October 2002

Mavis motivates her Mildura contemporaries

Mavis Taylor, 86, of Yarrawonga, epitomises the volunteering spirit in seniors.

Two years ago, the mother of nine effectively packed up her haberdashery, fabric and craft store in Yarrawonga, loaded it into shipping containers and headed to war-ravaged East Timor to establish a women’s sewing collective.

Mavis’s philosophy is a simple one—‘if the world is not a better place when you leave it, you may as well not have been here.’

Mavis was one of the guests at a luncheon to promote seniors and volunteering in Mildura, organised by the Rural City of Mildura, the Office of Senior Victorians and the Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians.

In her talk to around 200 seniors, Mavis urged them to follow their dreams and ambitions for the rest of their days.

‘Each of us doesn’t have to do what everyone else does.

‘You don’t have to go to another country in order to see what good your contribution has done.

‘Imagination can do wonders.

‘It will give you the same lift as if you were there to see it.’

The Mildura luncheon was one of a series across the State attended by the Minister for Senior Victorians Christine Campbell and a range of guest speakers.

The speakers covered the themes developed in the interests of seniors by the State Government—the Age to be Valued, the Age to be Involved, the Age to be Productive, the Age to be Active and the Age to be Consumer Wise.

Other luncheons have been held in Queenscliff, Knox and Sunbury with others scheduled for Lilydale, Clayton, Stawell, Portland and Moorabbin.

All are being held in partnership with local councils and guest speakers include actor and playwright Alan Hopgood, football veteran Tom Hafey and award winning author Arnold Zable.