Michael Kirby tells seniors to Twitter
Former High Court judge, Michael Kirby, has told seniors to Twitter, as well as ‘shouting’ to be heard.
He was speaking at the Aged and Community Services (ACSA) national conference in Perth, which has the theme ‘Get Up, Stand Up’.
“One of the problems is that older people do tend to be very well-mannered, and maybe what is needed is a bit of stirring and shaking,” Mr Kirby said.
“The search for consensus is a good thing, but sometimes when you disagree, you have to speak your mind.”
“Older people are polite in both their personal relationships and in their public behaviour, and that can sometimes be to their costs, economically and socially.”
He said he was no expert on ageing but knew quite a bit for standing up for what you believe in. He said when he retired, he was clueless about technology.
“Before I left the High Court, I’d never opened an email. In the morning my staff would place the emails I should receive before me and that was how it was done.”
He has now learned to send emails and hoped to learn to Twitter as well. He said secretaries should help prepare the next group of older Australians to cope with the new world.
