By Afraa Kori
The retirement dream is turning into a harsh reality for many residents in Cardinia Shire and Casey, leaving them searching for purpose and connection.
Located in Berwick, University of the Third Age (U3A) found that older Australians are still experiencing loneliness and are socially isolated.
Secretary of U3A, Gill Sparkes is concerned that it can harm both mental and physical health and may affect life satisfaction.
“Sometimes it’s hard for people to find a community they can connect with, especially if they are older,” she said.
“If you’ve spent 30 or 40 years in a job and all your friends and acquaintances are from that workplace, suddenly not having that can be extremely lonely. So that’s why people should start looking for something to do, something to be part of.”
With more retired people in this jurisdiction, U3A encourages people to attend their variety of classes, indoor and outdoor activities. They are also open to trying new things to help others engage in life.
“Don’t stay at home and watch television. It’s bad for you! Get out and meet new people. Find something that you enjoy and share it with other people,” Gill said.
“As people retire at 65 or earlier, they can come along and add their energy to the organisation. Although there’s men’s sheds, if you’re not crafty or you’re not inclined to join a men’s shed, then you can do something with U3A.”
Gill said many older Australians still have a lot to offer, like the late Peter Fleming! He contributed to U3A until the very end of his life and he was pleased with what he could do.
People like him would not have had such a rich and influential life in the community without U3A, especially after his wife passed away and he suddenly found himself with a big hole in his life. He filled it with giving to the community and engaging with others in the community.
“As an academic and a teacher at uni, he loved spreading knowledge and getting people together and making sure that they had an outlet for their social activities and their social interactions.”
“Peter walked every day because he didn’t want to stay home. His family were all far away and he couldn’t see them every day. So he joined U3A in 2012 and started his own discussion groups and the card groups. It’s a common thing that people join and then get inspired to do their own things. Peter is an excellent example of what U3A can do.”
Many people at U3A also shared how much they appreciate U3A transitioning into retirement and as a new way to engage with life.
U3A currently has around 460 members and they’re expecting significant growth, aiming to reach 600 members by the end of the year.
