A_R_R_2015_04

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER | 37

ZOE

D

ot is 94. To

celebrate her 94th

birthday this year,

Dot took a ride on

a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

In a society that tends to

shun and dismiss the elderly,

I felt that this vivacious and

life-affi rming lady had a lot

she could share, especially

regarding how to live a long,

vital and passionate life.

Dot: I don’t feel old. I like

young company ... young

people. Anybody has only got

to suggest something and I’m

up and away.

Zoe: Hence the motorcycle

ride for your 94th birthday!

Was that the fi rst time you’d

been on a motorcycle?

Dot: Oh no, no, no! In my day,

if a fella had a motorbike he

was very popular. Oh yeah,

I loved to ride on the back.

I’ve had a good time ... no

regrets. And I’m going to have

some more too! I’m ready for

anything!

Zoe: Do you think that’s the

key to a happy life?

Dot: Oh yeah, be ready and

open for anything. At the drop

of a hat! Good health is also

one of the most important

things in life. Eat good tucker.

Don’t eat a lot of rubbish —

there’s a lot of that around

nowadays. And make sure

you keep your body moving.

Don’t sit around too much.

I’m always up, gardening or

going for a walk or something.

I’ve got lots of nice memories

and plenty of friends. I’m

doing alright!

Zoe: What’s the hardest thing

about ageing?

Dot: It’s a young people’s

society.

Zoe: That’s a shame isn’t it? I

think there’s a beauty in age.

I think there’s a wisdom that

should be shared.

Dot: God, we must have

something to off er. A er all

those years, all that experience

— we must’ve learnt

something! It’s all a learning

process — you can always

learn something. I’m still

learning. I like meeting people.

Everyday there’s something

out there waiting for you.

Zoe: You just have to get out of

bed and meet the day.

Dot: Yes, sometimes it’s hard

to get out of bed ... but a day

without a laugh is a day wasted.

Zoe: Laughter is so important

isn’t it! I struggle to laugh

sometimes. I get bogged down.

Dot: Yes, feel a bit sorry for

yourself do you?

Zoe: You could put it that way

(laughs).

Dot: Well it passes, it all passes.

Zoe: Where did you grow up?

Dot: I grew up in Kurri Kurri,

near Cessnock. Dad was a coal

miner, down in the pit every

day. It was frightful, it was

dark and they were there all

day in that darkness working.

I had great parents, loving

parents. There were none

of these fancy homes and

bathrooms you have now. At

night we carried in a tub for

dad, who came home covered

in black soot. It wasn’t a fancy

life but it was very good.

Zoe: So, it’s true when they say

the simplest lives are o en the

best?

Dot: Yes! Sadly, there was no

work for me in Kurri Kurri so

as soon as I was old enough I

took off for Sydney. I must’ve

had a lot of confi dence I think

when I look back. But I really

think education begins when

you leave school.

Zoe: I couldn’t agree more. All

this money spent on private

school education, for what? I

went to a private school but

I don’t believe it necessarily

set me up for a well-rounded

life. I’ve been reading a lot of

articles about this lately. I’d

rather spend all that money on

the school of life!

Dot: Life is out there. It’s not

in the school room. When I

got to Sydney I got a live-in

job. I helped with house work,

cooking and the children ... I

travelled with the families ... I

also had to rear two children

on my own. I should write a

book one day — I don’t think it

would be a best-seller though

(laughs). I would add that

everyone should keep a diary.

You don’t think you’re going to

forget but you do. There’s too

much! You can’t store it all in

your head.

Zoe: How did you get through

the tough times?

Dot: Just face up to it and

do what’s got to be done. Be

open. Every day is diff erent,

which is good. Every day you

don’t know what’s going to

happen, what you’re going

to experience. Every day

something turns up. That’s

what makes life so interesting.

It’s all out there waiting.

Having spent the morning with

Dot, I came away feeling like it’s

a damn shame we don’t wish

to garner more wisdom from

those of us in the community

that have lived to twice our

age. I was reminded recently

that a key to a happy life is

honesty, open-mindedness and

willingness. Dot is certainly a

testament to that.

Thank you Dot for taking

the time to talk with me. ARR

CHIT-CHAT WITH DOT

ZOE NAYLOR

In a life well lived, there’s a lot to be said for motorcycling

being the elixir of life

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