Celebration of the generations

Instrument makers, knitting enthusiasts and vintage rockers came together in full force for this year’s Every Generation Festival, South Australia’s month-long celebration of positive ageing.

The festival boasts over 200 partner organisations and more than 1000 community events this year across rural, regional and metropolitan SA, ranging from evening Zumba classes to basic computing lessons.

The open access festival welcomes people of all ages who wish to celebrate the contribution of our older generation to society.

More than half of the events are free, or admission with a gold coin donation, making it one of the most accessible events in the country.  

Every Generation Festival and Awards coordinator Jane Intini said the festival provides local schools, councils and villages with an intergenerational platform to teach, learn and share with others.

Ms Intini said the range of thoughtful and specific events means there is something for just about everyone.

“What someone wants to do at 50 is not necessarily what someone wants to do at 70,” she said.

“The point of the festival is to engage as many people as possible.”

With something close to 200,000 active participants, Every Generation has become one of the most important events in Australia to champion physical and mental wellbeing for all ages.

“The festival is such a unique and beautiful opportunity to actively engage with someone from another generation,” Ms Intini said.

Some old favourites are back this year, including a group of knitting and crocheting die-hards, the Yarn Bombers, who make cosies for everything from lamp posts to shopping trolleys.

Colleen the Teapot Caravan is the brainchild of a range of community groups encompassing all ages and genders. She is an old 1950s bubble caravan covered entirely in knitted wool.

The festival culminates on October 30 with the Every Generation Festival Awards Dinner at the InterContinental Hotel in North Terrace, Adelaide, where SA COTA recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in areas of creative arts, physical activity, intergenerational enterprise and positive ageing.

Highlight contenders for the prestigious Outstanding Achiever Award include Norm Ginn, a 94-year-old man who has dedicated the last 33 years to personally tending the Victor Gardens of the South Coast District Hospital and Margaret Williams, who trains volunteers for Guide Dogs SA, despite being visually impaired herself.

Ms Intini said it is important to celebrate the continuity of society with intergenerational events that circulate the passing of knowledge, from both old to young and young to old.

“There is no point having age groups all on their own. Society will grind to a standstill that way,” she said.

The affordable, open access festival continues to showcase the creativity, vitality and ingenuity of SA’s ageing community, by having as few rules and limitations as possible.

“There’s nobody dictating how it should happen,” Ms Intini said.

“The events are run by the people, for the people.”

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