The Sabbatical That Changed Everything
After her father passed away at 60 while still working, Meg Bishop and her husband Wayne decided they wouldn't wait for retirement to live their dream.
The Sydney couple, aged 44 and early 50s, took a 12-month sabbatical from work to travel around Australia. They leased out their home, hitched up a camper trailer, and set off on an adventure that would ultimately cost them $90,000—far more than their original $50,000 budget.
The Journey by Numbers
- 36,000 kilometers driven across the country
- Activities included whale shark dives and helicopter rides
- Funded via a redraw account on their home loan
The couple put their house up for lease to cover the mortgage and ongoing costs while they were away. This allowed them to keep their home while funding their year of travel through their home loan's redraw facility.
A Wake-Up Call
The decision to take such a dramatic step didn't come from nowhere. Meg's father died from melanoma at age 60 while he was still working. That stark reality hit home: there are no guarantees about tomorrow.
"We didn't want to wait until retirement to see Australia," Meg said. "We wanted to do it while we were still young and healthy enough to really enjoy it."
The New Plan: 'Pre-Retirement'
Now back at work, the Bishops have a clear five-year goal: reach a state of 'pre-retirement' where they can work part-time and travel again.
Their strategy includes:
- Increasing superannuation contributions
- Continuing to fund their redraw account
- Working towards financial flexibility
The Bigger Picture
The Bishops' story reflects a broader trend. Research from AustralianSuper shows that 66% of Australians expect to work after retirement. ABS data backs this up—the number of employed Australians aged 65 and over has risen almost 70% over the past decade, to more than 730,000 people.
For Meg and Wayne, the message is simple: it's not about stopping work entirely—it's about having the freedom to choose when and how they work.