Olympics event brings together young and old

FROM dads doing the limbo wearing baby carriers to a 93-year-old competing in a three-legged race, young and old came together for the Connecting Generations Bangalow winter event last Sunday.

Inspired by the 2024 Paris Olympics, the event at Bangalow Heritage House and Museum included games such as musical statues, sack races and tug-of-war (renamed ‘tug-of-peace’ for the day), with all children receiving a cardboard cut-out gold medal for participating.

Families also took part in body painting and bubble blowing, made owls out of pine cones and decorated a cubby house with paper snowflakes.

Sponsored by Bangalow Men’s Shed, Connecting Generations Bangalow aims to link young families with older members of the community through seasonal events that feature activities such as nature-based art and craft, live music and dancing.

The not-for-profit organisation was co-founded by Possum Creek resident Ruth Winton-Brown, who was inspired by a trial program called Generations Together in England and Marc Freedman’s book How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting Generations.

Jeff Furolo, who is executive producer of the Baby Boomers’ Guide to Life in the 21st Century podcast and radio program, also attended the event to interview attendees about combating loneliness, isolation and ageism.

“After the release of the Human Rights Commission report into ageism in Australia in 2021, we incorporated intergenerational conversation into the series, and for season four, I want to showcase successful intergenerational projects in each episode,” he said.

“Connecting Generations is a model for communities where people are isolated from extended families and miss out on the enrichment of age-diversity.

“Everyone is better off when we connect across the generations and engage in intergenerational conversation.

“What Ruth and the Bangalow community has done here shows us that this starts and works best locally — with our friends, our neighbours, and with the people who choose to come to join us where we live.”

To find out about future events follow Connecting Generations Bangalow on Facebook.