THESE two shire residents are redefining what it means to be a "senior".
Di Gorman, at 64, of Cronulla, and Percy Clayton, at 103, of Caringbah, both fall well within the 55 to 105 age spectrum for shire seniors.
Mrs Gorman and Mr Clayton met for the first time this week at Sutherland Shire Council's annual Seniors Week Luncheon at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre and were able to compare their views on life, work and the ways of the young.
Mrs Gorman was born in 1950 in St George and Mr Clayton in 1910 in Stockport, Lancashire, England.
She left school in 1965 and he in 1925.
Mrs Gorman's first job was working at MLC life insurance, while Mr Clayton worked as a packer in a cotton mill in Lancashire.
Yet while they were born almost 40 years apart and on different sides of the world, they both had similar interests when growing up — going to the movies and dancing.
Mr Clayton said the main historical event he witnessed was World War II. He remembers watching the bombers flying over Manchester.
The Moon landing and the 2000 Sydney Olympics are the main events for Mrs Gorman.
They both believe today's young people lead very different lives to how they lived when growing up.
"They have everything they want," Mrs Gorman said.
"They are happy with what they have got. They have technology at their fingertips.
"We always made our own fun; there was a lot more social interaction.
"When I grew up at Oatley you could play on the streets. Now it's not so safe; there's too much traffic."
She also said young people were suffering through bullying, too much drinking and a lack of manners.
Mrs Gorman retired in 2007 and volunteers for the council's Seniors Activity Unit.
Mr Clayton still drives his car every day to Caringbah Woolworths to buy the paper.
"I haven't retired yet," he said, "I take the dog for a walk and cut the grass."
A total of 475 seniors where allocated free tickets to the annual Seniors Week luncheon.
Among them were 12 centenarians, including Mr Clayton, who between them made up more that 1200 years of life experience.
Events included seminars, walks, bird watching, yoga, table tennis and fitness.
