A new digital exhibition called ‘Beyond Age’ celebrates Manningham’s older residents, highlighting the importance of respect, dignity and safety at every stage of life.
The exhibition was created in partnership with Seniors Rights Victoria and launched at a special event at to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in June.
As part of the project, participants paired a photograph from their past with one from their present, reflecting on their life and getting older, as well as sharing the advice they would give to their younger selves.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Jim Grivas, said Manningham was a proudly age-friendly organisation, committed to creating inclusive and supportive environments for people at every stage of life.
“From the moment we are born, we begin to age – it’s an inevitable part of life,” Cr Grivas said.
“Yet too often it’s seen in a negative light, shaped by the bias of ageism.
“That’s why initiatives such as Beyond Age are so important. They challenge stereotypes, champion lived experience and help older people be seen and celebrated.”
Gary Ferguson, from Seniors Rights Victoria, ran the workshops with participants and was delighted to see the exhibition launched in Manningham.
“The Beyond Age project aims to challenge the negative attitudes and commentary of what it means to be older,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Those who participated took to the workshops with great enthusiasm and candor. In fact, many wouldn’t stop chatting, which confirms it’s a much-needed topic of conversation in our community.
“I would like to encourage everyone to think about how you can start and be involved in these conversations with those close to you and within your networks, because by challenging ageism individually and collectively, we work towards ensuring our rights are protected as we age.”
Several participants spoke at the launch, reflecting on the project and speaking candidly about both the challenges and rewards of ageing.
“I came away thinking this is great because you can see how other people felt about getting older,” Marie said.
“It was a very honest, open discussion, and it told me that everybody experienced frustration with getting older. We got angry because we couldn’t do the things we were once able to do … and the loss of friends and our own identity,” Neville said.
“I found everyone had such diverse background and experiences and it felt exciting to be able to share that. That’s probably the hardest thing as we get older – to have people who are willing to listen and learn,” Lola said.
In a final reflection, Abbas shared what he would tell his younger self.
“I’d tell my younger self that life is short, so listen to the wise and don’t wait for ‘someday’. Do what you enjoy right now.”
