Boomers plan to club together

The Australian News

BABY boomers are taking matters into their own hands with a push for community-based social clubs to help engage Australia's ageing population.

Called "boomerang centres", the hubs aim to use clubs such as bowling and sports centres to connect the country's five million boomers.

From nutrition and healthy cooking classes to Zumba and computer training, the scheme's founder Brian Murphy says the centres will help boomers remain active, healthy and participate in community life.

"The idea is to help my generation," says the 62-year-old editor of baby boomer website bonza.com.au.

"If we can get involved and be useful, then we can show how dynamic we are. We want to be that way, we don't want to be ignored."

Mr Murphy has proposed two pilot locations for the centres, which he says would need government grants of between $2000 and $5000 to set up.

He has already met his local federal member, Liberal MP Karen Andrews, who said she would approach the Abbott government to assist and support the pilot program in her Gold Coast seat of McPherson.

One of the proposed pilot centres is Keith Blake's Red Hill Community Sports Club, in inner-Brisbane, which Mr Blake said would require little or no initial funding.

"(Red Hill) used to be just an ageing population but a lot of young people have moved into the area and there are isolated pockets of retirees who haven't got the help from neighbours they used to have," he said.

"We've got retired plumbers, electricians and painters in the club but we want to formalise it. People stuck in retirement can be very lonely. If they could feel part of something and get down to a club, get out of the house, it's going to improve their health mentally and physically."

Mr Blake says the centres could also help other clubs that are dying out or in need of more members.

"A number of clubs in Australia are underutilised; a lot are actually closing their doors," he said. "Maybe this is a lifeline to them. If they can get more people visiting the clubs, if clubs expand their facilities to incorporate a boomerang centre, it'd be beneficial to both sides."