Age no barrier for adventurous Whangarei retirement village ladies

Joy Norrish, left, and Margaret Kernot: "You've got to get the adrenaline going somehow. We do live in a retirement village." Photo / Peter de Graaf

For some oldies a good outing is a day of indoor bowls or a visit to a rose garden.

For others, like the residents of Jane Mander Retirement Village in Whangarei, it's a day of soaring 300m above the Bay of Islands attached only to a cable and piece of fabric.

The five ladies, aged 78-81, went parasailing with Paihia-based Flying Kiwi yesterday for no other reason than a bit of adventure.

Jean Bruerton, left, and Anne Allen in their harnesses ready to go parasailing. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Conditions were ideal with only a gentle swell and light cloud as a respite from the sweltering heat as two-by-two the ladies were strapped into harnesses, clipped to the sail, then lifted into the sky as the boat accelerated until they were just a pair of dots hanging off a bright orange parachute high above the water.

Each flight lasted 10 minutes.

Margaret Kernot, 81, said it was her first time parasailing but it definitely wouldn't be her last.

''I loved it. The views, the relaxation, everything about it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I knew I would.''

Mrs Kernot said she had no fear of heights and actually enjoyed the adrenaline rush.

''You've got to get the adrenaline going somehow. We do live in a retirement village.''

Jean Bruerton, left, and Anne Allen react as they are lifted into the sky. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Joy Norrish, also 81, said: ''If it scares you a bit, and it's an adventure, it's good. It lets the kids know I'm still alive.''

Anne Allen, 80, had only intended to go along as a spectator but changed her mind at the last moment.

''I'm a wuss normally, I never do this sort of thing. I'm glad I went first because I didn't know we were going to go so high. I'm glad I did it but I won't do it again,'' she said.

Jean Bruerton, 78, was also pleased she'd done it, but wished she's popped a painkiller for her hip beforehand.

''At my age you don't know how much time you have left, so you have to take every opportunity to do something exciting or different.''

Jane Mander residents heading to Paihia to go parasailing, from left, Jean Bruerton, Margaret Kernot, Anne Allen, Cathy Verkuylen, Joy Norrish and Hazel Griffith with Michael Davies at the rear. Photo / John Stone

Village activities co-ordinator Michael Davies said he thought one or two residents might be keen when he suggested parasailing. Instead he was inundated.

''I'm constantly surprised by how much they life they still have in them. Your sense of adventure isn't restricted by your age,'' he said.

Also taking part in yesterday's parasailing adventure was Hazel Griffiths.

Originally 10 people had been booked to go parasailing but five had pulled out to go to a memorial for a popular resident who had died earlier in the week.

Mr Davies said he would organise another parasailing excursion in a few weeks.