Day of Older Persons: 'Use it or lose it'

"Use it or lose it"

At 87 years of age, Frankie Wood is leading the kind of lifestyle that would put most 20-year-olds to shame.

Frankie has agreed to share her story as part of the events marking the International Day of Older Persons on Monday, 1 October.

“Music is my life” she says, and when you hear all that Frankie has done during her lifetime, you appreciate this is not just a statement: music has been a way of life for her, and it still is.

As Frankie cheerfully recounts her life story, it’s clear she has led the life she dreamed of. With a colourful past of performance and music, it comes as no surprise that she still keeps her hand in. There is keeping active, and then there's Frankie – her current calendar is overflowing with hobbies, interests, friends and merriment.

Her entertainment roles nowadays include puppeteer, comedienne and singer. She is quite possibly New Zealand’s oldest Puppet Master, writing her own shows and crafting the puppets and stage sets by hand.

Her current show is set to live music provided by Frankie’s puppet show partner, pianist Gwen Neil. Frankie gives Gwen the nod, then the 45-minute show begins. In one segment, Frankie skillfully makes five clowns dance and sing in different voices, and all in time to the music. As Frankie operates a clown on each hand and three by foot on a moving platform, people of all ages enjoy the show.

She performs regularly at places like shopping malls, community organisations and resthomes.

Puppetry aside, Frankie leads a busy life ranging from lawn bowls and mahjong, to writing comedy sketches and children’s stories.

It was her passion for music that led to such an active life, ignited at the age of seven when she met opera star Gladys Moncrief:

“Gladys was the Joan Sutherland of her day. I was amazed when she let me sit backstage to watch rehearsals. That’s when I fell in love with music, and decided that’s what I wanted to do with my life,” says Frankie. And that’s exactly what she went on to do.

She started off by singing for guests at her mother’s boarding house, where the regular lodgers used to pop Frankie on a table for a post-dinner performance.
She then used her talents to raise funds for the local churches and charities.
From there, she started writing comedy sketches and took up acting. At age 25, she started her own all-girl performance group, producing and acting in her own plays and musicals. She says:

“We had a blast, turning a lot of the ‘greats’ like the Scarlett Pimpernel into musicals or melodramas.”

On top of her current hobbies, Frankie is a popular speaker, asked by many local businesses, clubs and organisations to speak at social and networking events. She says “It’s nice that I keep getting asked back. I know I must have hit the right note with the jokes if the audience is laughing out loud!”
It’s clear Frankie has lots of energy and the motivation to go out and live her dreams.

Carol Andrews is a health promotion adviser for Age Concern New Zealand, a charity that works for the rights and well-being of older people. “Contrary to the old-fashioned view about retirement being a time of withdrawal; it is now well established that staying active is a key factor for health and well-being in older age," she says.

Frankie agrees: “My catchphrase is ‘use it or lose it’ – physically and mentally. Retiring doesn’t need to change anything about your lifestyle. It’s an exciting time and I’m just continuing to live the life full of music that I’ve always loved,” Frankie adds.

For more information on keeping active, contact your local Age Concern, or visit www.ageconcern.org.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media