92yo says driving is key to independence in regional Queensland

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5 days ago

Most mornings start the same for Graham Brennan.
He's up and out the door early, cruising the tame streets of the outback Queensland town he calls home.
At 92, it's this routine that keeps the nonagenarian feeling decades younger.
"I can't quite believe it myself, I feel about 50 or 60," he quips.
"I love being independent and doing what I want to do, when I want to do, how I want to do it."
Mr Brennan lives in the remote mining city of Mount Isa, almost 2,000 kilometres from Queensland's capital.
Without public transport, options for getting around are limited for ageing locals.
If he didn't have a licence, the 92-year-old would have to walk long distances in temperatures that hover above 30 degrees Celsius for much of the year.
After a stint in a car repair shop thanks to a busted gasket, Mr Brennan was given a taste of the alternative.
"There's no bus, there's a fairly long walk so sometimes I will get a cab home because it's a long way back and it's uphill," Mr Brennan says.
"I was shaking all over when I got the call to say it was done.
In Queensland, there is no upper age limit for a licence, but stringent annual health checks help keep ageing drivers and the broader public safe.
Drivers aged 75 and over must attend a licence medical check every 12 months and always carry a medical certificate.
Mr Brennan's GP, Michael Mbaogu, conducts assessments like these every day.
"A lot is riding on the back of these licences [in regional Queensland]," Dr Mbaogu says.
"If you're unable to drive, then you cannot go where you want.
"In a place like this, they need a vehicle to get around.
There's a delicate balance between public safety and maintaining patient wellbeing and quality of life.
"It's not just about cognitive impairment … we can refer to specialists to check hearing, eyesight, blood pressure," Dr Mbaogu says.
"If we're not sure, we will send them for a practical driving assessment, and if they're not fit to operate a motor vehicle, they will not get a certificate."
Advocacy group Council on the Ageing Queensland chief executive Darren Young said it was important to use capability as the barometer, rather than age.
"Losing a licence is a big fear for people across regional Queensland. It can have really drastic effects," Mr Young says.
"Not being able to see friends or relying on neighbours to go to the shops.
"Some people even stop eating as regularly or they don't get the medication they want."
The Sunshine State has an ageing population. By 2050, government data estimates almost 25 per cent of Queenslanders will be aged 65 and over.
Unlike the major cities, transport options are limited across much of regional Queensland, so Mr Young hopes to see a statewide approach to the growing issue.
"Every community is different and will need a different solution to address their transport needs, so we should start that now and start planning and preparing for that future," he says.
With a clean bill of health, Mr Brennan has been given the green light for the next 12 months.
A long-time volunteer, he uses his freedom to give back to his community, lending a hand at the local Meals on Wheels for the past 20 years.
It gives the 92-year-old a sense of purpose three days a week.
"It's been a wonderful way to help people and serve meals. You meet such wonderful friends and people," he says.
"It's a big family here, I love it."
A licence holder for more than 75 years, Mr Brennan has managed decades on the road without a mark against his record.
But he's realistic about how long it will last and is making the most of it while he can.
"I just obey the rules of the road and take it easy," Mr Brennan says.
"As long as I can hold out and keep driving for Meals on Wheels and life is good to me health-wise, I'll be right."
This story is part of a five-part series exploring how regional Queenslanders are ageing well outside the capital city.