Intergenerational impacts: the apple doesn’t fall far from the family tree

^{Cultural Sensitivity Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images of deceased persons.}

Mentors, playmates and backups for parents – regardless of the role they undertake, grandparents play a significant part in our lives. Whether it’s through informal childcare, a shoulder to laugh and cry on, or the wisdom of life lessons – the contributions grandparents provide to their family, community, and society are plentiful.

Grandparents have experienced world events most people can’t fathom, such as the Great Depression and World Wars. Not only can they offer wisdom, but through working and post-retirement their contributions while in the workforce and assisting with childcare are vital to our economy.

As Australia's first member of the Age-Friendly University Global Network, The University of Queensland (UQ) is recognising the challenges and needs of older people by addressing the role universities can play in research, teaching and learning to ensure a more age-inclusive society.

UQ Business School researcher and linguist Dr Kate Power explores the role grandparents have played in the lives of five of UQ's senior leaders, and unearths the lessons and values they have passed on.

Dr Kate Power, UQ Business School

Dr Kate Power, UQ Business School

Planting the seed for learning

_{Image Credit: Adobe Stock/Sibashouse}

^{Image Credit: Adobe Stock/Sibashouse}

Deborah Terry's grandparents, James and Marjorie Thomson.

Professor Deborah Terry

_{UQ Vice-Chancellor and President}

Professor Deborah Terry’s childhood was split between Australia and the United Kingdom, as her family moved around in the defence force. This allowed her to spend time with her paternal grandmother Frances Terry in Australia, and maternal grandparents James and Marjorie Thomson, who lived in the UK.

Being raised around three strong grandparents influenced Professor Terry immensely growing up, but she particularly gained a lot from her relationship with her paternal grandmother. Speaking to Frances about her interests and aspirations taught the Vice-Chancellor a lot about writing, reading, and “big ideas about the fortitude of women”.

“[Frances] was one of the very first graduates from the University of Western Australia,” Professor Terry said.

“Afterwards, she became a journalist and a writer."

“She had five boys but seemed to always be focused on big ideas. Right until she died in her nineties, she could tell you a lot about what was happening in Australian politics.”

By constantly moving around while growing up, Professor Terry learned about the importance of family from her maternal grandparents.

Living in a boarding school in Canberra made her realise that regardless of her upbringing, she remained close to her extended family.

“That’s where I learned that family is about connection. You don't have to live next door to each other, but it is about always that connection – the phone calls and visits.”
Professor Deborah Terry

Professor Andrew Griffiths

_{Business, Economics, and Law (BEL) Faculty Executive Dean}

Professor Andrew Griffiths picked up a love of reading and learning from his WWII veteran grandparents, Edna and William “Jack” Griffiths on his father’s side and Mavis and Les on his mother’s side.

“None of them had the opportunity to finish school, but that didn’t stop them having a love of learning which stayed with them throughout their lives,” he said.

Professor Griffiths also reflects on his grandparents’ sustainable habits; from shorts made out of curtains to crushed soft drink bottles in concrete mix, nothing ever went to waste at his grandparents’ house.

“If you were exploring their houses, you’d find Vegemite jars nailed to a wall. When you unscrewed them, they were filled with nails, or tacks, so nothing was actually ever lost," he said.

“My nan, Mavis, made shorts for my brother and myself out of curtains. I think they ended up being these big flowery shorts. They were pretty wild. Something that you’d probably see our students wearing now!”

“My two grandmothers were pokey bandits! They were so much fun and taught me to actively enjoy life.”

Associate Professor Sandra Phillips

_{Humanities and Social Science (HASS) Faculty Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement)}

Raised by a single mother, Associate Professor Sandra Phillips lived among her extended family on their ancestral lands in a small Queensland country town. Among them were her maternal grandparents, Lily Hill (maiden name Mimi) and Walter Hill.

_{Cultural Sensitivity Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following image includes deceased persons.}

Lily Hill née Mimi (third from the right) with her siblings and mother.

Lily Hill née Mimi (third from the right) with her siblings and mother.

Her grandmother's strong and loving presence, and Sandra's Indigenous roots inspired her respect for older women.

“My Nana was a strong and loving presence and also lovingly disciplined us when she thought we were being too cheeky,” Professor Phillips recalls.

Her Indigenous culture and grandparents’ role taught her how to be herself and also be part of a collective.

“You learn how to have your own opinion, but qualified as needed around Elders that you need to be mindful of what their perspective is. You learn from the love, but you also learn how to be humble.”

