The awesome over 80s pushing boundaries and breaking the rules!

In May Frank Smith wrote about Professor David Goodall, aged 100 who is about to publish two scientific papers (click here to see the original article).

This set me thinking about other over 80s who are challenging the stereotypes we see so often.

The Daily Mail website commented on Bob Hawke leading the singing of Waltz Sing Matilda that despite being 84 he could remember the words. What cheek!

Elizabeth Kirby, who you may recall as Lucy Sutcliffe in Number 96 or as the member of the NSW Legislative Council for 18 years for the Australian Democrats, has just completed her PhD. Lis enrolled at university at the age of 85 and now at 93 is the oldest graduate from Sydney University. Her thesis explored the links between the global financial crisis and the 1929 Great Depression, which she remembers living through in England.

I recently saw Ron Haddrick aged 85 in a cameo role in ABC’s Rake but he was also in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production Noises Off, where he played a bumbling dipsomaniac actor who was on stage for the whole play. Many more words to remember than Waltz Sing Matilda. Noises Off ran for six weeks.

Patricia Routledge, now 85, who appeared as Hyacinth Bucket in the British comedy program Keeping Up Appearances, is currently touring Australia in Admission One Shilling, the story of Myra Hess and her war time concerts at the National Gallery.

My friend Rene’s son thought that as his mother was now 89 he would take her on a trip to Tasmania. By the time he did a little research on this trip Rene had booked her trip on the QE2 from Singapore to Cape Town with a trip to a game park thrown in. This she did with a friend of a similar age.

Then there is Paddy on Britain’s Got Talent 2014, who certainly challenges the stereotypes. Unfortunately the condescending attitude of the judges is all too common.

I have none of the skills or knowledge of the people I have referred to but this is not due to my age.

It is a shame that it is necessary to draw attention to the age of the above people but as a society we need to accept that as people come with a range of knowledge, skills and talents so do people over 80. Let’s challenge the stereotypes.

What over 60s do you know that are challenging the ageing stereotypes? Who would you like to nominate for an “Awesome Over 60 Award?”