Connecting Seniors (Kintsugi Heroes)

Wayne's early years were filled with rugby union and league, providing him companionship and a mental outlet. Despite personal struggles with depression, sports helped him cope. From a young age, Wayne faced debilitating depression, navigating periods of despair unseen by others. Misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment marked his early experiences with mental health systems but did not define him. T...

Sandy Steers is a biologist, energy healer, writer, and entrepreneur. With a degree in biology, she has led 14 trips to the Galapagos Islands; run the environmental educational nonprofit, Friends of Big Bear Valley, for 24 years; and written hundreds of high-engagement educational social media posts describing the lives of the local bald eagles.  During her previous career as a computer syste...

In today’s conversation, Karen shares her private journey with lifelong crippling anxiety - make no mistake - it has never stopped her! Here's just a snippet of what Karen has created over her latter years  Karen is a master of storytelling, founder of The Story Room Global, a platform for people to come together and listen to stories from a diverse range of backgrounds A monthly dose of peop...

Gary grew up curious and spirited, always eager to solve problems. He discovered his innate passion for helping others early on in his life. He  studied business and economics  and combined academic rigor with practical insights, eventually earning a doctorate. Gary entered the automotive industry, quickly rising through the ranks and became known for his strategic mind and empathy. He m...

Nan is the owner, manager, and shepherd for White Gum Wool, which is the name of her farm and the yarn made from fibre grown by her sheep. White Gum Wool sheep are raised on a single farm, in the high midlands of Tasmania. They graze in mostly native pastures where they can find the plants they need to keep healthy.  Mamas teach their babies how to forage in this landscape, hanging out in fam...

Greg grew up in a family of six, surrounded by love and support. This big family environment shaped his inclusive and communal mindset. Successful in various sports, including swimming and basketball, Greg achieved an elite level. His curiosity drove him to explore multiple sporting disciplines. Greg's career began in education, progressed into architecture, and eventually led him to counselling....

In this conversation, Catherine Maguire-Donvito, Co-founder and Director of Treehouse Theatre, shares the program’s unique approach to supporting refugee adolescents through storytelling and theatrical performance. The initiative is designed to facilitate trauma recovery and raise awareness about the refugee experience among high school students. Catherine emphasizes the importance of building tru...

Growing up in Adelaide, Robyn was a fiercely curious child, devouring books from the library and mastering puns, all while driving her parents mad with endless questions. Bored with school, Robyn discovered a love for adventure by exploring forbidden coffee clubs and later worked for the weapons research establishment, becoming a steno secretary for a top-secret project. Leaving a stable but uneve...

Michael was born blind and grew up in Chicago and California. His early years lacked access to braille, but he learned math in his head and stayed curious about science. Michael got proper braille education in fourth grade. With his mother’s support and a new resource teacher, he caught up in school, joined the Boy Scouts, and developed skills in leadership. Michael first learned about guide dogs...

Born in the UK in 1952, Bob's early life was tough. He was premature, had a volatile relationship with his mother and was often bullied at school, he shares these formative experiences. He began as an engineering apprentice but found his true calling in music. Bob played music on boats during pub nights, entertaining the passengers.  Moving to Australia in 1989 Bob's music career flourished....

Steve is an Australia based immigrant who left Indonesia as a child due to risks of persecution. He is an engineer, business leader, single-dad, passionate conservationist and environmental advocate, lover of music of various genre, arts & culture, avid global backpack adventurer off the beaten-tracks. He is an Australian Survivor, social justice activist and prolific social media political co...

Judith was the youngest of eight in a Catholic family. Despite a comfortable life, she faced traumatic experiences, including sexual abuse by priests from an early age. The abuse and violence she suffered profoundly shaping her programming and she developed beliefs of unworthiness and self-punishment. In secondary school, Judith endured further abuse, by a nun. Her suffering attracted more harmful...

