Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Night-rider and the seniors
A faded blue cardboard cover. Crammed within, 60 pages of information for the over 60s - probably, you imagine, those same gross individuals sketched on the cover and loosely filled with lolly pink, ghostly green and faded taupe fresh from the paint can option on your favourite graphics program; each displaying a strange arrangement of short lines and dots that look like a bad case of acne. The whole package is stapled carelessly together with two huge and misaligned staples on the left hand side.
Inside, some of the more intriguing headlines read:
Prostate Cancer Group (whose unlikely acronym appears to be PROSPER)- hnnh???;
Alexandra Day Club (whose intro spiel promises: "a small fee covers morning tea and lunch with various activities such as carpet bowls, games, guest speakers, singing and some light exercises). Hmmm - I'm guessing we don't mention religion, politics or sex in any of these activities what with the threat of imminent heart attacks and strokes!
Other enticing gems include - the movies, featuring special hearing aid "loops" and wheelchair access and the busy bee club with outings, bingo and raffles.
But to be fair the NT is an inclusive community and the government goes all out to try to retain as many over 60s as possible. To this end we are also offered Chess, Bridge, University (both mainstream and 3rd Age!), country fibre craft guild, the film society, patchworkers and quilters, the Greek coffee club, ballroom dancing, life be in it and even bellydancing.
Having recently embarked on my 7th decade, I've decided to embrace the age so to speak. So this week I received my "Seniors Card" which entitles me to discounts at lots of stores, a 50cent concession fare on the buses, up to 50% off spectacle frames and even 10% off all bread loaves at Brumby's.
But there's more!
The NT is a super-generous place to live. Not only do I qualify for the Seniors Card, in the NT I also qualify for a "Pensioners and Carers" card - even though I'm working and neither a pensioner, nor a carer, but just because I am female, have turned 60 and live in the NT (sorry guys if you are male you have to wait till you're 65).
With this card I get all sorts of great things, including: substantial discounts on rates, electricity, water, garbage rates, telephone rental, drivers licence, car rego and even 50% rebate on the price of one airfare a year to any other capital in Australia!
So, do I mind turning 60? Not on your nelly. I reckon I'm about $1000 a year better off this year than last and if I ever do need to look up "Prosper" ...well at least I'll know where to find them.
Inside, some of the more intriguing headlines read:
Prostate Cancer Group (whose unlikely acronym appears to be PROSPER)- hnnh???;
Alexandra Day Club (whose intro spiel promises: "a small fee covers morning tea and lunch with various activities such as carpet bowls, games, guest speakers, singing and some light exercises). Hmmm - I'm guessing we don't mention religion, politics or sex in any of these activities what with the threat of imminent heart attacks and strokes!
Other enticing gems include - the movies, featuring special hearing aid "loops" and wheelchair access and the busy bee club with outings, bingo and raffles.
But to be fair the NT is an inclusive community and the government goes all out to try to retain as many over 60s as possible. To this end we are also offered Chess, Bridge, University (both mainstream and 3rd Age!), country fibre craft guild, the film society, patchworkers and quilters, the Greek coffee club, ballroom dancing, life be in it and even bellydancing.
Having recently embarked on my 7th decade, I've decided to embrace the age so to speak. So this week I received my "Seniors Card" which entitles me to discounts at lots of stores, a 50cent concession fare on the buses, up to 50% off spectacle frames and even 10% off all bread loaves at Brumby's.
But there's more!
The NT is a super-generous place to live. Not only do I qualify for the Seniors Card, in the NT I also qualify for a "Pensioners and Carers" card - even though I'm working and neither a pensioner, nor a carer, but just because I am female, have turned 60 and live in the NT (sorry guys if you are male you have to wait till you're 65).
With this card I get all sorts of great things, including: substantial discounts on rates, electricity, water, garbage rates, telephone rental, drivers licence, car rego and even 50% rebate on the price of one airfare a year to any other capital in Australia!
So, do I mind turning 60? Not on your nelly. I reckon I'm about $1000 a year better off this year than last and if I ever do need to look up "Prosper" ...well at least I'll know where to find them.
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