Trailblazing elders catch up for lunch

THE 250 indigenous elders who met at the Brisbane Broncos Clubhouse for lunch yesterday shouldn't have been there.

By InvestSMART · 13 May 2012

By InvestSMART ·
13 May 2012

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THE 250 indigenous elders who met at the Brisbane Broncos Clubhouse for lunch yesterday shouldn't have been there.

With an average life expectancy almost two decades less than their non-indigenous counterparts, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are not expected to live long past retirement age. But if you ask Auntie Joyce Lea, 77, age is the great equaliser.

"Indigenous, non-indigenous, old is old," she said. "I think we are taken good care of, now. And we are well respected in the community. But we are all the same. We all get old."

The annual lunches, hosted by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, are often the only chance many of these elders have to see friends from their youth.

"We only used to meet at funerals," Auntie Janette Kirk, 72, said. "Many of these people go way back to the Boat House days. The Boat House was the first dance many of us went to. And we are not a nuclear family, we are traditionally a community. Everyone calls me Auntie or Mum. It is important for us to see each other smiling."

Joan McFarlane, 73, was seeing many of her colleagues, from her years working at the Golden Circle cannery, for the first time in decades.

The institute's services manager, Jody Currie, said the lunch at Red Hill was important for the elders' "sense of belonging". "It's a chance for urban Aborigines to come together and celebrate as a community and share stories," Ms Currie said.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What was the Brisbane Broncos Clubhouse lunch for Indigenous elders about?

The event was an annual lunch hosted at the Brisbane Broncos Clubhouse for about 250 Indigenous elders. It brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders to reconnect, share stories and celebrate community — many hadn’t seen one another since their youth.

Who organised the annual lunches for Indigenous elders in Brisbane?

The lunches are hosted by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, which organises the gatherings to give urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders a chance to meet, socialise and strengthen their sense of belonging.

How many elders attended and where was the lunch held?

Around 250 Indigenous elders attended the lunch, which was held at the Brisbane Broncos Clubhouse in Red Hill.

Why are these annual lunches important for Indigenous elders?

According to elders and the institute’s services manager, the lunches are often the only opportunity many elders have to see friends from their youth, celebrate as a community, share stories and experience a stronger sense of belonging.

What personal stories did elders share about the importance of meeting up?

Elders recounted that in the past they mostly met at funerals, recalled early social landmarks like the Boat House where many attended their first dance, and described their community ties — everyone calls each other Auntie or Mum — highlighting the cultural importance of these reunions.

What does the article say about Indigenous life expectancy?

The article notes that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have an average life expectancy almost two decades less than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and many are not expected to live long past retirement age.

Who were some of the elders quoted in the story and what did they say?

Auntie Joyce Lea (77) said ‘Indigenous, non-indigenous, old is old’ and that elders are well respected; Auntie Janette Kirk (72) spoke about meeting people from the Boat House days and the community nature of relationships; Joan McFarlane (73) saw former colleagues from the Golden Circle cannery for the first time in decades.

What role did the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health’s staff highlight about the lunches?

Jody Currie, the institute’s services manager, said the lunch was important for elders’ sense of belonging and provided a chance for urban Aborigines to come together, celebrate as a community and share stories.