Get set.

Celebrating what life over 60 really looks like.

What do you think life after 60 is like? Apia’s Get Set. 60 aims to
challenge society’s perceptions, by celebrating real Aussies
over the age of 60, who are as active, engaged and inspired as
they’ve ever been.

Get Set. Winners

Congratulations to our Get set. 60 winners of 2022!
Read on to learn about their achievements, and their continuing
drive to better themselves and their communities.

AUNTY BERYL

Aunty Beryl is a Kamillaroi Elder and educator who is passionate about promoting the use of native Australian ingredients in cooking. Having created a number of very successful food-related businesses, Beryl is also a mentor at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE). As the founder of NCIE’s Job Ready programme, Beryl helps create opportunities for young people by teaching them hospitality, providing work experience in the NCIE kitchen, and securing them work placements.

YOUSEF AMMAR

Faced with a challenging move from the Middle East to Australia, Yousef found community and connection through his passion for gardening. Having joined the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Association (MECA), Yousef has guided a variety of community projects for migrants, refugees and youth. After negotiating for the use of a local carpark, Yousef and MECA transformed it into a produce garden – with the goal of uniting the broader community together on common ground.

MARY WALSH

On the frontlines of the Western Australian Seabird Rescue (WASR), Mary is devoted to helping sick and injured seabirds across metropolitan Perth. Mary found her calling after her retirement teaching English as a second language at TAFE,  joining her husband (also retired) as a WASR volunteer. Having taken paddleboard lessons to help her get to the injured birds, she’s able to net them and bring them in safely for care and treatment.

DEREK JONES

As the founder of trash collection community Friends of Bayside Roads, Derek has coordinated the collection of tonnes of litter, cigarette butts and other dumped rubbish in Bayside, Melbourne. Derek manages more than 40 volunteers, and works closely with his local government. On top of that, he’s been approached by other local governments around Melbourne – and by international parties – to create prototypes of his program. Derek has received multiple accolades and notices for his contribution to the community, including a letter from the president of Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

BRUCE HAINES

Bruce is a technical volunteer with TAD/Solve Disability Solutions, an organisation with qualified Occupational Therapists who make use of technically minded people like himself to provide assistive technology to people with a disability. Since retiring 7 years ago, Bruce has been involved in 37 projects. These have included making a customised cot with sliding doors to allow a wheelchair mother to safely care for her baby. He has fitted a child’s seat to a motorised wheelchair so that Dad could take his son on trips out. 

NICKY SHELTON

A highly accomplished fine artist, Nicky is known for her realistic oil paintings of birds. The Margaret River-based talent donates a portion of every sale to Birdlife Australia, an advocacy and conservation organisation for native Australian birds. Nicky is also a member of the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia, and has won local and international awards for her paintings.

AUNTY BERYL

Aunty Beryl is a Kamillaroi Elder and educator who is passionate about promoting the use of native Australian ingredients in cooking. Having created a number of very successful food-related businesses, Beryl is also a mentor at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE). As the founder of NCIE’s Job Ready programme, Beryl helps create opportunities for young people by teaching them hospitality, providing work experience in the NCIE kitchen, and securing them work placements.

YOUSEF AMMAR

Faced with a challenging move from the Middle East to Australia, Yousef found community and connection through his passion for gardening. Having joined the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Association (MECA), Yousef has guided a variety of community projects for migrants, refugees and youth. After negotiating for the use of a local carpark, Yousef and MECA transformed it into a produce garden – with the goal of uniting the broader community together on common ground.

MARY WALSH

On the frontlines of the Western Australian Seabird Rescue (WASR), Mary is devoted to helping sick and injured seabirds across metropolitan Perth. Mary found her calling after her retirement teaching English as a second language at TAFE,  joining her husband (also retired) as a WASR volunteer. Having taken paddleboard lessons to help her get to the injured birds, she’s able to net them and bring them in safely for care and treatment.

DEREK JONES

As the founder of trash collection community Friends of Bayside Roads, Derek has coordinated the collection of tonnes of litter, cigarette butts and other dumped rubbish in Bayside, Melbourne. Derek manages more than 40 volunteers, and works closely with his local government. On top of that, he’s been approached by other local governments around Melbourne – and by international parties – to create prototypes of his program. Derek has received multiple accolades and notices for his contribution to the community, including a letter from the president of Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

BRUCE HAINES

Bruce is a technical volunteer with TAD/Solve Disability Solutions, an organisation with qualified Occupational Therapists who make use of technically minded people like himself to provide assistive technology to people with a disability. Since retiring 7 years ago, Bruce has been involved in 37 projects. These have included making a customised cot with sliding doors to allow a wheelchair mother to safely care for her baby. He has fitted a child’s seat to a motorised wheelchair so that Dad could take his son on trips out. 

NICKY SHELTON

A highly accomplished fine artist, Nicky is known for her realistic oil paintings of birds. The Margaret River-based talent donates a portion of every sale to Birdlife Australia, an advocacy and conservation organisation for native Australian birds. Nicky is also a member of the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia, and has won local and international awards for her paintings.

Get Set.
Thank You

Voting has now ended. Here are the 10 winners of our
Mastercard pre-paid gift card valued at $1,000!

R. Lawrence, VIC

G. Champion

J. Ahuia Ova

V. Woods, NSW

M. Mealings, VIC

P. Hanlon, NSW

V. Dawson, QLD

R. Cavagan, VIC

K. Furey, NSW

M. Newton, WA

Get Set. More

Want to channel some of that over-60 energy? We’ve put together a selection of articles from Apia’s Good Life Hub for inspiration. From picking up a new passion to planning that epic road trip, explore the best that life over 60 has to offer.

TIPS  |  GUIDES 

Your Nominees

You have reached your maximum nominees. Would you like to proceed?