Fancy a game of darts? Well thanks to centre member Bryan Iliffe the Seniors Action Group Darts Group have received a very generous donation of three brand new dart boards and some strip lights to go above them.
Trevor Hansen ( pictured on the left) thanked Brian for his contribution to the club and looking forward to the upgrade attracting many new members. Contact Trevor on 0498 999 406 if you would like to join
We’ve been busy sprucing things up around the centre with the patio garden being topped up with soil improver and mulch. Huge thank you to centre volunteers Jean Steer and Wendy Eastough keeping the area looking good. Have you noticed the changes in the social hub of the centre – the lounge room? The kitchen upgrade has included a microwave, dishwasher and fridge. Our recent addition of lounge chairs has been given the seal of approval with many seniors commenting how comfortable they are. Keep your eye out for more changes coming soon…
The QEII Seniors & Community Centre is provided by the City of Greater Geraldton and funded by the State Government through the Department of Communities
Join Roslyn Smith, Department of Health and Aged Care for a free discussion on Commonwealth funded aged care services; what they are and how to find them.
Sue will talk participants through the range of aged care services, the assessment process and finding services that meet your needs.
She will also discuss some of the recent reforms in aged care and what quality care services look like.
Where: QEII Seniors Centre, 88 Durlacher Street, Geraldton
When: Thursday 15th May 2025
Time: 9:00am - 11:30am
Please RSVP: 0412 147 350 engagement.wa@health.gov.au
Contact: Roslyn Smith
We invite Australians to continue to have their say about the aged care reforms.
Visit agedcareengagement.health.gov.au
Phone 1800 318 209 (Aged care reform free-call phone line)
For translating and interpreting services, call 131 450 and ask for 1800 318 209.
To use the National Relay Service, visit nrschat.nrscall.gov.au/nrs to choose your preferred access point on their website, or call the NRS Helpdesk on 1800 555 660.
The QEII Seniors & Community Centre will be closed on the following dates
Good Friday – 18 April
Easter Monday – 21 April
Anzac Day – Friday 25 April
Have a wonderful break!
Happy Birthday to our star Pickleball player Lois Rigby.
Lois’s secret to keeping young:
“Enjoy yourself, plenty of laughter, enjoy other people’s company, keeping fit is the main thing”
Lois is a great example of active ageing and currently plays Pickleball three times a week at the QEII centre and tennis twice a week at Geraldton Tennis Centre and the word is she is hard to beat.
Over the years keeping physically fit has always been a main goal and she’s played netball, badminton, squash and golf.
Lois was proud to say she has 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Congratulations Lois –You’re an inspiration
by Anonymous
INGREDIENTS
420g can concentrated tomato soup
500g beef mince
1 brown onion, grated
1/2 cup white long-grain rice, rinsed
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
METHOD
1. Combine the mince, onion, rice garlic and parsley into a bowl. Season with salt & pepper and roll mixture into balls.
2. Combine the soup and 1¾ cup of water into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil. Add the meatballs and simmer for 40 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes
switchedonseniorsgeraldton@gmail.com
Facebook: Geraldton Switched on Seniors
Telephone 0474 639 961
Ready, Set, know: and off we go with yet another beginners’ class. This year we are concentrating on a more personal level and keeping the numbers lower to do so. We would like to take this opportunity of welcoming our new learners and we wish them an enlightening journey into the world of technology. We still have three places available for beginners and you will receive personal tuition by our dedicated volunteers. Contact the telephone number above to secure your place.
Our beginners’ sessions start with the very basics which are ‘what is a smart phone’ and ‘what is a touchscreen’ which incorporates knowledge of the buttons around the smartphone and what they are all for, together with all the finger movements used with a touchscreen and what they do. It is also important to know about your security and privacy at the beginning of the learning journey which helps to gain confidence in the knowledge that you are in control of your device.
Moving on, we shall be learning about how we can alter individual items in our phones to suit us, whether it be sight related or and alternative to using a keyboard and a very helpful alternative to those with hearing difficulties. So these devices can do so much to assist us in our daily lives as we learn to control them and not the reverse.
