We’re all getting older, which is a wonderful thing!

With many of us now enjoying far more of our retirement years, we have so much time to do the things we want to do, and to read what we want to read.

That’s where an exciting new magazine called “Seniors Happy Life” comes in.

Seniors Happy Life is an innovative new national publication that promises “100% Enjoyment” for readers right across Australia, and is the result of a collaboration between two friends, both successful regional publishers over many years across Central West NSW.

With the first-ever pilot issue having just been published, Director of “Seniors Happy Life” Bob Holland believes there’s never been a magazine quite like it.

“This is not just another publication, our aim is to put some more enjoyment into people’s lives. ‘Content is king’ is the golden rule of successful magazine publishing, and that’s what we’ve tried to deliver,” he said.

“It has no ads at all, and is totally devoted to being entertaining and uplifting and informing those of us in our latter years looking for a bright read to add to the enjoyment of our lives,” he added.

Seniors Happy Life is packed with 40 pages of appropriate stories, laughs, puzzles, sentiment, nostalgia and more, all designed to make readers feel good – all in colour, and because the publication has Seniors’ special needs in mind, it is printed in LARGE PRINT.

The publication is aimed at not just the elderly still in their homes, but for those in aged care facilities, group homes and retirement villages all around Australia.

“I want this to be viewed by aged care facilities as almost an aide, as a way of putting some enjoyment in people’s lives,” Bob explained.

“We’re all living longer, and so many of us are requiring not just increased care for our physical health, but for our mental and emotional well-being. I see this as a sort of ‘Panadol of magazines’,” Bob explained.

Marketing Manager Donna Falconer, well known as one of the faces of Dubbo Photo News, believes that the growing market for a product like Seniors Happy Life is part of the publication’s unique appeal.

“Our target market is seniors, we want to bring some joy into their lives, along with the benefits that this brings to their well-being and happiness,” she explained.

“I don’t see anything out there quite like it,” she added.

Another unique feature of the magazine is that it is chock-full of original writing, comment, jokes and fun facts – no free plugs, media releases or government bulletins cluttering its bright pages.

From the original artwork cover – in the style of the famous Norman Rockwell “Saturday Evening Post” illustrations of the 1920s and 1930s – to the feature articles, interviews and comment pages, it’s all work from the extended Seniors Happy Life team.

“It’s light, informative and entertaining, all bundled into one,” Donna said.

“At a time like this when everything seems so negative, this is an uplifting publication for Seniors everywhere. It offers wonderful therapeutic benefits, and is also a good read,” she said.

Bob hopes Seniors Happy Life will especially help those who have to contend with feelings of loneliness and isolation among other late-in-life challenges.

“The other publications aimed at seniors that I am aware of tend to target those whose lives have not been impacted in the same way as others who now find themselves on their own, restricted in what they can do, and who are often very reliant on care through aged care facilities, or by visiting care and service providers.

“Seniors Happy Life is nothing like those publications and doesn’t set out to be. We have very clear and different objectives and are aiming at filling what we see as a type of void in many seniors’ lives.

Bob explained that his own personal journey over recent years has informed and inspired his aims for Seniors Happy Life.

The idea arose when his wife Jackie was diagnosed with a rare but fatal brain disease, eventually passing away in February 2022, aged 72, after being fully cared for by Bob in their family home for two years.

This experience, and the grieving period that followed, caused him to appreciate the plight of people in similar circumstances much more.

“I have since committed the remainder of my life to trying to improve the quality of life for older people, and Seniors Happy Life is part of that process.

“The publication may not change people’s circumstances, but it can certainly help change the way they feel about them.”

The pilot issue of Seniors Happy Life is currently being rolled out across Australia and is selling for $4, with regular monthly issues planned from February 2023.

“When it’s all said and done, Seniors Happy Life is designed to meet a different need for different people,” Bob explained.

He believes Seniors Happy Life will provide different benefits for different people.

“It’ll help bring relief to those who suffer from loneliness and isolation. It’ll help comfort those experiencing boredom.

“It’ll lift the spirits of those who are feeling sad or downcast. It’ll invigorate those who are well and have a zest for life. It’ll add further enjoyment for those who crave constant entertainment. It’ll help offset falling into a poor state of mind,” Bob said.

With its first issue now available at Snare’s Newsagency in Talbragar Street and The Book Connection in Macquarie Street in Dubbo, now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about.

“Seniors Happy Life is from the same people who have made such a success of Dubbo Photo News and Orange City Life, and we are using the same philosophy of ‘bringing out the best in people’,” Bob explained.

“If we can bring a little light entertainment, reading and enjoyment to older Australians’ lives, then it will all have been worth it!” Bob concluded.

More information can be found on the Seniors Happy Life website (along with the pilot issue in full) at www.seniorshappylife.com.au.