In a hilariously fiery open-letter to Gen Z, Region Illawarra’s own editor Jen White has delivered a straight-talking message to younger people questioning the relevance of the Seniors Card: leave it alone!
Jen is “not quite old enough” to be wielding her own Seniors Card yet, but the mere suggestion that it might disappear by the time she’s ready for it has sent her on a classic rant against a young writer on a neighbouring site – we’ll call him Jarryd – who floated the idea that maybe, just maybe, the Seniors Card is a relic we could do without.
“Before you ask, yes, he is Gen Z,” Jen notes with a smirk, swiftly moving to dissect Jarryd’s logic. This card, designed as a tiny perk for those 67 and up, gives seniors a small break on a coffee or a movie ticket – and Jen has a few choice words for anyone thinking seniors haven’t earned it.
Jarryd argues that his generation is strapped for cash, earning an average of less than $700 a week, while some seniors are bringing in $875 (thanks, pensions) – and they’re not burdened with rent, HECS debt, or mortgages. But Jen doesn’t back down. After all, as she explains, her generation spent decades paying taxes to fund these very pensions and perks.
“While millennials are boo-hooing about six per cent interest rates in 2024, we were paying 17 per cent,” Jen retorts. And that wasn’t for glossy city apartments – we’re talking humble homes, like her first: “an ex-Housing Department, two-bedroom fibro home with no running hot water in the kitchen. And green felt in the cutlery drawer.”
She’s quick to point out that “back in her day” they weren’t riding any wave of government schemes to get that first house, either. No First Home Guarantee, no Regional Home Buyers Guarantee – they got one guarantee, and that was sky-high interest rates.
Sure, times are tough for Gen Z and millennials now, but Jen’s got no patience for the sob story. “Guess what,” she says, “we paid our taxes and helped support those in our community who needed a hand to get by.”
And Jen’s closing words? She’s absolutely claiming her Seniors Card when her time comes – no “gen z whippersnapper” is taking it away! After all, she’s “earned it” – along with that 85-cent discount on her cappuccino.
What Jen doesn’t understand is that her first ex-Housing Department, two-bedroom fibro home with no running hot water in the kitchen. And green felt in the cutlery drawer, likely cost under $20k… and with those interest rates of 17%, it STILL wouldn’t come *anywhere* close to what 6% interest is now on what I bet that very same home is selling for today! In fact, that very same ex-Housing Department, two-bedroom fibro home with no running hot water in the kitchen. And green felt in the cutlery drawer, is likely upwards of 10 times what Jen paid for it! Jen was also entitled to free University education and zero HECS debts in a time when a family could afford to exist on one wage… I think seniors should still have a Senior’s Card, because of the encouragement to maintain social inclusion and connection by getting benefits to get cheaper items, but Jen should not be under the illusion that the cost of living was anywhere near as bad “in her day” as it is now.