The song remains the same

In June 1986, change was afoot at Later Years, the forerunner organisation to National Seniors Australia (NSA). 

Its magazine, The Good Life, took on a bright new look with the cover showing two members, Marj Morrison and George Clements, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. 

The occasion was our 10th anniversary – and while a lot has evolved as NSA prepares for its 50th anniversary this year, the enthusiasm and engagement of our members, and the primary purpose of the organisation, remain the same. 

The magazine focussed on members and their various activities, enjoying life and giving back to the community. 

Among them were “the Lunch Bunch” – a group of 10 women and one man – who were celebrating six years of serving up lunches at monthly Later Years meetings in Brisbane’s City Hall. 

One of the volunteers, Kath Douglas, said, “We’ve become great friends. We go out socially together and hit the town regularly. And we share our problems. Three of us have husbands, though – they're the only things we don’t share.” 

Also profiled was Ken Smith, the organisation’s Far North Queensland liaison officer, who, at 67, had just completed a walk from Cairns to Townsville.  

“I wanted to prove that a person of our age can do anything once the mind is set on it,” he said. 

Another story profiled Thomas Stephens, husband of popular television personality Babette Stephens, who topped off a long career in the law by completing his PhD – at the age of 84. 

There was also a story about “Later Years Week” – a celebration that involved 600 seniors and kicked off with a concert at the Suncorp Theatre starring popular baritone, Denis White. 

The party continued through the week, with a free screening of the film, Cocoon, about residents of a retirement home who believe they have discovered the “fountain of youth”. 

The magazine also featured an interview with Bert Martin, one of the founders of Later Years, whose motto was “You’re never too old to learn something new”. 

His cofounder, Everald Compton, wrote a column about the successes of the organisation, which had grown over the decade to have more than 20,000 members. 

“The foundations have now been laid and the greatest years are ahead,” he wrote. “Later Years is going places and we want you to come with us.”