Come and join us at the QEII Seniors & Community Centre in 2025. With over 1600 registered users we are a central hub for Over 50’s in the City of Greater Geraldton.
The Centre has 37 programs on offer that promote physical, mental and social wellbeing and a thriving community of people enjoying each other’s company while staying active.
Drop in for a free cuppa and we guarantee you will be back.
by Pavlina Heiderova, Coordinator Community Development
Welcome back everyone! It is great to see all your smiling faces again as they never fail to make our day. A huge thanks to our awesome volunteers and the dedicated staff. Your hard work and commitment truly make this place special.
Let’s look back at some of the awesome achievements from 2024! We welcomed 381 new members into our centre, and we have recorded over 3,000 attendees coming through the doors each month.
Seniors Week was a huge hit with 1,300 people featuring 28 different events! We also hosted some great events such as energy-saving workshops, a super fun clothing swap, and workshops with Dementia Australia.
Another highlight of the year included a visit from Premier Roger Cook, a successful renewal of our funding from the State Government, and our first-ever Disability Expo. Big thanks to the Seniors Week Committee for donating an industrial fridge! We also started a memoir writing workshop that turned out to be a hit.
And guess what? We were winners of the Volunteer-Involving Organisation of the Year, which is a huge achievement.
We also made a green move from paper cups to reusable ones, saving more than 10,000 paper cups from ending up in the landfill. Thank you all for making a difference. While you might notice a few tweaks and improvements at the Centre throughout 2025, do not worry - we will keep you informed about every step of the way. It is all for the best, we promise!
So, here is to another great year ahead at the QEII. Let’s make it full of health, happiness, and loads of laughter.
The QEII Seniors & Community Centre is provided by the City of Greater Geraldton and funded by the State Government through the Department of Communities
by Shazana Aujud, QEII Casual Staff
This is one of my favourite things to bake as it is such a crowd pleaser and one of the first desserts I made (successfully) as a kid.
1 packet of crushed Arnotts
‘Nice’ Biscuits or any sweet biscuit
100g of Melted butter
500g Cream cheese (room temperature)
200g Sour cream
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 150c
2. Biscuit base:
130g Caster Sugar
3 eggs
Vanilla extract
Zest of a lemon
3. Combine biscuit crumbs and melted butter, mix well.
4. Add to a springform tin, press mixture to the base – set aside.
5. Beat cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and lemon.
6. Pour filling into tin, bake for 40 minutes or until middle is just set. Leave to chill in fridge for 4 hours or overnight.
7. Optional - serve with lemon curd, whipped cream and berries!
8. Enjoy
My family arrived down in the Yallabatharra district to start a farming life because we children had to start schooling. We were (if I recall) about twelve miles from Port Gregory. As Dad used to say about 3 miles as the crow flies to the ocean. The school was open 1937 to 1956 for 6 to 10 children and when it officially closed students were bused to Northampton.
We played in and around Lynton Convict Settlement plus up at the Governors or Sandford house as we called it. In summer we walked over the sand hills to swim at the Port. My Dad would go down to the Pink Lake in the summer to bag up salt for the animals to use as lick in the paddocks. We netted for mullet in the Hutt River or threw out a fishing line to catch Taylor at the mouth of the river. Eventually a rough track went around the Lake so we could drive to the Port itself. This was because crayfishing families took up residency there. Many times, we struggled to get a sheep out of the lake who had wandered in too far. My two brothers eventually took over the running of Lynton Station with their new brides. The Pink Lake has been in my life for 80 years and I’ve seen many changes in that time. Of course not only is it famous for its 14 km size and colour but it’s also such a great source of beta carotene and provides many other uses. I personally would like to THANK Shine Aviation for the wonderful gift voucher I won during 2024 Seniors Week. A Great surprise I can tell you, so now I have the privilege of seeing it from above.
By Centre Volunteers Bibah and Milan Chesi
It is a well known fact that getting involved in activities that challenge the mind is one way of keeping fit and healthy, especially as we age into our senior year. That’s why my wife and I introduced Rummikub /500 card game at the QEII Seniors & Community Centre many years go. Having fun and enjoying the company of others are bonuses.
