edition was positive ageing and each story reflects this theme in its own unique and inspiring way. NSW Seniors Card would like to thank the 100 authors whose stories are published in this volume of Seniors Stories, as well as the many other seniors who contributed to the overwhelming number and quality of stories received. Thanks also to contributing editor, Colleen Parker, Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW, and those involved in the design and printing of the book. Seniors’ Stories – Volume 4 1 A message from the Premier Welcome to the fourth edition of Seniors’ Stories. Older people have an extraordinary influence on our The stories in this publication are a great example community; they are the backbone of many of our of the wisdom, talent and ability of our extraordinary voluntary organisations and play a vital role in our seniors in NSW. families and neighbourhoods. The theme of this year’s book is Positive Ageing Seniors’ Stories is just one way of recognising and and the stories showcase the vast range of positive valuing the experiences of older people in NSW experiences and invaluable contributions that older and building connections between young and old. people continually make to our society. Congratulations to all those that contributed their The NSW Government is not only focused on stories to this year’s edition of Seniors’ Stories. keeping older people socially connected, active It is a fine example of how older people are and healthy, but also ensuring younger generations leading our state into a bright future. are able to benefit from your years of experience and contribution to community life. Gladys Berejiklian MP Premier 2 Seniors’ Stories – Volume 4 A message from the Minister I am delighted to introduce the NSW Seniors Card The 100 selected stories included in this book are Seniors Stories Volume 4 collection. truly extraordinary and we can all learn from the incredible tales of achievement, loss, creativity and Telling stories is an age old tradition in all cultures; connection. This collection of tales will not only it’s how we pass down knowledge and history make you laugh and cry, it will inspire, help build through the generations. By writing and telling greater connections between young and old in our stories, we gain an understanding of the diversity communities, and encourage older people to stay that exists in our local communities. healthy and socially connected. During the past year NSW Seniors Card holders Whatever your age, I hope you enjoy and were invited to contribute an original story based on are inspired by the stories featured! the theme of positive ageing within the community, which is in line with the priorities of the NSW Ageing Tanya Davies MP Strategy 2016–2020. I was fortunate to meet many of Minister for Ageing the authors at a workshop session, and I am thrilled to see the final product. Seniors’ Stories – Volume 4 3 Foreword I was ten when my father said, “Congratulations! I made a career out of writing and learning the You’re a published author!” We were reading my first ‘fineries’ of production in the Corporate World. From acceptance letter in the Charlie Chuckles’ children’s a concept, to researching the topic, to writing up the page in the Sunday newspaper. The electric thrill of prose, to desktop publishing the layout and graphics that exciting moment stimulated my life-long love and to ultimately printing the finished product never for writing and naturally of being published. ceased to excite me and whether it was my own work published or other writers, the pleasure was Those of us who have something to say, a story just as great. to tell, a lesson learned that we want to share do so by writing. We create our thoughts into words I reached my ultimate goal when a work colleague to express those thoughts. As writers we choose and I teamed up and opened our own publishing those words critically, using imagery, strong verbs business, Parker Pattinson Publishing. Together and and good spelling, grammar and punctuation. for about 15 years, we published books for hundreds We craft our sentences into meaningful stories to of self-published customers. Memoirs, poetry, entertain readers. Of course there are no readers novels, guide books were by individuals but many for our writing unless it has been published local councils used us for their suburb histories, and circulated. their historical churches and/or parish histories, cemeteries, and iconic tourist drawcards, one being Writing and publishing is in my DNA, through my White City Tennis Court and clubhouse. paternal side and as a school student always claimed ‘composition’ was my favourite subject. I made In this Volume 4, I hope that some of the writers are story books out of photo albums, submitted stories first-time published authors and in their senior years to workplace newsletters, published our children’s will experience for the first time, that magic thrill sport reports each week and got a kick out of that I felt so many years ago and still cherish with witnessing the children reading their ‘game report’ each publication. before the next game and seized all opportunities to be included in anthologies and my writing Congratulations to these authors for the variety of organisation’s quarterly bulletin. topics which display so many ways for seniors to age with a positive attitude. Colleen Parker Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW Inc 4 Seniors’ Stories – Volume 4 Contents Out of My Comfort Zone A Worn Out Knee Vivian Anderson . 8 Barbara Edmunds ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������56 Violet’s Quest The Old Time Compositor Helen Armstrong . 10 Graham Elphick ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������58 A Surprising Outcome Fire in the Crystals Ruth Banks ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������12 Ann Eyers ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 60 Age Does Not Matter The Upside of Funerals Barbara Barrett ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 Alison Ferguson . 62 Old Farts to the Rescue The Power is Yours David Barrow . 16 Nola Foster ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 64 A Positive Conundrum Positive Ageing Joy Barrow . 18 Kathleen Gaukroger ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 66 Having a Go Setting Out Margaret Bell ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20 Russel Gill . 68 The Song of the Violin Love Beyond Words Jean Bennett ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22 Wendy Gordon . 70 Volunteering in Cambodia Ladies Who Lunch Judith Bond ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24 Sandra Grant ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������72 A Quiet Achiever Bushwalking and Writing at 90 Nettie Brookes . 26 Richard Grimmond ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������74 My Journey to Stroud Bowls for Seniors Margaret Burfield . 28 Mavis Gunter ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������76 Memoir – Life is what you make it My Time Has Come Margaret Burnett . 30 Marianne Hamilton ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������78 Recycled Teenager Lucky to be Alive Mandy Byrne . 31 Janice Harris . 80 Finding Olivia (and Nemo) Music Memories Anna Campbell ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������32 Betty
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