Knoxfield couple Tilda Lakatos and Barry George are living their best lives exploring Melbourne and Victoria.
The pair, who are regulars on the Council bus taking residents on community outings, embody the theme of this year's Knox Seniors Festival - Learn Love Live.
Tilda and Barry recently visited Mornington Market, saw the northern countryside with stops at Kinglake and Yea, and enjoyed a Gippsland gastronomy tour. Other outings have taken in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Tram Museum, Yarra Ranges and even mystery tours through Melbourne's suburbs.
Tilda, 78, says she started using Council's bus service to get out of the house and meet people.
"I decided I've got to go and talk to people, see people, so I phoned up the Council and they sent me out a brochure of what is available," she says. "You can see the scenery, you talk to people, have a cup of coffee and cake or lunch, and enjoy it. It is very important and we look forward to going out because where the buses go, we don't usually go in that direction."
Barry, 80, who volunteers at Scoresby's National Steam Centre running the miniature railway for children, says it's a nice change to be a passenger.
"Trains, trams and buses is my hobby," he says. "When you're driving you don't notice what's going on around you whereas in the bus you get to relax and see a lot.
"It's getting out of the house, which we hadn't been doing a lot of, and going places that we perhaps wouldn't go ourselves. And talking to other people on the bus. At morning tea and lunch, you sit at the table and end up talking to other people.
"We get picked up at 9 o'clock in the morning and we probably won't be home until half past 3 or 4."
The pair also stay active at an exercise group at Carrington Park and attend hydrotherapy sessions at Knox Leisureworks each week.
Further information on community transport
Knox Seniors Festival dance
Join us for the closing event of the Knox Seniors Festival 2023 on Friday 27 October.
Get your dancing shoes on and enjoy an afternoon as the live band provides the soundtrack for you to have fun and enjoy your favourite tunes from the 50's and 60's.
When: Friday 27 October, 2023
Time: 1:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Where: Rowville Community Centre, 40 Fulham Rd, Rowville.
Cost: $10.00
