Urban Living

Silver Days, Golden Years – or the Big Sleep?

After reading ‘The Big Sleep’ article in The Age (15/1/16) about the suicide pact of Melbourne scientists Pat and Peter Shaw, and then about David Bowie's hugely creative and energetic last 18 months in The Guardian, I was puzzled.

Iwondered how many of us in our retiring years might be caught in the middle, still seeing things left undone, places untraveled and ideas not realised, but frustrated by lack of energy, state of health, family support or basic wherewithal to make the most of a twilight that might linger longer. The recent Belvoir play ‘Seventeen’ was a poignant juxtaposition of youthful exuberance against the frailties of age, with actors in their 70’s taking the roles of 17 year olds celebrating their last day of school and an uncertain future. One of its key messages was an unfolding awareness of our mortality, and what will we have to celebrate or just keep us going towards the end. Then reading Marcus Westbury's recent book Creating Cities and thinking about how his process of remaking downtrodden areas of Newcastle might be applied to the complexity of our retirement and aged care system, perhaps to create easier ways for elder sharing, just like our student days! Much cohabit potential exists in many big houses on the North Shore (and elsewhere) or recycled inner city warehouses if there were less social taboos, bureaucratic barriers, more community and health support mechanisms, and the potential for cultural/social media hook-ups to foster a new silver age for baby boomers, and generations to follow. There are some existing affordable and social housing complexes such as Pottery Gardens in Lane Cove with potential for redevelopment to more innovative shared village models. With the imminent changes to the strata act many home unit complexes may provide opportunities for different configurations as reimagined multi-age communities, where cooperation and sharing of skills, time, resources and even management expertise might offer new ways for aging to be better integrated within existing urban conditions.

During my architect partner Guy Luscombe’s research trip in 2014 to investigate new ways that some European countries are enabling their seniors to enjoy life and even prosper in their silver days, the example of shared seniors’ accommodation was one that stood out. In St Gallen, Switzerland, four elderly friends decided to develop their own co-housing solution in an old fabric factory, and created personalised units with a range of common area facilities to support their interests, which has won several awards.

Various other inter-generational or multi-age housing he visited had a mix of families, singles, young couples and older people which had been shown to work where residents agreed to participate in the community as part of their contract. With less than 6% of people over 65 considering Retirement/ Seniors Living Village options, and a fewer still wanting to end up in the traditional nursing home, there appears to be a huge desire for alternatives, either with a few friends or others who might share common interests in music, the arts, gardening, literature or various sports, and capacities to fix things or prepare meals. Perhaps such community activities might take place on site as in Bayside, Victoria and various New York locations, where residency programs aimed at emerging artists, multimedia practitioners, writers and composers provide residencies or studios in exchange for community engagement activities - artist’s talks, workshops, master classes and participation in local festivals or exhibitions to brighten and engage those in their twilight. Unfortunately there are few precedents in this area, where policy and funding frameworks are limited to existing models, and innovation or disruptive thinking are rarely welcome. A shared equity model based on enablement and affordability might tick the financial boxes, but the regulatory framework appears to be a minimum and ultimate standard.

So perhaps a Marcus Westbury approach is needed, and as he argues in Creating Cities “…most towns and cities are wasting their most obvious opportunities: the talent, imagination, and passion of the people that live there. In a globalised age, local creativity has access to new possibilities that most places have barely begun to grasp.”

Footnote: SMH 19/1/16 http://www.domain.com.au/news/whatwill-the-worlds-best-cities-will-look-likein-2030-20160119-gm9k4v/ The Guardian, http://www.theguardian. com/music/2016/jan/15/david-bowieslast-days-an-18-month-burst-ofcreativity?CMP=twt_gu)

URBAN PLANNING

Jon Johannsen

Celebrate Bellini Hair's one year anniversary with a $1 haircut with any colour and blow wave!

Bellini Hair in Hunters Hill is celebrating their one year anniversary!

To celebrate and say thank you, and a big welcome to new customers, Jo and her team are offering a special deal for the month of February!

Customers pay only $1 for a haircut (normally $48) with every full price hair colour (foils, tints and combination colours, lengths vary) and blow wave.

With over 26 years of experience under her belt, Jo and her team are committed to providing quality service and helping others feel good about themselves.

Jo and her team would love to say thank you and look forward to seeing you. So if you've never had colour but need a haircut give this a go! Please remember to bring this advert with you to grab yourself a $1 cut with any colour and blow wave.

ONE MILLION STARS TO END VIOLENCE

We are almost half way there! Well done and thank you to everyone who is weaving these beautiful stars, stars that will be used to make a massive one million star installation in March 2018. There is still time to get involved so please feel welcome to come along to a ‘Weave Jam’ on the second Thursday of each month from 10:00am – 12:00noon in Meeting Room 1 at the Lane Cove Library. Council supplies the ribbons, just bring along scissors that can be used to cut paper. The stars you make will be included in a 10,000 star installation at Gallery Lane Cove in February 2017. Making the stars is easy, relaxing and fun – to see how beautiful the stars are, visit www.onemillionstars.net or see them on Facebook ‘1 Million Stars to End Violence’.

WALK AROUND THE WORLD

If your New Year’s resolution is to be healthier, then make sure to register for Walk Around the World. Starting on 1 March and finishing on 31 March it’s a great way to incorporate daily exercise. Register for $20 and receive a pedometer and your own login page on the website. Walk as a team or as an individual – you can decide on your own goals or select a goal from the website. Register on line at www.walkaroundtheworld.org.au or join up on the spot in the Plaza from 10:00am – 12:00noon on February 6, 13, 20 and 27. Your registration fees are invested back into the community and are put towards the installation of public exercise equipment and playground equipment for children with disabilities.

CELEBRATING OUR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

We are offering all our customers a $1 haircut (normally $48) with every full price hair colour and blow wave, as a thank you for their continued support. Only for the month of February!

9817 4422 Pay only