PENINSULA PEOPLE
Delys Sargeant
Ageing in a Positive Light
hankfully, a group of dynamic older people are
doing just that. Known as ECAC (Elder Citizens
Advisory Committee), the two year old committee
grew out of a 2002 council survey of the needs of
Pictured (left to right)
older people on the Peninsula.
Committee members, guests and observers at ECAC's April meeting:
With the blessing and support of Mornington
Richard Armstrong, Peter Cracknell, Rosemary Draper, Dr. Jeannette Lane, Carol Morse,
Peninsula Shire Council and led by Peninsula
Delys Sargeant (Chair), Robin Tiffany, Marilyn Godley (Deputy Chair), Andrew McCutcheon,
identity Delys Sargeant, since 2006 ECAC has
Jenny van Riel, Cr. Brian Stahl
moved quickly from `talk-fest' to action.
This year the Council has responded to their
satisfaction that `positive ageing' is back on the
from ECAC that a formal municipality-wide policy
lobbying by appointing a Housing and Social
agenda for Kevin Rudd's 2020 Summit.
on volunteering was developed and Council also
Equity Officer to tackle one of the Peninsula's
provided extra staffing to the Volunteer
With other committee members, such as Cr.
biggest problems. The committee has also
Resource Centre.
introduced Council to the concept of a `land bank', Brian Stahl and former Attorney-General Andrew
McCutcheon, ECAC is determined to bring to
ECAC now plugs directly into Council's social
which could help insulate lower income people
light issues that have been conveniently ignored
planning framework and its input is being sought
from the region's spiralling housing costs.
for years, as well as many new ones that have
on projects ranging from Rosebud's new aquatic
According to Delys Sargeant, even superannuated
arisen in more recent times, such as the increasing Centre to a proposed new nursing home. This year
retirees may not have enough to buy into the
closure of caravan parks; a traditional living
it will also play a frontline role in helping Council
Peninsula's booming property market, or when
option for many lower
review a five year strategy on positive ageing.
they wish to down-size into
income retirees.
The committee has also run a forum on the key
"Grey power will
something newer, smaller and
topics of Powers of Attorney, wills and dementia
"The first challenge was
more manageable.
management.
certainly be a
p o t e n t p o l i t i c a
for us to understand the
"We have the dubious distinction
depth of the problems
The entry of the baby boomers to the older age
of having two of the country's
most disadvantaged towns - West l
and where they occurred",
group could be a double-edged sword, according
says ECAC's Deputy Chair,
to Delys Sargeant.
Rosebud and Hastings - just up
force because of
Marilyn Godley; a veteran of
"On the one hand, they are generally better
the road from two of the country's
State and local government
educated, healthier and wealthier than ever before.
s h e e r n u m b e r s , b u t and President of the former On the other hand, most of them try to steer
richest, Portsea and Sorrento".
At 80 years old, Delys Sargeant
Victorian Community
it will need people
clear of anything to do with the notion of ageing
A.M., is a living advertisement
Services Association.
and many have not grown up with the idea of
for the power of positive ageing.
willing to roll-
"There are some major
community service.
The former medical scientist and
pockets of disadvantage
"Grey power will certainly be a potent political
academic ran the Social Biology
up their sleeves
on this Peninsula and some
force because of sheer numbers, but it will need
Resources Centre at Melbourne
serious gaps in service
people willing to roll-up their sleeves and to
and to actively
University for 21 years, then
provision".
actively contribute".
began a new career during the
ECAC has its hands
contribute".
mid 1980s, when she and her
ECAC co-opts people to specific projects and
more than full with an
husband John planted vines at
task forces. Its monthly meetings are open
agenda including health,
Red Hill and launched Darling
to a limited number of interested observers.
housing, transport, mobility and volunteering.
Park Vineyard. She has also been in the spotlight in
It is currently running a secondary schools'
As the committee points out, many of its issues
recent years when she co-authored a
competition to find a more palatable acronym
will benefit the whole community, including
book on memory.
and a logo.
more footpaths and better cross-Peninsula
Nor is she a stranger to running committees. In
If you feel you can contribute, contact Delys
transportation.
1991 Delys chaired the National Coalition for the
Sargeant through the Council's Age and
The Peninsula also benefits from the more than
International Year of Older Persons. It brought
Disability Unit on 5950 1612, or 5950 1617.
4,000 mostly older people on the Council's
together governments and NGOs to focus on the
- Tim Bracher
volunteer register. However, it wasn't until lobbying
needs of the older community. She notes with
'50' might be the new '40' and '70' might even
be the new '50' but regardless of how you
play with the numbers, the Mornington
Peninsula has one of the country's fasatest
growing older populations.
We have long been a popular retirement
destination, but the combination of strong
residential growth, earlier retirement and the
conversion of holiday homes into permanent
homes means that by 2016 one in three
Peninsula people will be aged over 60
It's a sobering statistic for those of us in our
'middle' years, so before you fire up the jet
ski or tee off for a spot of mid-week golf at
The Dunes, we'd better give some serious
thought to how we're going to deal with it.
