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!
Wanting to take better care of herself, Trini found inspiration in an unexpected place: a newspaper ad for a pole dancing class. She set aside previous judgements, gave it a try, and before long, she began reaping the benefits of her newfound passion, including more confidence in her work as a nurse. Here’s her story.
At 42, Trini found herself at a crossroads.
As a nurse, Mum, daughter, and sister, she had spent decades caring for others. She knew it was time to turn the spotlight inwards.
‘I decided, okay, I’m getting older. I need to look after myself better. As women, we tend to look after everyone else and put ourselves last,’ she says.
Trini had no interest in joining a gym. She felt claustrophobic and pressured in traditional gym environments, and treadmills and exercise machines seemed ‘boring’ to her.
Instead, she found unexpected inspiration in a newspaper ad: a local pole dancing class.
Trini admits she was skeptical at first, riddled with the quintessential doubts and judgments society often casts on the practice. Yet curiosity won. She signed up and brought her best friend along for the ride—and moral support.
The first class was nerve-wracking, but it revealed a community of women across generations, united by a desire to challenge themselves and have fun. Trini, who had no dance or fitness background, felt initially clumsy. But she persevered, motivated only because she had paid for three months of classes up front.
‘I was really bad, but I thought I’d stick around to see what happens. Then, towards the end of the three months, I learned to invert, going upside down. And it was just the most exciting thing I’d ever, ever done in my life,’ she beams.
Surrounded by cheers and the newfound revelation of what her body was capable of, she was hooked from then on.
She attended workshops, met inspiring women, and even competed in pole dancing competitions. She didn’t always place—but the journey mattered more to her than the accolades. Each performance, each challenge, and each practice session strengthened her body, her mind, and her confidence.
The benefits of her commitment became clear over time.
Trini, now 58, avoids many health issues that frequently accompany ageing. Her bones are strong, her cholesterol is at a healthy level, and her mental resilience is formidable. ‘I hardly ever get sick. And I’m a lot stronger mentally,’ she adds.
And where does she feel those gains in mental strength the most?
In her work as a nurse.
‘Pole dancing has made me more assertive,’ she says. ‘I started speaking up and advocating for my clients and not allowing fear to stop me from doing that.’
Beyond physical and mental fortitude, Trini discovered a fundamental truth.
‘It doesn’t matter what size, how small or big we are, we really are capable of pushing through the limits of what our potential is, of what our body is capable of doing. A lot of it really is our mindset.’
Petite and often underestimated, Trini jokingly compares herself to a Chihuahua—small, but fiercely determined. Her story certainly reflects that.
At just 18, Trini left a challenging life in the Philippines and arrived in Australia. She’s made it a point to give back ever since; in fact, she and her husband have sponsored numerous family members and helped countless others. Her life has grown richer over time, not just in opportunities, but in the capacity to make a meaningful impact.
Her advice for ageing well is simple yet profound: Embrace life fully, move your body, maintain the right mindset, and find ways to help others. ‘Life is for living,’ she says. ‘We have plenty of time to be dead. Don’t sit around and do nothing.’
‘Anything is possible’ – Trini
These days, gardening, caring for multiple pets, and maintaining her home keep Trini plenty busy, but she hasn’t stopped moving. She now has a pole in her home, where she practices weekly while using videos, books, and online resources to refine her skills.
And even though her current practice is in the privacy of her own home, she shares her journey with over 1,000 followers on a public Facebook page. She uses it not just for herself, but to inspire other people her age to stay active—whether through pole dancing, gardening, or simple daily movement.
‘We can’t be young forever—try to make the best out of it, and be grateful,’ she advises.
For Trini, living boldly is about moving, growing, and interacting with the world on her terms. Her journey from tentative curiosity to confident inversion is a reminder that life doesn’t slow with age—it evolves. She shows us that strength, courage, and joy can be choices we make every day, and when we live anchored in those tenets, life becomes a lived celebration.
