The group was initiated in 1998 by Maura O’Sullivan, Community Liaison Officer at the then Bulli Health Centre, who saw a need for a group which provided the opportunity to enhance the lives of women who had retired from paid work and whose families had grown up. Many older woman was often alone and isolated due to the death of a partner, divorce, or a lifetime of being single.

Judging by the enthusiasm and enjoyment of the people at lunch on the Thursday, OWN has achieved its purpose.  The very first meeting in 1998 attracted 17 women and seven more women sent their apologies.  Membership waxed and waned for a few years until more suitable meeting times and content of the meetings was established.  The MC at the March 15 lunch was Margaret Chapman, a founding member in 1998 and still very active in OWN.

As time went by special interest groups were established.  A singing group by the name of the SilvertOWNs started in 1999 and still proves very popular today.  Anyone can join, there is no audition and great friendships have been struck in the group.  At the beginning of 2018 the SilvertOWNs had 15 bookings to sing in nursing homes and day care centres.  No doubt there will be many more “gigs” before the year is out.

Meeting twice a month still left a lot of time alone for many women and so coffee mornings, lunches, bus trips, current affairs, discussion, writing and board games groups happen in between.  The bus trips to places of historic or current interest are very popular as are trips to Sydney to the theatre.

In October 2017, OWN NSW celebrated 30 years of activity and a gala lunch was held at Parliament House.  Members travelled by train to Sydney in groups and enjoyed the chats along the way.  The lunch was held in The Strangers Room and we really felt that we were living the high life!  The room was tastefully arranged, the view was lovely and the food was elegant and tasty and good wine flowed readily.  The speakers told us the stories of things achieved by the OWN NSW group for older women.  Riding home on the train this writer felt that she had enjoyed one of the best days of her life – good weather, good company, beautiful surroundings and a fabulous event.

Speakers at this month’s lunch at the Frat included Maura O’Sullivan without whom we may have never existed.  Robin Dougherty, Chair of OWN NSW spoke on the achievements and aspirations of OWN. Maggie Sydenham who at 74 years of age is a mature age student at the University of Wollongong and has written a book called Getting Older, Getting Better, was the guest speaker.  Maggie found school boring and left at age 14 years and 9 months.  Work also bored her until she finally gained work in an art facility in her early 30s in Darwin and found her vocation.  Maggie spoke very well and touchingly of her life journey; her loneliness in old age and the realisation that living alone can lead to depression.  Her answer was to keep busy studying and writing.  I felt that Maggie’s openness about her struggles and her answer to the problem touched many of us in the room.

OWN is still fighting for the Rights, Dignity and Wellbeing of older women and though progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in this struggle for equality.  Homelessness among older women is growing and elder abuse is a big problem and can be financial, physical or emotional.

The Illawarra Wellness Centre at Coniston has classes in International Dancing, Tai Chi, Drumming, Ukulele, Yoga and Aerobics. Costs are $5 a class to a maximum cost of $12 over Monday and Tuesday.  

Costs are always kept to a minimum.  The yearly joining fee is $15 and covers membership to the group at Corrimal and the Wellness Centre at Coniston.  Call Jeune on 4284 8120 for more information.