Victorian blokes living longer than their interstate brothers

MEN in Victoria are outlasting their interstate brothers as life expectancy climbs to a record high, with the gender gap narrowing. Here’s how you can live longer.

VICTORIAN men are living longer than their interstate brothers.

Life expectancy for Victorian blokes is now at a record high of 81.3 years — a 1.8-year jump in a decade — and above the national average of 80.5 years, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show.

Spritely senior Barry Durham is living proof of the living longer, living stronger mantra.

Barry Durham lost 30kg and is determined to live longer and stronger. Picture: Alex Coppel

The 78-year-old from Hawthorn knew he had to do something about his health when he turned 60.

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“I went through 100kg and the 100cm waistline, neither of which at my height are very good measurements,” he said.

“I was getting out of breath doing ordinary things and ­realised I needed to do something about it.

“I started slowly, with a bit of bike riding and then found my way into the gym and kept going. Once I got a bit fit, I started to play squash again and I still am.’’

Barry is now at 75kg after dropping 30kg.

“I feel fantastic. I’m certainly better now than when I turned 60. And I’m much ­mentally sharper.

“I enjoy life. I love food and drink. It’s one way to be able to indulge and stay healthy.’’

Barry is an advocate for the Council On The Ageing’s Living Stronger Living Longer program, which encourages seniors to get fit for physical and emotional wellbeing.

Mr Durham says he feels better at 78 than he did at 60, thanks to improving his health with exercise. Picture: Alex Coppel

COTA’s Victorian chief executive Ronda Held said ­almost 15,000 people were taking part in the program’s progressive strength training in the state.

“It something that they can challenge themselves all the time and get stronger and stronger,’’ Ms Held said.

She said some results had been striking: “There was a guy in residential care who was in a wheelchair, built up his strength to a walker and then to be walking.’’

The program targets both genders, but Ms Held said it was sometimes tougher to get men involved.

Australia’s life expectancy gender gap is narrowing, according to ABS demography director Anthony Grubb.

In the 50 years to 2017, male life expectancy increased by 12.9 years compared with women’s 10.4.

“Australian males can now expect to live 10.8 years longer than the world average of 69.7 years,” Mr Grubb said.

Aussie blokes have an estimated life expectancy of 80.5 years, compared to 84.6 years for females.

CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said many factors contributed to longer life expectancy among males including improved general health and medical advances.

“And there’s more white-collar workers so men are living longer,’’ Mr Felsman said.

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