The International Day of Older Persons takes place on October 1st and the event is an important reminder to celebrate the rich contribution older people make to the fabric of our society.
Often flying under the radar, many older people donate much time and energy to charitable causes and make an invaluable contribution to many community organisations.
Bill Prest, an 83-year-old retiree who currently lives at Riverina Gums Retirement Village, is one example of someone who helps others constantly, without seeking recognition. For Bill, giving back to the community isn’t just a one-off event: it’s a part of life.
Bill has been an active member of the Riverina Gums community for three years, and during that time has gained a reputation for organising social events such as barbeques and afternoon teas for fellow residents to enjoy. He has also spent decades volunteering throughout the Wagga Wagga area at a wide range of local community organisations.
“The best part about retirement is all the time I have to get involved, with the community or my family,” Bill says.
“I’ve been blessed with good health and want to make the most of it.”
Bill has been a member of the Wagga Wagga Rotary Club for 27 years, and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship award, a certificate that recognised his ongoing charitable donations. He has also volunteered at both the Riding for the Disabled and Kurrajong Waratah intellectual disability organisations for 22 years.
In his spare time, Bill enjoys gardening and has had a green thumb from the age of 17 when he won the prize in the State Vegetable Growing competition.
“I’m making a herb garden for all of the Riverina Gums residents to enjoy and use as they like.”
In addition to his benevolence, Bill’s positive and upbeat attitude makes him a wonderful role model where he refuses to let age slow him down or hold him back in any way.
“I just enjoy all the free time I get in retirement and every morning I ride my bike down to get the paper. I don’t see too many other 83-year-olds on pushbikes though!”
There are numerous ways older people enrich our community whether it be through their charity work, the wisdom they provide to family members, the experience they can offer in the workplace and the insights they have about the past. The International Day of Older Persons is the ideal opportunity for everyone who benefits to say thank you.
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