Australian Unity: Tea & Bickies with Graham

Graham, 74, is a resident of Australian Unity’s Willandra Village Retirement Community in Cromer, New South Wales. He lives a full and active life in the Northern Beaches by day, but Graham has a secret double life helping young people in crisis.

He has lived in the area his whole life and worked in the same job in insurance for 42 years. He’s also been a JP (Justice of the Peace) for more than 30 years.

“After I left insurance, I did work with the Salvation Army as a councillor. I just finished after 15 years there.”

Graham now spends his time as a JP working with kids who end up on the wrong side of the law.

“If a young person comes in, whether it be [related to] drugs, theft or something, they have to be bought into the police station and they have to interviewed, and JP gets called. We go down there to witness the whole situation to make sure nothing’s going wrong. Then [I] have the opportunity to talk to some of these young people, and I say to most of them, ‘You can make a choice in life and follow that path and you’ll get somewhere. Never, never give up.’”

Although Graham lives in an Australian Unity retirement community, he hasn’t really retired.

“While I’m able and healthy enough to do it, I’m thankful I can do it. I don’t want to sit down all day.”

Watch Steve Liebmann’s full interview with Graham below:

Click here to find out more about Australian Unity Independent & Assisted Living.