Our Super Seniors series celebrates the inspiring stories of older folk who are rewriting the rules of ageing. Embracing life with passion and purpose, these Super Seniors ignore societal expectations and live boldly—whatever that means to them. Join us as we share their journeys of strength, joy, and fearlessness. Want to share your story, or know someone who should be featured? Send an email to news@thecareside.com.au and let us know!
Julie has always been an active person, but she never had her own “thing.” She didn’t dance or do gymnastics, but she was fascinated by the circus and intrigued by the idea of performing. It wasn’t until later in life that, by total happenstance, Julie stumbled upon a course-altering hobby that has since become her greatest passion. Here’s her story.
Julie Emerton spends a lot of time suspended six meters off the ground.
She’s an aerialist, and she hones her craft while twisting, inverting, and soaring around on aerial silks with the confidence and strength of someone half her age. And that’s the point: at 63, Julie proves with every graceful maneuver that age is no barrier to chasing dreams, pushing physical limits, and embracing adventure.
Her journey into aerial arts began at age 50, when her daughter invited her to try a new aerialist training program in Cairns, Far North Queensland. From that first taste of aerial silks, she was hooked and began training.
Coincidentally, taking up silks felt like a full-circle moment for Julie—she was fascinated by the circus, though she never had any ties to it.
‘I don’t remember what I did before that made me happy, if that makes any sense,’ she explains. ‘I loved watching [the circus] on TV, but I’d never been to one. The first time I went, I was in my 40s. I liked the idea of performing and doing stuff like that, but as a child, I wasn’t even able to do a cartwheel!’
Julie also never danced, did gymnastics, or participated in any formal physical arts, but she was always active. Growing up as the eldest of five, she arm wrestled her brothers and beat them, demonstrating her impressive upper-body strength. Later, her career as a nurse required her to be on her feet all day.
In light of her natural propensity for fitness, Julie admits that starting aerial arts was more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
She’d always accepted that she couldn’t do certain things, never fully recognising that everyone starts as a beginner and needs guidance. To her surprise, learning aerial arts came naturally to her once she was (quite literally) shown the ropes.
Early in her journey, Julie and her daughter trained twice weekly, often travelling the two-hour stretch between Cairns and Mission Beach so they could take to the air. These days, she typically trains once a week, but she still describes the pull of the activity as irresistible—like an addiction, though she swears her focus remains on fun rather than competition.
Of course, life as an aerial artist is not without risk.
Julie recalls multiple tumbles, including one particular fall when she landed on her neck while learning a new trick. It was painful and frightening, but she was unharmed and believes the experience only strengthened her commitment to focusing on the art.
‘When I’m up there, I feel really focused and strong. It’s completely different from anything I’ve ever done,’ she says.
‘I think that’s where the addiction aspect comes from—it’s a totally selfish thing to do. If you don’t concentrate and get it right, you fall. So it’s kind of a real moment for yourself.’
Those moments have added up over the years and provided Julie with fresh perspectives, especially when it comes to getting older.
She thinks listening to negative comments about age can limit what people believe they are capable of, and she credits her aerial training with keeping her strong and centred. Her approach to life now is uncomplicated: ‘Don’t sit down. Keep moving. If you’re able to, keep moving. It’s as simple as that.’
In her pre-aerial arts days, Julie might not have offered such resolute advice.
A naturally shy person, she’s developed new levels of confidence and a love of performing that awakens her inner child and empowers her to experience moments of complete presence. She mostly trains with younger people, and she relishes opportunities to share the wisdom that can only materialise with the passage of time.
‘[I tell them to] keep going, and don’t worry about stuff,’ she explains.
‘I always ask myself: Will this bother me in a week’s time? Will it bother me in three months? Will it bother me in a year? And then you can place the importance in what you’re looking at.’
Indeed, Julie’s story and the way she shares it coalesce into a poetic reminder to live in the moment—to be present, curious, and open to new experiences. But Julie also personifies what it means to remain grounded, which is pretty ironic for someone who spends so much time in the air.