We are never too old to learn! This year we have two learners of 88 and 89 years old, Tom and Helen Vivien, and I’m sure I speak for the other volunteers when I say how proud we are of them for joining our sessions.
Beginner’s sessions are every Thursday, at 9.00am until 10.00am except for School Holidays. The continuous class is on a Thursday, also beginning at 09:00 until 10:00am except for school holidays. We have places available in both classes
Our continuous class was presented with some interesting topics in March, allowing students to confidently navigate through various handy features available to them on their devices. These were:
• Saving and sharing files
• How to use Control Centre (Quick Settings)
• How to access Accessibility in settings
A video of each feature was shown allowing students to follow the steps on their devices. It was very satisfying to see the students navigate through these features with confidence. We will continue to explore more features and services during April.
Our appointment system for Tuesdays continues to be well attended. Should you require an appointment please contact the Office on 9956 6636. An available time will be allocated to you, to see the next available Volunteer available. Please note this is not a lesson. It is an opportunity for you to have help with an item on your device
YOU
Here’s how to put a ‘contact information’ message on the front of your phone in case of loss iphone : go to
The App Store and download (Any Text) to your device. Enter message in Widget 1, e.g. (If device found please contact tel No xxxxxxxxxx) or E-Mail address if preferred. Please do not use the number of the lost phone
Go to Lock Screen on your device and tap on Customise.
Add widget of details entered, and tap done.
The locked screen will now display the message entered. i.e. You will see your message displayed on the screen without unlocking your phone.
Your phone, your style…..
Date: WEDNESDAY 12th March and then every fortnight
Time: 10.30 am to 12.00 noon
Venue: QE2 Centre Library Room Call in and chat with Karen
Mahjong is a tile-based game of Chinese origin, typically played by four players, where the goal is to collect sets and pairs of tiles to form a winning hand, often compared to a combination of poker and rummy. It is a game of skill, strategy and luck. The QEII Mahjong group has been running at the centre for over 20 years with centre volunteer Beryl Scott over the years teaching others how to play. If you’d like to join please contact the centre
on 9956 6636 or come along on a Tuesday 1 to 3pm or Thursday 9 to 11am. Cost is Free
Happy April to all our amazing members, family and friends!
The April flower is the Daisy and the birthstone is Diamond.
The AGM meeting & lunch was held 11 March at 10.30am with President Trevor Hansen kicking off the proceedings and a great turnout with 35 members. We had six new members join last month, a big warm welcome.
SAG Committee is still looking for a secretary to join the team so if you’re interested organised & enthusiastic, please get in touch with the President on 0498 999 406.
One get well card was sent, Thank you, Val.
Monday Darts anyone can Play! Join us for a fun morning, beginners welcome 9am to 11am.
We were honoured to welcome guest speaker, Daphne Wright from DV Assist at the March meeting who delivered a crucial and informative talk on the important topic of elder abuse. She shed light on the various forms of elder abuse, including physical, emotional, and financial exploitation and provided valuable
insights on recognising the warning signs and shared essential information on seeking help and support. If you or someone you know - whether a family member, friend, or neighbour - is experiencing or suspecting elder abuse, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are resources available and support is just a call away. Thank you, Daphne, for sharing your expertise and helping us raise awareness about this critical issue. WA Elder Abuse Helpline: 1300724679 for free confidential support.
On Thursday 20 March we held a Quiz afternoon, filling the room with laughter and camaraderie and mental stimulation. Members, family and friends gathered for some friendly competition testing their knowledge and enjoying each other’s company. Delicious afternoon tea was enjoyed by all.
A huge round of applause to our quiz winners on their outstanding achievements!
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible team of volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise and deliver a fantastic event. Your dedication and hard work made all the difference!
We appreciate the kindness and generosity of our sponsors Mitchell and Brown, Kmart, Bunnings and Coles who helped make the event a success.
