Retirement looms and you’re itching to discard those work clothes. But what then?
“After buying a caravan and travelling around Australia, what do you do? You can’t do that for the next 30 years,” says Marg Hobby, a life coach and secretary of the Ladies Probus Club of the Fleurieu.
Marg says some people arrive at retirement with no plans – or only short-term plans – and find themselves lonely and at a loose end. Their health, wellbeing and sense of self can be damaged.
Social clubs, educational organisations and community centres like the City of Onkaparinga’s positive ageing centres help people make social connections and find purpose in retirement.
“There is incredible value in interacting with people outside of ourselves and outside of our own concerns,” says Marg.
“People are so focussed on themselves, that they don’t benefit from being focussed on the community. This ‘me’ focus means that loneliness is now one of our biggest diseases.”
Probus is a social club that is all about fun, fellowship and friendship. The members are people aged 55-plus years and are either retirees or semi-retirees.
The Fleurieu Probus ladies club meets once a month in Willunga, hearing speakers on topics such as security, guide dogs and drywalls, followed by lunch. The group also embarks on outings together, such as the forthcoming Mystery Bus Tour.
“Probus is not a service club. It is all about socialising, people connecting with each other,” says Marg.
“Some of us have been part of the club since Adam played fullback for Palestine, but others are newer and we would love to have new people with new ideas come through the door.”
University of the Third Age (U3A) is an international volunteer organisation providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities for people over 50 who are no longer in fulltime employment.
It champions lifelong learning and curiosity. U3A offers lectures and workshops, drawing on the knowledge, experience and skills of its members to learn from each other and share experiences in a relaxed, social environment.
U3A has 21 campuses in South Australia, including two in Onkaparinga at Aldinga and Noarlunga. Term 4 courses include topics such as chess, creative writing, philosophy, French, poetry, Scrabble, and book reviews.
Retire Active SA, formerly the Australian Retired Persons Association (ARPA), helps older South Australians to lead active, healthy and connected lives.
Retire Active has eight groups across the state, including at the Blackwood Football Clubrooms and the Port Elliot Institute Hall. Activities include card and board games, table tennis, indoor bowls, snooker, guest speakers, outings and shared meals.
Onkaparinga’s positive ageing centres, Wakefield House and Elizabeth House, encourage older people to drop in or take part in one their diverse programs including fitness, art and craft, music and dancing, creative writing, café get-togethers, yoga, table games, gardening, chef-cooked lunches and a men’s woodwork shed.
Wakefield House’s Friendship Club is a centre-based respite program focusing on social inclusion and fun activities. It is open to those eligible through Commonwealth Home Support Program funding.
The Kookaburra Club at Elizabeth House connects older people in a safe and friendly environment with activities from bus outings to group exercises led by a physiotherapist.
The City of Onkaparinga also offers a senior fitness program at the Seaford Community Centre and Strength for Life at the Noarlunga Aquatic Centre, which promotes health and wellbeing for people aged 50 years and over.
A men’s strength group for men aged 50 and over and aquatic exercise classes are available at the aquatic centre as well.
The council’s Living Well Matters program is free for people aged over 60. It offers workshops to encourage people to live well through good eating, active movement, quality sleep and keeping the brain active.
And, of course, if all this is a little frenetic, there are always the stimulating events, books clubs and calm, friendly environs of Onkaparinga’s libraries at Aldinga Beach, Aberfoyle Park, Noarlunga, Seaford, Willunga and Woodcroft.
Whatever you do, retire into something great!
Ladies Probus Club of the Fleurieu: https://probussouthpacific.org/
Monthly, Old Bush Inn, Willunga
Contact: Marg Hobby, 0407 186 011
University of the Third Age: https://adelaideu3a.org.au/
Aldinga U3A: https://u3aaldinga.org.au/
Lecture series: Wednesday fortnights, 1.30-3pm
St Ann’s Church Hall, Stonehouse Lane, Aldinga
Noarlunga U3A: https://www.u3anoarlunga.com/joining
Fridays during school terms
Noarlunga Centre Church of Christ, 165 Beach Road, Noarlunga Centre
Retire Active SA: https://www.retireactivesa.com.au/
Wednesdays, Blackwood Football Clubrooms
Mondays, Port Elliot Institute Hall
CITY OF ONKAPARINGA
Wakefield House: https://www.onkaparingacity.com/
Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm
112 Elizabeth Road, Christie Downs
Phone: 8384 5170
Elizabeth House: https://www.onkaparingacity.com/
Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm
112 Elizabeth Road, Christie Downs
Phone: 8384 5170
Senior fitness: Senior fitness City of Onkaparinga (onkaparingacity.com)
Strength for Life, men’s strength, aquatic classes: Gym City of Onkaparinga (onkaparingacity.com)
Living Well Matters: Living Well Matters City of Onkaparinga (onkaparingacity.com)
Contact: Judith Lowe, judith.lowe@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au; 8384 0161
Libraries: Libraries City of Onkaparinga (onkaparingacity.com)