Frayda Myers Cooper 1923 – 2014
Frayda Myers Cooper was born in Minnesota U.S.A in 1923.
After doing university studies she became a social worker and after her marriage and further studies she became involved in education, teaching at various levels over the years from primary to tertiary then U3A, believing in life-long learning and involvement. In 1979 she came to Australia, living first in Melbourne, then the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and finally to Sydney in 1996.
As an older person she saw herself and others of her age as elders, not elderly, and believed that they still had something to offer, that they could use the experiences of these years and perhaps wisdom, for the betterment of the community. Frayda believed that life-long learning is a key to keeping people independent and well.
She received a Queensland Seniors Award in 2005 and in 2007 was awarded an Honorary Senor Fellow by the University of the Sunshine Coast in recognition of her U3A work.
She was by nature an activist, and was involved in the ‘around the kitchen table’ project of WRN.