Revved up for ageing expo

ULYSSES Motorcycle Club’s Dr Brad Mitchell will be among the guest speakers at this month’s Positive Ageing Expo in Trentham.

The keen motorcyclist and member of Ulysses’ Central Highlands branch, Dr Mitchell said he only got into biking at the age of 60, but once he did he “found his tribe” and never looked back.

“The theme of the expo this year is really about reinventing yourself in older age and the topic of my talk will be about transformation,” Dr Mitchell said.

“People get to retirement age and often society seems to say ‘that’s all for you’.

“The message is, if you’re feeling stuck in a rut, imagine yourself as something else, find your vibe, find a new group of people, find your tribe, and transform.

“You have to be aged at least 40 to be a Ulysses member and most of our members would be in their 60s or 70s, but we have some who are in their 80s and our eldest member is 96 and still riding.”

Dr Mitchell said the Central Highlands Ulysses branch is welcoming of new members and a great means of overcoming isolation and finding social connectivity with like-minded folk.

“It’s the camaraderie and also just having somewhere to go,” said club member Peter Learmount, who rides a Harley Davidson 1000 CC.

The club’s branch president, John Newton, said that weather depending, it’s fairly likely some Ulysses bikers will cruise along to the upcoming expo that’s being hosted by the Hepburn Shire Council at The Mechanics Institute in Trentham on Tuesday 28 October from 10am to 3pm.

The free, fully catered community event is targeted at those aged 55 and over and celebrates healthy ageing, while bringing together people from all walks of life to connect, learn and thrive.

“The number one message we put forward is that 75 per cent of how you age is actually down to your mindset,” Hepburn’s positive ageing officer Eddie Wyman said.

“We’re finding that social participation is absolutely number one.”

Alongside Dr Mitchell, speakers on the program include Linda Black from Rebel Elders, Jackson Fyfe from Deakin University, Dean Mawby from Stronger Longer Gym, John Bradshaw from LiveUp, and Central Highlands Rural Health representatives.

There’ll also be live music throughout the day and stalls with many different local groups and services all geared toward helping to attain “positive ageing” represented. Entry is free and everyone is welcome, with more information and attendance registrations through the council’s customer service or website.