The grannies dishing out life advice in Sydney’s CBD

There was no shortage of advice on offer in the middle of Sydney’s CBD this month, but it wasn’t coming from influencers, life coaches or finance gurus. Instead, three grandmothers sat outside Town Hall ready to answer questions from complete strangers about everything from dating and friendships to budgeting and how to make new friends.

The “Granny Stand” was set up by Anglicare as part of the organisation’s 170-year anniversary celebrations, with Donald Robinson Village residents Brenda Carter, Dawn Browne and Carol Denegris stepping up to share the kind of wisdom that only comes with lived experience.

Between them, the trio have 227 years of life experience, 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and throughout the day curious Sydneysiders stopped to ask questions, share stories and seek advice from women old enough to have seen plenty of life’s ups and downs.

For Carol Denegris, 68, the experience was both surprising and deeply meaningful.

“It was sort of crazy and fun,” she said.

“People were actually interested in what we had to say. I think that was what I came away with from the day, because nowadays everything’s about youth and the younger generation, and you can be what you want to be, but nobody really asks older people what they think about anything.”

Carol said the stand quickly became a place where strangers felt comfortable opening up, with some conversations leaving a lasting impression long after the day ended.

One encounter in particular stayed with her. While chatting with an Anglicare staff member nearby, a woman began discussing the possibility of moving into a retirement village and explained some of the challenges she was facing.

Carol realised the woman needed reassurance and support as she navigated a difficult decision.

“That was something I treasured because I felt it may have made a difference to her,” she said.

The interaction also highlighted the role organisations like Anglicare can play in helping older Australians feel less isolated and more supported as they navigate major life changes.

While some visitors approached the stand looking for practical advice, others simply seemed eager for connection and conversation, something Brenda Carter, 80, believes many younger people are missing.

“Many questions were on relationships and friendships, social etiquette and good manners,” Brenda said.

She laughed that thanks to the Granny Stand, the women had now become “the talk of the town” back at their retirement village.

Brenda said one of the biggest concerns she sees for younger generations is the impact social media is having on real-world relationships.

“Young people today don’t seem to be grasping the effect social media really has and how it destroys their real-life socialisation,” she said.

“Our advice was to put the screens away and TALK to people. Use the device wisely and be time wise.”

Throughout the day Brenda found herself repeatedly encouraging teenagers to stay connected with older family members, especially grandparents.

“I emphasised how important it was to keep in touch with their Grandmas,” she said.

“If they live nearby, pop in, or FaceTime, send messages, and don’t leave it to the parents to discuss with Grandma what you are doing.”

Her simple motto for life was one she happily shared with visitors all day long.

“Sharing is Caring,” she said, adding that love, joy, peace, patience and kindness still matter just as much today as they ever did.

Finances also emerged as a major concern among younger visitors, particularly those in their twenties trying to navigate rising living costs and the realities of saving money.

Brenda believes modern banking has made it harder for young people to physically see where their money is going.

“When we were paid in cash, it was easier to divvy up what to put aside to save and the amount you needed to survive until the next payday,” she explained.

Now, with wages deposited directly into accounts and most spending happening digitally, she feels many young adults struggle to develop the same habits around budgeting and saving.

The conversations highlighted something bigger than just practical advice though. For many passersby, the Granny Stand offered something increasingly rare: a chance to slow down and talk across generations.

With more than a third of Australians having parents born overseas, many younger people no longer have regular access to grandparents or older relatives nearby. Others may have lost those connections through distance, busy lives or changing family dynamics.

The stand created an unexpected space for those conversations to happen.

What began as a fun activation outside Town Hall quickly turned into something more meaningful, with strangers opening up about relationships, loneliness, family, finances and major life decisions to women they had only just met.

For the grandmothers themselves, it was also a reminder that older Australians still have plenty to offer.

In a world often focused on youth, speed and the next big trend, the popularity of the Granny Stand proved there is still enormous value in slowing down and listening to people who have already lived through decades of change, challenge, heartbreak and joy.