In Geraldton we are very lucky to have facilities at the Centre that cater for everyone, young and elderly. The Centre is the envy of many people throughout WA. We should appreciate it, not take it for granted.
A lot of our centre members
are grandparents and must mind their grandchildren whose parents are at work. Sometimes, they have to bring their grandchildren along when they attend the activities at the centre. Most of us are fortunate enough to lead a free lifestyle. We should try to be more tolerant towards their predicament. After all, it takes a village to raise a child.
Thank you everyone for taking the time to enter the competition.
Pat Clark was our winner of the ham, kindly donated by Woolworths Geraldton, with the following;
Xmas Day, all decorations are under carport, son & family ready to eat, surprise, surprise, daughter and family arrive from Victoria. Tears of Joy
Geraldton
switchedonseniorsgeraldton@gmail.com
Facebook: Geraldton Switched on Seniors
Telephone 0474 639 961
A healthy and Prosperous New Year to you all. Our classes will commence on Thursday the 06th February at 09:00 am for both the beginners and continuous students. There will be a volunteers meeting (TBA) in January to formulate the management of our classes as we will be running both classes at the same time this year.
The majority of topics that will be presented to our students throughout the year will be taken from the” Be Connected program”. Anne and I will be launching an advertising campaign to encourage new beginners to come along to our class. You are all welcome.
To All Readers: If you happen to see a topic in the Newsletter that you would like to learn or know more about, please feel free to join the class for that topic. You are most welcome. Please contact us on 0474 639 961 for further information.
Here’s how to put a ‘contact information’ message on the front of your phone in case of loss
Android Phone: go to Tap Settings
Tap Lock Screen
Tap Contact information: type your message here
Example: If found please contact (your email address) or (a different phone number)
Go back to the front screen and make sure it is locked. You will see your message displayed on the screen without unlocking your phone.
Watch out for iPhone instructions next month!
For Tuesday One-On-One appointments Please contact the Office on 9956 6636 . An available time will be allocated to you, to see the next available Volunteer.
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR SWITCHED ON SENIORS GERALDTON 0474 639 961 and our NEW FACEBOOK PAGE GERALDTON - SWITCHED ON SENIORS
Please like us and follow our progress and updates.
As from Thursday the 06th February 2025
Beginner’s classes are every Thursday 9.00am until 10.00am except for School Holidays and our Continuing classes are also on Thursdays, beginning at 10.15am until 11.15am. We have places available in both classes.
A staggering 99% of people born between 1930 and 1946 have now passed.
You’re the last generation, climbing out of the depression, who remembers the winds of war and impact of a world at war that rattled the structure of daily lives for years.
You remember ration books for everything from sugar to shoes.
You remember milk being delivered to your house Discipline was strictly enforced by parents and teachers.
You’re the last generation who spent childhood without television and instead, you “imagined” what you heard on the radio.
You spent your childhood “playing outside”. There was no playground for kids.
“Black-and-white” TV in the late 50s had 3 stations and no remote.
Telephones were one to a house and hung on the wall in the kitchen.
Typewriters were driven by pounding fingers, throwing the carriage, and changing the ribbon. INTERNET and GOOGLE were words that did not exist.
The news was broadcast on your radio in the evening.
Your parents were suddenly free from the confines of the depression and the war, and threw themselves into working hard to make a living for their families.
You’re the last generation to experience an interlude when there were no threats to our country. World War 2 was over and the cold war, terrorism, global warming, and perpetual economic insecurity had yet to haunt life.
Your generation remembers a time after WW2 when our world was secure and full of bright promise and plenty.
More than 99% of you are retired now, and you feel privileged to have “lived in the best of times!”
If you’ve reached the age of 77 years, you’ve outlived 99% of other people on this planet. You are a 1% ‘er!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our members and friends from Seniors Action Group.
All activities such as carpet bowls, table tennis, darts and cards have commenced.
Great news and a new change – You don’t have to wait until your 60 to join – we now accept 50 years and over. So, invite some of your younger friends along.