Born in Brighton, England, Sean moved to Australia at age seven. His dad’s Irish heritage led them to Fremantle, beginning a life of adventure in Perth. At 15, Sean's navy dream ended due to colour blindness. He joined the Western Australian Police Academy in 1978, quickly finding his passion in policing. Sean served 15 years in the police, including the Tactical Response Group in 1985, fulfilling...

We’re back for season two of Connecting Seniors ! This special series shines a light on the stories of ageing Australians – moments of wisdom, laughter, challenge and connection. It’s all about celebrating life at every stage and bringing communities closer together. Tune in every Thursday for new episodes Find out more about this series and our other podcasts at KintsugiHeroes.com.au . • • • • •...

Don Mathewson is a true champion who shares his extraordinary story of courage, determination, a passion for athletics, and overcoming major physical challenges alongside a life of service to others.  He is a Masters track athlete who has been World Champion on three occasions across different age groups and received fifteen other medals. During his pursuit of excellence, he has completed Wor...

Alan’s remarkable story describes overcoming the challenges that go with building relationships. He raised three young boys after his first marriage broke up. This was followed by business failure, then another failed marriage.  His life began to change when he discovered his healing gift. Then he met a group of Aboriginal Elders for a year around a campfire. Because he wanted to learn, not t...

Narelle has a severe vision impairment that means she uses a guide dog to get around. She only started to lose my sight about 16 years ago and has lived with only seeing shapes for the last two years. She is an advocate for digital accessibility in Australia and work to let people know about the benefits of ensuring that everyone can access the information, understand the information and make info...

Phillip has a very simple but profound story. He holds the record at St Vincent’s Hospital for the most heart by passes in one operation when he was 51. This was a defining moment for him as he realised, he may not have much longer to live and needed to live every day for today. Twenty-two years later he is still here, and he is living his life with meaning mostly around helping others. His volunt...

Jeni was married at twenty-two at a time when many women stayed at home after marriage. When her marriage broke up after twenty-two years, she had zero self-esteem, two kids and no idea how to move on as she felt she had no skills. She tells her remarkable story with humour, honesty and wisdom and describes how she tackled nursing first by training as an enrolled nurse but later moved into other l...

Terry is an early baby boomer. His life plan to become an archaeologist changed when he was conscripted into the Australian Army in 1966. He shares some of his traumatic experiences as an elite soldier. After two years he left the army and became an accountant and put the military out of his mind. Over time, the memories flooded back, and he had to give up his job at the time. He eventually receiv...

Glenys Reid is the CEO of the Chatty Cafe Foundation in Australia, an initiative focused on addressing loneliness and social isolation through facilitating conversations in coffee shops and cafes. Glenys has a background marked by resilience, shaped by her family's experience, particularly her father's time as a prisoner of war. Her family's attitude towards life and survival has significantly inf...

Margaret-Anne grew up in post-war Australia, experiencing a tough childhood marked by community support and church, yet overshadowed by her father's unresolved trauma. Inspired by her mother’s kindness, Margaret-Anne learned the importance of empathy and helping those in need, which became central to her values. In 1994, during a severe drought, she launched a grassroots drought appeal, mobilising...

Bradley Dowling is a passionate community advocate and basketball coach who thrives on making a positive impact in the lives of young individuals and raising awareness for neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic condition he was diagnosed with at age five. Growing up in a supportive family, Dowling saw his parents actively involved in NF advocacy which instilled in him a strong sense of purpose and resi...

Jann McCall grew up in Russell Lea in Sydney, with a multicultural and religious background. Her upbringing shaped her outlook on life, emphasising faith, family, and adaptability amidst evolving societal changes. Jann's practical decision to become a primary school teacher aligned with her family responsibilities. Teaching allowed her to positively impact young lives. Despite the bureaucratic cha...

The son of Holocaust survivors, Walter Frankel grew up in Rhodesia and South Africa before moving to Australia. His parents' experiences during the war profoundly shaped his upbringing, instilling in him a strong sense of resilience and adaptability. Coming from a dysfunctional family, Frankel struggled with the impact of his parents' trauma on his own life. He experienced estrangement from his wi...