Bis Hundert und fünfzig
Federal Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull told Bondi’s Burger Centre’s Seniors’ Expo that we are fast approaching the time we should wish people “bis hundert und funfzig instead of zwanzig.
Malcolm Turnbull
Burger Centre Manager Suzi Parker with Malcolm Turnbull
Turnbull said that one of secrets of not yielding to depression in old age is to stay active, adding that men during their lives identify themselves by their jobs so they face problems when they retire. The answer is to maintain “lots of interests and activities”.
He said: “I meet people today in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are complete workaholics. I think they are setting themselves out for problems later down the track. His advice to them is to develop lots of interests as the time we could come when the bank, or the law firm or government job would not be there anymore.”
He told the audience that he paddled a kayak 18 kms the day before on the harbour from Point Piper to South Head back to the Opera House returning to Point Piper. Turnbull will turn 60 later this year.
Adele Horin
He spoke of Elizabeth Murdoch turning 100 at which time he sent her a message through the Daily Telegraph wishing her “bis hundert und zwanzig”. He met up with her later and she asked him: “Do you know that message you sent me? Well thank you very much Mr Turnbull. I am 100 already so 120 doesn’t seem that ambitious.’ ” Turnbull added: “And so, without wanting to offend any of the rabbis I think the time has come to recalibrate given people’s greater life expectancy. When people first said ‘bis hundert und zwanzig’ that was an inconceivable age…maybe now it should be ‘bis hundert und funfzig’…so 150 is the new target.”
The COA team
He concluded by praising the work of the Burger Centre.
Speakers at the Expo included former Sydney Morning Herald journalist Adele Horin who currently runs a blog entitled ‘Coming of Age’, Professor Henry Brodaty who specialises in geriatric diseases including dementia, Dr Dev Banerjee a sleep and respiratory specialist, and Associate Professor Michael Valenzuela whose works in the regenerative and neuroscience fields.
Stalls displaying goods and services for the aged were run by Wolper Hospital, the COA, the University of the Third Age, the Coast Centre, Calamity Alarms, the Montefiore Home, JewishCare, Quantum Vision, Australian Hearing and Waverley and Woollahra Councils,