A couple of raffles were held at the annual Christmas Party and $600 was raised. $300 was presented to a representative from Foodbank and $300 to Julie from Dog Rescue.
We are seeking committee members, a secretary, vice-
president and publicity officer for 2025. Please see our current President Trevor Hansen if you would like to help or contact him on 0498 999 406.
3rd Feb at 10:30amCommittee Meeting 11th Feb at 10am - Morning Tea followed by Annual General Meeting and Lunch. We were sad to hear that some of our long term members have recently passed away. Sending sincere condolences to family and friends.
Christmas came early for us and it was a welcome break from shopping and writing cards for family and friends .
The hall was set up beautifully and presents were plentiful. The committee had made a huge effort to give us a good time and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for all their efforts.
To the cooks in the kitchen
a big thank you also, the food was plentiful and great tasting. Even two days later people said they were so full but they could not leave that beautiful dessert on the plate. We thank all our hard-working friends and Rosetta for making us always feel so welcome and we look forward to 2025. Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Although it was almost 50 years ago, it still feels like yesterday our lives were blown away. We had moved into our newly built house in Darwin with only the dishwasher missing from the modern 1970’s fibro home on stilts. Two years earlier we had left our teaching positions in Papua New Guinea and were proud of our achievements.
The dishwasher packing was disposed of, the house cleaned, bags packed and we left for the airport for our family holiday to Timor. The island was idyllic, the beaches pristine with plentiful sea life, the green hills and rainforest treasures to explore and the meals a delicious mix of Portuguese and local Timorese. It was relaxing until it was time to the board the plane for home.
We were warned it would be a rough ride as a cyclone had formed and our flight path would take us over the storm. Seatbelts fastened, we braced for a bumpy ride, and distracted ourselves with the thought of the jobs we had waiting to complete and enjoying our first Christmas in our new home.
Christmas Eve arrived. The last presents were wrapped. In the evening, my husband and I left the children at home with our baby sitter and we headed out for a staff Christmas party. I was reluctant but my husband reassured me it would ‘just be for a little while.’ Warnings were becoming more frequent on the radio and we were told to secure large outdoor objects and put all small items away. As we drove to the party the large trees swayed and bent in the wind. It was hard to enjoy the festivities of the party and it was an ominous sign when a Darwin local commented on the ring that had formed around the moon. It was time to go home.
I finished packing some clothing and food into the stationwagon parked under the raised verandah. My daughter followed me from room to room asking ‘how is Santa going to get here if it is so windy?’ Suddenly the storm’s fury hit.
We heard a terrible noise and saw a section of the above ground pool flying past the window. A large cracking sound broke our thoughts, the
ceiling had collapsed in the dining room. We rushed into the bathroom, in the centre of the house, but the pipes burst and water and plaster surrounded us like wet snow. The only secure place left was the built-in robe in the master bedroom. I huddled at one end, the babysitter in the middle, my daughter in the bottom shelf where the shoes would usually be and my husband at the other end of the wardrobe cradling my young son. We stayed there for four hours, praying. When we opened the doors there was nothing but sky and we realised Cyclone Tracey had swept our home and cherished possessions away, forever.
We moved into a neighbor’s cyclone proof single storey home and waited for our names to be called for a flight and permission to leave by plane. After three days of catching rain water, worrying about contaminated food and dysentery I decided to break the law and take my two-year-old son and sixyear-old daughter to the airport. I would deal with the consequences later. My husband had to stay behind. We hugged goodbye and talked about meeting in Sydney soon. All our papers were destroyed, we only had a few pieces of clothing.
At midnight our plane landed in Perth. “What now, where to go, what would we do?”
As we filtered into the airport for our bus to the hostel, I heard a voice “Maria, Maria, Maria.” It was my next-door neighbor from Darwin. She was on holiday in Perth and was waiting for her parents to arrive. I was so relieved and filled with happiness.
Helen became more than a neighbor; she became my best friend and when she died of cancer a few years ago I felt as lost as I did when everything was blown away on Christmas eve 50 years ago.
