There's no stopping this mother, daughter duo. One is a well-known author, speaker and commentator in the media. The other is a scholar who helped shape her daughter's resilience and staunch views on ageism, feminism and a champion for mature age students.
Enter Jane Caro and Kate Caro - Macquarie Uni alumni. Jane graduated from a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature in 1977. Kate also studied a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and graduated as a mature age student in her 40's in 1978.
There's no stopping mother, daughter duo, Jane Caro and Kate Caro. Image: Supplied
Their overlapping studies coincided with a decade of activism and sweeping social change. The Whitlam era brought free university education and greater access for disadvantaged students, alongside reforms in equal pay, access to contraception and women's rights.
Surprisingly, in an era of intense politics and protest, one of the most endearing memories of this time was their drive into and from the campus together. And when Jane moved out of home, it made it even more special for her to see her mum on campus.
"In my second and third year at university, I wasn't living at home," Jane said.
"But it was quite nice that I could see my mother, around the campus rather than making special trips to see her on the weekend."
Kate reminisces about her time as a mature age student. Going in nervously, wondering if she would be able to keep up and do the work, Kate's time at Macquarie Uni became one of her most enriching life experiences.
"Jane was having a wonderful time in her young way, but I was having a wonderful time in my way because just opening my mind and meeting all these other people who wanted to open their minds, it was great," Kate said.
"Do what really appeals and get the joy out of it, because that'll pay off in the end." - Kate Caro
"Don't forget to have fun. It's a life you are living, not a career you are building." - Jane Caro
Jane recalls – a little enviously - that her mum basically got straight A's!
"I think that probably had a slightly negative effect on me, so I decided I wasn't going to try and compete with my mother. I just did what I needed to do, lived by the view that P's got degrees and still had a fantastic time," Jane said.
One thing that did upset Jane was the resentment, amongst some of the younger students to the mature age students.
"Because they were so highly motivated. Most of them were older women, and they had been told that they couldn't go to university because it was too expensive, so the brothers would go if anyone from the family went.
She felt this generation of talented women had earlier been "thwarted" from participation, and their success later in life should be greatly celebrated.
"When they got the opportunity, they really put their heart and soul into doing well, and certainly mum did," Jane said.
Breaking down the next barrier
After graduating, Jane honed a successful career in media and advertising, emerging as one of the country's leading public intellectuals. For decades, she's spearheaded successful campaigns on public education, women's workplace rights and social equality.
But she worries there is still one problem our society refuses to tackle.
Jane has famously described ageism as the "last acceptable prejudice".
From Kate's perspective, it's the workforce that has encouraged that way of thinking.
A former relationship counsellor, Kate's still going strong at 95, and says she could've kept working till she was 75.
"People are living so much longer. You need to move the 'leaving work' attitude to much older," Kate said.
Jane, a self-employed writer isn't slowing down either.
"I think this idea that people get to their use by date, choof off and make way for younger people - that only younger people have energy and only younger people can have new ideas is… ageism. And it is still an acceptable attitude to hold."
Why does Australia have a problem with ageism?
If you ask Jane, she'll tell you it's a 'you' problem.
"As with all kinds of prejudices, that's actually your problem, not the older person's problem. And they shouldn't have to carry the burden of your lack of maturity about your own ageing process and demise," said Jane.
Now in her late 60's, Jane is quick to express her thoughts on how ageism is split along gender lines.
"The sexism that has been part of our societies for 2000 years is still heavily ingrained. Ageism for women, in one way, is harder, because sexism is also included in it. We know older women are poorer than men, more likely to end up homeless," Jane said.
"On the other hand, it's also easier for women, because we're used to being othered. Whereas if you're a white, straight man, you take it for granted that you're the benchmark - until you get old, and then suddenly you get othered too."
Jane says she's watched it happen to her own peers, including her father.
"The shock of realising you're suddenly an old man, not just a man - you'll be patronised, and really invisible in a way you've never been before. Women are kind of used to that. It's not a shock in the same way. I often think ageing is harder on men than it is on women. For them, ageing is all deficit, nothing improves, everything gets worse."
For women, Jane says, there is one unexpected upside: menopause.
"Once you're through it and you never quite know when you are — your body goes back to being the way it was before you were a teenager. It doesn't hurt every month, it doesn't bleed every month. For women, there is a huge positive side to getting older. There isn't for men."
Inspired by her own mother's energy and passion later in life, Jane says she is increasingly focused on challenging ageism and making it as unacceptable as other forms of prejudice.
"You can't hold it about women anymore. You can't hold it about people of colour. You can't hold it about people with disability. But oh, you can hold it about older people. You sure can," she said .