The monthly lunch was delicious with cold meat and salad followed by vanilla slice & vanilla ice cream. Lucky Card winners were Lynne Blackmore and Faye Wright.
Dates for your Diary:
7 April at 10:30am - Committee Meeting
8 April at 10am - Morning Tea followed by Annual General Meeting and Lunch.
Wishing Everyone an Eggcellent Easter! Stay safe and enjoy
We went early to catch up with friends we hadn’t seen or talked to for a month. It’s always nice to catch up with people we only see occasionally and enjoy a cup of tea, sweet treat and a chat. Raffle tickets were purchased, and we hoped to win.
At 11am our President opened the meeting. Pat read the previous meeting minutes and as there were no new outings planned or problems to solve, we looked for birthdays or wedding anniversaries in March, but there were none. There were no general business topics to discuss so we organised and drew the raffle. Some of
us were lucky to win $10, a welcome surprise.
Well-known guest speaker Mr. Bob Hall arrived. He shared memories of a boat trip with his son from Fremantle to Albany to Gallipoli, Sri Lanka, Suez Canal and the Red Sea. He spoke about Anzac Cove where they attended the Dawn Service organised by the Turkish Government. They look after the graves of Australian Soldiers and warmly welcome Australians and especially members of the Australian Army.
When we finally reached Rome, I was expecting to end the journey but the stories of trips to countries and foreign cities continued. We all
enjoyed the information given to us and I was surprised how well Mr. Hall remembered his topic and the places he’d visited. During lunch I asked him if he’d made notes on all his trips. he said, “No, I haven’t but my wife has. She has written many diaries.” What a gift for the family it must be.
We spoke about the travels shared on the way home in
the car and felt it was a truly enjoyable morning. Thank you, Mr Hall, for giving us your time.
We hope when we meet for April the weather has cooled down a bit and we don’t need to worry about leaving a lovely building where we all spend so many good hours. Thank you, Rosetta and staff, for making it possible for us.
The Balance Gym program commenced approximately 9 years ago with a handful of people and two weekly sessions. Fast forward to 2025 with four weekly sessions on offer, 234 participants and total attendance of 699 for the month. A special thank you to the WA Centre for Rural Health who provide physiotherapy and exercise physiology students as part of their placements of 5 to 8 weeks.
A special mention to the centre volunteers Molly, Maria, Betty and Beryl who do a wonderful job helping. If you’re interested in volunteering please speak with centre staff.
On my travels around Geraldton, I love stickybeaking at front yards for inspiration. An old wheelbarrow filled with cottage flowers, a repainted rusty bike, a bench seat strategically placed under the shade of a tree in my view reflect the person behind that front door.
Recently hitting a significant milestone in my life. The big 60! But its ok – they say 60 is the new 50 resulted in a surprise party, various gifts; jewellery, bouquets of exquisite flowers, coloured pasta, a jug with twigs of real lemons, etc. I received a phone call on the day from Nenek, (my grandchildren’s other Bali nanna) advising she’d be around in five minutes.
One thing I know in life – it’s a pleasure to be surrounded by the love of family and friends which brings me to the special gift from Nenek – imagine my surprise and laughter as she came down the street wheeling a white concrete lion on a trolley. The epitome of growing up Italian in Australia meant front gardens with white lions and pillars and in my youth was a source of embarrassment for me. She excitedly stated “I knew this
would be perfect for you as soon as I saw it”
Well amazingly, 40 years down the road, I’ve learnt to embrace my heritage. The lion now proudly stands guard at the entrance to my house, and I guarantee everyone that goes past thinks – there must be an Italian that lives there. A quick google search revealed the Romans use of concrete lions symbolised power and those placed at the front of a house can be a symbolic representation of being mortgage – free. Now wouldn’t that be nice!
So here’s some food for thought – what does your front yard reveal about you?
‘The seed of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies” Gertrude Jekyll
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 12.30 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 $1.00 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 9.00 10.00 10.00 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
$1.00
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 12.30pm - 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 9.00am – 10.00am
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
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
