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!
Motivated to live fully and embrace every stage of life, Joy has spent decades challenging herself, exploring the world, and pursuing her passions. From trekking across continents to leading fitness classes well into her 80s, she has continuously sought out experiences that keep her curious, active, and engaged. Here’s her story.
Joy Walterfang, 83, has always been an adventurer. From trekking across the Himalayas to walking the Spanish Camino, she’s always sought experiences that push her boundaries, satisfy her curiosity, and ignite her sense of wonder.
But recently, after decades of international travel, Joy decided it was time to put away her passport and turn her gaze closer to home.
‘I’m tired of the long-haul flights and all the cancellations,’ she laughs, cosy in her Adelaide home. ‘And I seem to get sick every time I go overseas now.’
Joy explains that Australia has so much beauty she hasn’t explored, and the decision to stay in her own backyard hasn’t slowed her down one bit. In fact, it has opened up a whole new chapter of adventure.
Most notably, a six-day trek across the Flinders Range, where Joy and a group of hikers marched alongside camels carrying all the gear—water, food, and camping supplies.
The group began each day with a morning workout before packing up camp and walking for several hours. They’d stop for lunch, then clamber on for several more hours before settling into their nightpost and rolling out the swags under the stars.
‘The camelier with us had a laser, and he used it to point out all these different stars. It was amazing,’ she recalls.
But it was the untouched colours and texture of the gorges that really took Joy’s breath away.
‘These [gorges] are places that nobody else could get to, except by foot. They were so remote and glorious, with magnificent gum trees. And the rocks were incredible, with their different colours,’ she recalls warmly.
Before this adventure, Joy had never slept in a swag and wasn’t sure if she’d enjoy it. But it was all part of the experience.
‘It felt like climbing into a little coffin. But then I noticed the top zipped open, so you could climb in and out easily,’ she says. ‘I shared that tip with everyone, and they laughed at me—they said I’d been trying to get in through the window!’
Though seemingly small, genuine interactions like that drive Joy: her adventures aren’t just for the physical challenge, they’re about inspiration and connection, too. Many of her fellow hikers on that trip were decades younger, yet her presence reminded them that age is no barrier to curiosity or courage.
‘They were excited to be with someone so old because it made them realise they had more years of adventure ahead than they thought,’ Joy laughs. ‘It made me feel that the planet is in good hands for the future.’
Joy has two rules she’s always lived by. One is to make a positive difference wherever she can. And the other?
Never get too comfortable.
‘When I start thinking something might be a little bit hard, or I don’t know that I really want to do it, then I make myself do it,’ she says.
It’s a philosophy she has applied to every area of her life—from trekking and hiking to her decades-long career in journalism.
Joy spent much of her professional life as a journalist, most recently with Winestate, before retiring when the magazine closed. Retirement hasn’t slowed her career down, though; she’s simply shifted her focus.
She has been a fitness instructor for 25 years, teaching students across generations. On Sundays, she leads hikes with her gym group and writes detailed reflections about the experience, feeding her creativity and intellectual curiosity.
‘Writing is really challenging,’ she states. ‘You have to take all your ideas and shape them into something clear and succinct. But it’s nice when you read through it and think, “Yes! I’ve captured the feeling of whatever I was doing or seeing.”’
Writing helps her process life, even as she adapts to the realities of ageing. Swapping hills for mountains, Joy remains fiercely committed to her philosophy of continual growth.
‘You’re never too old to improve your physical being,’ she says. ‘You can increase your muscle mass at any age. You just have to keep moving and stay curious.’
For Joy, ageing well isn’t a matter of avoiding challenges and slowing down; it’s about continuing to expand, explore, and engage with life. Even when the body aches or mornings start stiff, she presses on, motivated by the delight of discovery and the thrill of learning something new.
When asked if she thinks she’ll ever slow down, she simply says with a laugh: ‘No. I just want to keep going and fall off a cliff.’
Whether hiking alongside camels, writing about her experiences, or inspiring those around her, Joy proves that age is just a number—and the desire to explore life is endless when you lean into it.