Footnote: Maria moved to Geraldton about 40 years ago but still has vivid memories of Cyclone Tracey. Her life experiences have helped her to make many friends from around the globe and relate to their challenges and their concerns.
Start Finish Class Cost Notes
8.30 4.00 Indoor Bowls $5.00 *SAG 9.00 11.00 Darts $5.00 *SAG
9.15 10.00 Balance Gym Free
10.30 11.15 Balance Gym Free
MONDAY TUESDAY 8.30 9.30 Pole Walking Free 9.00 10.30 10.00 11.30 Over 50’s Gentle Gym Free WEDNESDAY
11.30 12.30 Parkinson Support Group Free 12.30 4.00 Canasta Free 1.00 3.00 Table Tennis $5.00 *SAG 1.00 4.00 Scrabble Free
*Seniors Action Group *Seniors Action Group
7.00 8.00 Walk Group Free Meet at Two Foreshore 9.00 4.00 11.00 6.00 Pickle Ball Pickle Ball $5.00 $5.00 9.00 1.00 Understanding your hand held device $5.00 Appt only. 9.30 11.30 Dementia Carers Support Group Free 1st Tuesday of the month
10.00 1.00 SAG* Meeting 10.00 11.30 Visibility Group Free 12.30 2.30 Line Dancing Free 12.00 12.45 Pilates $5.00 1.00 3.00 Mahjong Free 1.00 4.00 Ukulele Dreamers $3.00 12.15 - 12.45 Beginners Class 4.00 6.00 Pickleball $5.00 1.15 2.15 Rehabilitation Gym Free Referral required 7.00 8.00 African Drumming $7.00 $10.00 Waged
WEDNESDAY (CONT)
Start Finish Class Cost Notes
9.00 Noon Laughs & Crafts Free 9.15 10.00 Balance Gym Free 10.30 11.15 Balance Gym Free 9.30 10.30 Parkinson Support Group Free 12.30 4.00 Canasta Free
1.00 4.00 Scrabble Free 1.00 3.00 Pickle Ball $5.00 2.00 3.00 Bereavement Support Free 3rd Wed Monthly 3.30 4.30 All Abilities Pickleball $5.00
FRIDAY *Pensioners Social Club
9.00 11.00 Mahjong Free 8.30 Noon Chat N Do Craft Group $2.00 Not on 1st Thurs of the Month
THURSDAY 9.00 Noon Knitters & Crochet Group $0.50 9.00 10.00 Over 50’s Gentle Gym Free 9.00 Noon Art Class $5.00 10.00 Noon Chess Free 10.15 11.15 Rehabilitation Gym Free Referral required
9.00 10.15 10.00 11.15 Switched on Seniors / Beginners Class Continuation Class Free Free Bring own device
10.00 12.30 *PSC Meeting 1st Thurs Monthly
11.00 12.00 African Drumming $7.00 12.30 3.45 500 Card Game Free 1.00 4.00 Bingo Books *PSC Bingo 2nd Thursday of Month 1.00 4.00 Rummikub Free 2.00 2.45 Zumba $5.00
1.00 3.00 English as a 2nd Language Free 1.00 4.00 Euchre & Frustration $5.00 *SAG
500 Card Game
Free
Thursday 12.30pm – 3.45pm
Contact Paula 0408 215 503
African Drumming
Thursday 11.00am – 12noon
$7.00
Tuesday 7.00pm - 8.00pm
$7 concession $10 waged
All Abilities Pickleball
$5.00
Wednesday 3.30pm –4.30pm
Art Class
$5.00
Friday 9.00am – 12noon
Balance Gym
Free
Mondays & Wednesdays
9.15am – 10.00am & 10.30am – 11.15am
Bingo
Cost of Books
1.00pm – 4.00pm
Proudly run by: Pensioners
Social Club
President 0439 907 455
Canasta Free
Monday & Wednesdays
12.30pm - 4.00pm
Caring Cuppa –Bereavement Support Group
Free 3rd Wednesday of each Month 2.00pm –3.00pm
Hosted by Midwest & SJOG
Palliative Care Services
9956 2497 or 9965 8888
Chat N Do Craft Group
$2.00
Thursday 8.30am – 12noon
Not on First Thursday of the Month
Contact Gloria 0427 170 548 or Tina 0422 397 997
Chess Free Friday 10.00am - 12noon
Contact Shirley 9964 9584
Darts
$5.00 Monday 9.00am - 11.00am
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
President 0498 999 406
Dementia Carers Support Group
Free
First Tuesday of the month
