A force of nature

Meet Ballarat’s Betty Boadle, who at the age of 94 still walks 4km a day, teaches piano lessons, performs at retirement villages and plays at Sunday mass at an aged care community.

Betty is also a keen gardener and her roses are her pride and joy! However, she’s decided to rein in her enthusiasm a little when it comes to protecting her silver beets from marauding magpies. Last year she chased a few down the road and slipped and hurt her arm. “On the bright side I did scare them away though,” she laughs.

The injury didn’t stop her from playing the piano, much to the joy of her students and residents at retirement villages who love her performances. “It’s like occupational therapy for me,” she explains. “All that piano playing and walking is working wonders, I don’t have arthritis anywhere.”

This indomitable force of nature isn’t on any medication either, apart from low dose tablets to regulate her blood pressure. Betty gets up at 6.30am every day and is determined to continue living in the home she loves.

Betty has worked hard all her life, raising eight children and holding down jobs. “I look back and think, ‘Oh hell I must have been very organised to have done all that,” she chuckles. Her wit and humour peppers her conversations – she’s one of those people who sparkles.

She grew up in the Loddon Mallee area and believes her can-do attitude stems from helping run their small farm at an early age. After she was married, she and her late husband Ivan, ran a little Milk Bar followed by a Post Office and then a small transport delivery service.

At the age of 50, Betty completed a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education at the Australian Catholic University and taught at schools as well as giving private music lessons.

These days Betty recognises she needs a little help to continue living safely and well at home. Thanks to a government funded home care package through Uniting AgeWell she receives help around the house and garden, has meals delivered, receives podiatry services and will soon get a taxi card so she is not reliant on her family to get out and about.

Betty can’t speak highly enough of Uniting AgeWell and is grateful to Program Manager Chris Armon for doing all the paperwork in getting her assessed and onto a home care package.

The devout Catholic has 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren and says, “I’m lucky, I’ve had a really happy life and I’ve got a whole lot more living to do.”

Learn more about Uniting AgeWell's Home Care services