‘Oh granny, you didn’t!’: Vicki, 78, bares all to prove age is just a number

At 78, Vicki Stiles has driven across the Nullarbor, jumped out of a plane and conquered her fear of heights in a hot air balloon. But her latest adventure, a sunrise skinny dip at Melbourne’s Brighton Baths, left even her own granddaughter speechless.

When Vicki Stiles showed her granddaughter a photograph of what she’d been up to at Melbourne’s Brighton Baths, the reaction was priceless.

“Oh granny, you didn’t do that?!”

Oh yes, she did.

Alongside more than 50 older Australians, including women aged over 90, Vicki had stripped off her robe and taken part in a sunrise skinny dip. Far from feeling embarrassed, the 78-year-old Levande Vermont Village resident reckons it was an experience she’ll never forget.

Her granddaughter wasn’t the only one left speechless.

“We surprised a lot of people in our village by saying that we would do it,” Vicki tells Starts at 60.

“When we talk to people now, they’re so proud of what we did, which has been incredible. Even people you don’t have much to do with, and you only know by face, have come up to us. It’s become a great talking point in our village!”

A little encouragement goes a long way

Vicki admits her first reaction to the invitation wasn’t quite the enthusiasm you’d expect from someone who has previously jumped out of an aeroplane.

“When I first heard about it, I thought: ‘I can’t believe it, this can’t be happening’,” she recalls.

“Another lady wanted to do it and I said: I’ll only do it, if you do it. Once we signed up, and we got there and we were all together, it was just fine!”

By the time the women assembled at Brighton Baths, any apprehension had disappeared.

“I didn’t feel nervous. We were anticipating the moment where you had to drop your robe and head into the water. There was no embarrassment, nothing – we were ready to go.”

And when the swimmers emerged from the water, Vicki realised she’d added another unexpected experience to an already adventurous life.

“As we walked out, that’s when I really started to think ‘yep, I’m really pleased that I did that, that was amazing’. For me, it was another thing I’ve done, that I wouldn’t have thought that I would do.”

When did we become too old to have fun?

The swim was organised by retirement living provider Levande following research suggesting older Australians are growing tired of being underestimated. A YouGov survey of 1,157 Australians aged over 65, commissioned by Levande in August 2026, found that 74 per cent feel younger at heart than their actual age.

Yet 54 per cent believe society underestimates them because of their age, while 45 per cent feel unfairly labelled too old for certain activities. Showing off their bodies and skinny dipping were among the activities respondents believed society considered inappropriate for older people.

For Professor Tracy Comans, Director of the National Ageing Research Institute, the findings reveal a disconnect between how older Australians see themselves and how they’re perceived.

“While people often remain active, engaged and optimistic about life as they age, societal stereotypes can portray older adults as frail, dependent or less capable,” she explains.

“Chronological age tells us how long we’ve lived, but it tells us much less about our interests, aspirations and capabilities.”

Professor Comans warns that repeatedly being treated as less capable can eventually influence how older people view their own abilities.

“Over time, people may internalise these messages, leading them to doubt their abilities, avoid challenges or withdraw from activities they might otherwise enjoy. This can affect confidence, wellbeing and even physical health if people become less active or socially connected.”

Learning to love the skin you’re in

For Vicki, one of the most liberating aspects of the experience was discovering just how little she worried about her appearance.

“When it’s early in the piece (life), you’re always a bit self conscious,” Vicki says.

“But when we were there on the beach, I wasn’t self conscious. I knew everyone was doing the same thing as me and how our bodies look is all a natural part of being older.

“For me, I’ve always believed that it’s not what you’ve got on your body or how it looks, it’s what inside that counts, that’s what’s most important.”

It’s a perspective Professor Comans says can become more common with age.

“One of the positive aspects of ageing can be greater confidence and self-acceptance,” Prof Comans says. “Although our bodies change, many people become less concerned about appearance-based expectations and more appreciative of what their body enables them to do.”

Rather than measuring ourselves against youthful ideals, she encourages older Australians to appreciate their bodies for what they allow them to experience.

Adventure doesn’t have an expiry date

Vicki certainly hasn’t allowed age to interfere with her appetite for adventure.

“I’ve driven across the Nullabor, which is something I never thought I’d do,” she explains. “I’ve been skydiving and in a hot air balloon a couple of times – even though I hate heights. Those are all things I never thought I’d do!”

Professor Comans says maintaining curiosity and trying unfamiliar activities can support healthy ageing, particularly when those experiences bring people together.

“Research shows that purposeful activities can support physical health, cognitive function and emotional wellbeing as we age. Trying something new can build confidence, stimulate the brain and create opportunities for movement and social connection.”

She points out that adventure needn’t involve jumping out of an aeroplane or stripping off at the beach. A new hobby, volunteering or joining a local community group can provide opportunities to meet people while discovering interests that might otherwise have remained unexplored.

“Social connection is absolutely key. A large body of research shows that people who maintain strong social relationships tend to have better physical health, mental health and quality of life as they age,” Professor Comans says.

For anyone unsure where to begin, she recommends exploring local council programs, community activities or online platforms such as Starts at 60 Meetups  to discover what’s happening nearby.

‘You just should go for it’

Back at Vermont Village, Vicki and her fellow swimmers are still enjoying the attention their seaside adventure has attracted.

And while her granddaughter might have been shocked to discover what Granny had been up to, Vicki hopes the experience encourages other older Australians to be a little more daring.

She’s particularly impressed by the women in their 90s who joined the swim.

“You just should go for it … have a go … you never know what you’ll achieve until you try!” she says.

“Especially for the (women who participated) over 90. When they were all signed up and prepared I thought ‘if they can do it, so can I’.”

At 78, Vicki has discovered there’s still plenty of room for firsts. Judging by her track record, her granddaughter might want to prepare herself for a few more surprises.