9.30am - 11.30am
Contact Nicole 131 151
English as a Second Language
Free
Friday 1.00pm – 3.00pm
– Provided by Midwest
Multicultural Association
Marnie Ryan 0423 234 475
Euchre & Frustration
$5.00
Friday 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
Contact President
0498 999 406
Indoor Bowls
Cost $5.00
Monday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
Contact President
0498 999 406
Justice of the Peace
Free
Contact Peggy Hodgson
0427 290 136
Knitters & Crochet Group
$0.50
Friday 9.00am – 12noon
Contact Jean Steer 0499 251 242
Laughs & Crafts
Wednesday 9.00am –12noon
Join us for exciting crafts each month
Line Dancing Free
Tuesday 12.30pm -1.00pm
New Learners 1.00pm – 2.30pm Beginners & Intermediate
Start time is 1.00pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month Mahjong Free
Tuesday 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Thursday 9.00am – 11.00am
Over 50’s Gentle Gym Free
Wednesday 9.00am –10.00am, & 10.30am – 11.30am
Friday 9.00am – 10.00am
Wear enclosed gym shoes and bring a water bottle
Parkinsons Boxing/Support Group
FREE Mondays
11.30am to 12.30pm Wednesday 9.30am to 10.30am
Pensioners Social Club Inc Meeting
1st Thursday of each Month
10.00am – 12.30pm
Proudly run by: Pensioners Social Club
Contact President 0447 372 120
Pilates
Tuesdays
12.00pm - 12.45pm
Pickle Ball
$5.00
Tuesdays 9.00am - 11.00am
Tuesdays 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Wednesday 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Pole Walking Free
Wednesday 8.30am –9.30am
Provided by Seniors
Recreation Council of WA
Inc Greater Geraldton Branch
QEII Lounge & Library Free
Everyday 8.15am – 3.45pm
Rehabilitation Gym Free Tuesdays 1.15pm - 2.15pm Fridays
10.15am - 11.15am
Contact Geraldton Regional Hospital Physiotherapy Dept. on 9956 2204.
Rummikub Free Thursday 1.00 – 4.00pm
Contact Bibah & Milan Chesi 0417 944 959
Scrabble Free
Monday & Wednesday 1.00pm – 3.00pm Seniors Action Group Meeting
2nd Tuesday of each Month 10.00am – 1.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors Action Group Contact 0498 999 406
Switched on Seniors Geraldton/ Be Connected Free
Beginners Class
Thursday 9.00am – 10.00am
Continuation Class
Thursday 10.15am - 11.00am
Bring your device
Contact 0474 639 961
Seniors Recreation Council
WA Geraldton Branch
2nd Wednesday tri-monthly 9.30am – 10.30am
Val Brown 0447 372 120
Table Tennis
$5.00
Monday 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
Contact 0498 999 406
Ukulele Dreamers
$3.00
Tuesday 12.15pm - 12.45pm Beginners.
Tuesday 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Membership $20.00
Contact Di Trotter 0407 217 312
Resumes 11/2/25
Understanding your hand held device
Tuesday 9.00am – 12noon Appointment only - $5 donation
Contact QEII 9956 6636
Proudly run by: Switched on Seniors Geraldton / Be Connected
Visibility Group Free
4th Tuesday of each Month 10.00am
Contact 1800 847 466
Walk Group Free
Tuesday 7.30am
Meet at Two Foreshore prior to department time
Contact Lina Mittoni 0427 869 786
Zumba
$5.00 Thursday 2.00pm – 2.45pm
Over 50’s Geraldton Life is a page dedicated to promoting events, stories and information that helps promote an active lifestyle. We encourage you to share your stories with us. Please message the page.