One of the most winning and straightforward offers I ever enjoyed was installing solar panels on my roof from my energy company. It was a small array by today’s terms, but they did all the work and, apart from a bung inverter which later needed replacing, it’s delivered non-stop savings to my power bill. These used to be very substantial thanks to the once-generous government-backed Feed-... read more>

News this week that one-quarter of the users of the brightest financial technology services on the block are aged over 45* helps dispel ingrained stereotypes about age. Older people own a wide range of devices, wearables, apps etc. more confidently than is popularly thought. But there’s a problem. Their confidence can wane with using them because there’s rarely any input from elders into ... read more>

The campsite on the coastal headland has a vivid scene of canvas architectural wonders. But something this year, apart from the bushfires' shadow, changed. For many years every summer I'd marvel at the pitched awnings, sturdy guy ropes and weatherproofed coverings which would put an old-time circus to shame. These were not just tents; they were temporary egalitarian palaces erected by fam... read more>

Now our century has formally come of age, at least by hitting the once-sacred 21 years old milestone, it’s worth asking if older Australians represent a bona fide social movement. The ageing population are a demographic phenomenon largely thanks to their sheer numbers triggered long ago by many parents’ post-WW2 procreation. Consider also that anyone aged 50 and over is labelled as a matu... read more>

Rather than New Year’s Resolutions, which are bound for failure, here are a few nudges to help 2021 and beyond be more fun, fruitful and fulfilling. They’re entirely idiosyncratic, in no particular order and shamelessly drawn from others’ experience and wisdom. They also work and are mostly achievable. Above all, they are simple and short in number and shouldn’t be too challenging to star... read more>