As many of you will know from weekend media, Susan Ryan, the former Senator and Federal Age Discrimination Commissioner, died on the weekend at the age of 77.
Susan was a pioneer in many issues for ending discrimination of women and more recently championing the rights of older people.
Earlier this year, we invited Susan Ryan to be the keynote speaker at the Warm Safe Home Forum in Warrnambool, as part of 2020 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Although “retired” Susan was still active in the ageism space and her response was immediate: “it is such a fundamental matter re older people’s rights-basically, no secure home, no protection of rights.”
While Susan couldn’t attend in-person, her keynote speech to the Forum through the virtual platform was inspirational and well-informed. We’ll be forever grateful that she lent her name to the project.
Susan Ryan was forthright in articulating these to the wider community. Australia will miss the leadership that Susan Ryan demonstrated and continued to show through her senior years.
In memory of Susan Ryan.
By Gary Ferguson | Education Co-ordinator | Seniors Rights Victoria at COTA (VIC)