"When you grow up in that environment, you have huge respect for senior women, particularly senior Aboriginal women," she said.

Professor Phillips credits the strong influence of her grandma and mother in helping lead her and her sisters to pursue education.

“My sisters and I were the first members of our extended maternal family to finish year 12 and the first family members to go onto higher education, and I link that to the fact that Nana and Mum was a reader.”

“Nana used to read these little westerns that circulated in our family. So, I link my participation in formal higher education to the fact of Nana's literacy and mum’s very strong literacy as well.”

Professor Craig Franklin

_{President of the UQ Academic Board}

Professor Craig Franklin has vivid memories of his one living grandparent in New Zealand whom he got to know well, filled with awe of the man who owned a butchery in Christchurch and had “a real presence about him.”

“In the 60s, when I used to visit the butchery, they still had sawdust on the floor. That smell of pine sawdust and meat is such a strong memory for me,” Professor Franklin said.

He credits a connection in his interest in biology to his grandfather. “As a butcher, my grandfather was a wealth of knowledge.”

“In terms of principles, being a hard worker was definitely drummed into my father from my grandfather, and in turn, into me as well."

“His work ethic was very important. Integrity and professionalism were also really important. So those principles, I definitely stand by."

Professor Doune Macdonald

_{Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)}

Fortunately for Professor Doune Macdonald, all four of her grandparents lived locally in Brisbane.

Her paternal grandparents, Donald and Jean Macdonald came from a sheep station near Winton before moving to a farm outside of Brisbane to grow strawberries.

On her mother’s side, her fun-loving grandparents were Kit and Gordon Gow. Gordon worked at the well-known food distributor R.M. Gow operating from Brisbane throughout the Asia Pacific war.

“All four grandparents were very different but so important in enriching our lives as kids who didn't have cousins. We referred to our grandparents as our extended family rather than having any aunts or uncles or cousins,” Professor Macdonald said.

“Kit taught us all the board games – whether it be Mahjong or bridge or solo, she was the one who sat us down as children and taught us to become reasonably skilled at a range of games that provide social connections.”

“I have special memories from going to Jean and Donald's little farm when they retired outside of Brisbane and had the opportunity to pick strawberries, vegetables and collect the eggs – that was pretty special for kids who were very urban. It taught us the pleasure of being self-sufficient."

Branching out

As a century-old institution, UQ’s firmly planted roots has left behind strong legacies and traditions. Now is the time to create new ones.

With their appreciation for their grandparents – and some being grandparents themselves – UQ’s senior leaders also identified opportunities to honour and include other grandparents, older students, and mature alumni at UQ.

“Ensuring accessibility to campus is one thing,” Professor Griffiths said.

“There's a program that we ran at the State Library in collaboration with Telstra called Tech Savvy Seniors – I think it's really important that we consider this, given the challenges of technology. With the way that technology is, giving people the ability to understand how to utilise technology is important so that people don't miss out."

“We have to be mindful of this notion that people don't stop learning. [People think] that you get to a particular age, you're disposable,” he said.

On that note, Professor Franklin agreed, “I find that grandparents, and older people, have a lot to offer because they have wisdom. Wisdom gained from experiences that built up over your lifetime needs to be shared because there are lots of learnings from them.”

Professor Macdonald suggested hosting ‘grandparent day’ events that equally celebrates grandparents and recognise the generational commitment to learning.

Likewise, Professor Phillips recommended opportunities for events to use language that includes grandparents and other extended family, rather than just parents or guardians.

Blooming jacaranda tree at the University of Queensland St Lucia campus

Leading the way for Australian universities

UQ’s strides to becoming Australia’s first age-friendly university are reflected in several programs that offer opportunities and support for people of all ages. The UQ Age Friendly University Initiative, led by Health and Behavioural Sciences Professor Nancy Pachana, engages with older students and offers strategic and generative intergenerational contact opportunities.

Not only do universities play an essential role in educating the next generation of researchers, practitioners, and citizens, according to Professor Pachana, but they also serve the needs, goals, and aspirations of society.

“Older adults are a vital component of our community, and understanding how to make life better for all of us as we grow older is timely and important,” she said.

“Being an age-friendly university, we ensure that we are responding to lifelong learning and consider where people might be in their lives as parents and grandparents,” Professor Terry said.

Harnessing the older community’s plethora of knowledge, experience, and wisdom can lead to opportunities to teach, train, research, and improve student learning experiences. Additionally, appreciating the knowledge passed down can foster positive intergenerational relationships.

Intergenerational impacts:
the apple doesn’t fall far from the family tree