Healthy ageing in action with Bunny and Bill

For 82-year-old Bernice “Bunny” and 78-year-old Bill Osborn the secret to ageing well comes down to just three things; to keep laughing, keep moving, and keep showing up for your people and passions.

The Townsville locals have been together for 35 years and are familiar faces in the Townsville hockey community, where they first met, fell in love, and still spend much of their time.

Mrs Osborn is a patron of the Parks Hockey Club, and Mr Osborn still plays while also volunteering his time mowing and helping where needed.
Mr Osborn said their lifestyle hasn’t changed in decades.

“We make sure to fill our time with small daily routines, outings, and the occasional trip away, plus we’ve always been very social because being around people keeps you young,” Mr Osborn said.

“We’ve never really stopped doing what we enjoy, we just make little adjustments when we need to.”

Although they live independently, Mrs Osborn has a long and complex medical history and is supported by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) home care service to ensure she can remain at home.

Home care service coordinator Judy Atkinson said the Townsville service supported more than 600 older people across the region via the Commonwealth Home Support Program which provides practical support to help people stay in their own homes rather than enter aged care homes.

“The service provides domestic assistance and takes a wellness and reablement approach focused on ‘doing with’ rather than ‘doing for,’ Ms Atkinson said.

“A key focus of the service is on education as we want to ensure we are providing our patients with the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities to stay active, social, and engaged in the community.

“The goal is to empower people to age well, not just age longer.”

Townsville HHS director of older persons services Sue Tench said healthy ageing began early and was shaped by the choices individuals made every day.

“How we move, how we eat, and how we stay connected sets the foundation for independence and quality of life in the years ahead,” Ms Tench said.

Ms Tench said couples like the Osborn’s reflect what was possible when physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing were supported together.

“Bill and Bunny are wonderful examples of what healthy ageing can look like, and that’s exactly what we want for our patients and our community,” Ms Tench said.

Mrs Osborn said the home care service helped her to manage the things that would be too much on her own.

“The team help me to stay at home, which means everything.” Mrs Osborn.

“I feel very comfortable with everyone who comes around and we’ve gotten to know them so well they feel like family.”

Mrs Osborn said healthy ageing to her meant staying involved, staying curious, and not letting your age control what you can or can’t do.

“People say we’re getting old, but we don’t feel old,” Mrs Osborn said.

“We’ve just learned to pace ourselves and still have a good laugh every day, laughter is the most important thing.”

Australia’s inaugural National Healthy Ageing Day will take place on May 6 to highlight the importance of taking proactive steps to support long‑term wellbeing.