About You

Born in the Philippines, Mitos came to Australia 50 years ago, escaping martial law with her husband and two young sons. Now 84, she’s been a Your Side client for twelve years. Mitos loves traveling and especially enjoys the outings she attends with her Your Side social group.

Mitos juggles a busy social schedule and vigorous exercise regime with spending time with her beloved sons and three grandchildren. She returns to her hometown, Merville, yearly to visit her family and friends. Originally, she found Australian society less welcoming than Filipino culture, but her network widened when she joined her local gym 16 years to improve her posture. 

She found that people opened up in that environment and, although the group spanned generations, jumping around in a Zumba class or body pump, they bonded. Mitos gets up at 6am every day and ensures she always looks her best. She wears make-up and jewelry to work out and has seven different coloured pairs of runners to match her outfits. She has made friends with women who are 20 years younger than her and often meets them to go to the movies or the art gallery. Mitos proudly proclaims to feel healthier now than in her 60s. 

“You must have a positive attitude. You can be old at 50 and you can be young at 84. If you’re always grumpy and looking at the negativity in life, you’ll be unhappy. Focus on the positive, focus on the now. Stop worrying about tomorrow. We have so much to live for.”

Cynthia is an adventurous go-getter who fully embraces life. In 1975, her family moved from China to Australia.  Cynthia married here and has one daughter and a seven-year-old grandchild. Despite her extensive travels, she regards Australia as the ultimate place to call home.

While Cynthia is a social-butterfly, her husband prefers a quieter, solitary life. To combat loneliness, Cynthia is very active in local groups for singing, hiking, table tennis, and swimming. She also challenges her mind with weekly Mahjong games.

Cynthia co-founded the Epping Seniors Club Choir, who perform at public events such as the Granny Smith Festival and Chinese New Year Festival. She loves singing and she demonstrated her versatility by taking on three distinct roles during one performance.

Cynthia seems to have boundless energy – she once became so involved in a table tennis match that she played for hours until an injury forced her to stop. Never one to be setback, she switched to water aerobics. Now she practices both activities regularly and goes on weekly hikes.

On Sundays, Cynthia helps her busy daughter by caring for her grandson and managing household tasks. She applied for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme to get help with cleaning and gardening. Through Your Side, she participates in Social Support groups, where she has built close bonds with friends.

“I want to make every day count. There are so many disasters in the world, fires and floods, people living in poverty. We are lucky to have a good home and our health.”

Patrick’s youthful energy and charm belie his 87 years. Born in South Africa to a Dutch mother and Chinese father, he calls himself a “mixed bag.” Since moving to Australia in 2007, he has returned to South Africa only twice.

He started his music career in 1956 as a backing vocalist for a group called The Bel Aires. He played guitar in another band that was building success until the band leader bolted with their earnings. He then founded Liberty Sound and Vision, a disco and sound equipment company, which he ran from his garage for 15 years.

When Patrick came to Australia, he found work as a handyman until arthritis affected his hands. After joining a Seniors Club, he started performing again, leading to regular gigs and reviving his passion for music.

Patrick and his wife, Eunice, loved attending concerts by jazz and rock legends like Elvis Presley and Louis Armstrong. Eunice now has dementia, and Patrick is her full-time carer. He says, “Your Side is the best thing that has happened to us. Otherwise, we’d just be sitting at home looking at each other.”

Despite arthritis and carpel tunnel preventing him from playing guitar, Patrick continues to sing accompanied by backing tracks. He finds joy in entertaining others and credits music for keeping him young at heart.

“I’ve never given up on anything; I just carry on. I’ve had a good life, and I’m still having a good life. I’ve done everything. Maybe I’ll even do some more modelling!”