Older Queenslanders put retirement on the back burner
A growing number of older Queenslanders are sacrificing golf and gardening to start up their own businesses.
Some of these "laterpreneurs" have used their skills and life experiences to turn new ventures into global success stories.
Henry and Sandra Gosling are two of them.
They're the King and Queen of Co Yo, making Australasia's first commercial yoghurt and ice cream made from coconut instead of dairy.
The 67 and 70 year old's started their venture on the Sunshine Coast five years ago, but never thought their idea was to be the beginning of a business destined for international success.
"We experimented for about six months, every night at home I made yoghurt," said Henry Gosling.
"At first Sandra thought I was crazy, but the more we researched the health benefits of the coconut, the more we became convinced the idea had merit," he said.
Retirement has never crossed their minds.
After thinking outside the box and putting everything into their business they're tasting sweet success.
Co Yo's profits have doubled every year.
They've just been named Queensland's emerging exporter of the year.
"We export to New Zealand, we have licences in the UK, we have a licensee in the US. We're talking to people in South Africa, we're talking to people in Germany," said Henry Gosling.
The pair are part of a growing group of older entrepreneurs.
Over the past 10 years, over fifties have been the fastest growing age group, when it comes to starting a business.
"They're now accounting for about 45 per cent of people running small businesses," said UQ Entrepreneurship and Innovation lecturer, Dr Anna Jenkins.
That's compared to 38.8 per cent in 2002.
And the trend's expected to continue.
Recent figures also show eight per cent of individuals in the 55-64 year old age bracket are in the early stages or starting a business or in the process of setting up a new businesses.
"I think we'll see more and more of this over the decade ahead because the mature age employment outlook will remain difficult," said Michael O'Neill from National Seniors Australia.
Any budding "laterpreneurs" should do their homework first.
"So not just focus on the potential upside but also consider the risks involved as well," said Dr Anna Jenkins.
"We're not the type of people that sort of go and play bowls, there's only so much gardening you can do, i think we'll be here for quite a while yet," said Henry Gosling.
"I can't see myself in a rocking chair for a long time yet. so it's a most exciting thing to be doing," said Sandra Gosling.
Enjoying life and rejecting retirement.
