NSW Seniors Week

The NSW Seniors Week is a week-long annual celebration of the older people in society and their valuable contribution to our communities. It is organised by the government department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC). The theme this year is “Live Life!” Feature events, gala concerts, achievement awards and giveaways will mark the festivities. A number of Seniors Week Ambassadors – all high profile members of the wider community such as Ita Buttrose – have associated themselves with the cause to challenge some of society’s stereotypes of ageing and to raise awareness of the valuable contributions seniors continue to make to our community.

The official website (www. nswseniorsweek.com.au) website provides information on more than 700 events taking place across NSW from 21 - 28 March 2010. These include Technoseniors, Heritage Walking Tours, Youngat-Heart Film Festival, Introduction to Mobile Phones, Stay in Touch (with SMS and Twitter), Famous Fifties Talent Quest, Coma and Try Golf, Come and Try Archery, Jazz Cruise, Jet Cruise Sydney Harbour, and Healthy Cooking for One or Two. Many of these free activities and events encourage the 1.3 million older people living in NSW to get active, learn something new and live life to the full. Within our own community, the various seniors’ organisations have planned their own special activities.

AHIA Senior Citizens Group

Established 1994. Membership 100. The group, a segment of the Australian Hindi-Indians Association Inc., meets once a month at Cumberland Hospital, Westmead. Activities at sessions include discussions on health-related issues, Government initiatives and policies for senior citizens, cultural activities. Outdoor activities such as day trips are planned regularly too. Members also engage in one fund-raising activity annually.

Contact person: Dr Tilak Kalra, 02 9838 7715.

The group meets once a week at Hurstville Senior Citizens Centre. Activities at sessions include yoga, health information sessions, talks by doctors, community service information, monthly outings and charity activities in the wider community. The group also undertakes advocacy for seniors and referral to community services for further assistance. In an ongoing project in collaboration with the Lioness International, the members are making toiletry bags to be donated to Bazina House of the St George Hospital, for use by families of cancer patients.

To mark Seniors Week later this month, RAIN seniors have organised an outing at Kuring-gai National Park Bobbin Head, taking along with them peers who are now immobile.

In an interesting development, families of member-seniors (their children and grandchildren) have chosen to become involved, so a multi-generational influence is seen. An impressive example of this was showcased earlier this year when the seniors decided to honour youngsters who passed the HSC last year, in a gesture to wish them well as they stood at the threshold of adulthood.

Contact person: Mira Raheja 02 9858 4270.

Indian Welfare Association (IWA)

Established 1999. Membership 140 families including 90 seniors IWA is not for seniors alone though it organises many activities for them. The group meets fortnightly. Activities at sessions include information sessions and entertainment. Three to four sight seeing tours and picnics are organised every year. A community get together involving people of all ages is also held once in a year.

RAIN

(Resourceful Australian Indian Network)

Established 2006. Membership 70.

Contact person Sudha Natarajan 02 9585 9158.

Sri Om Care

Established 2006.

The group operates Short term or Daycare centres, but also provides Home and community care, Respite care, Nursing and Transitional care. The Day-care centres operate at Liverpool, Lidcombe, Chester Hill, Seven Hills and Riverstone. Groups of seniors meet weekly, driven by volunteers and treated to free day-long activities including meals. Volunteers speak many Indian languages, and customise the activities to help seniors in “Active ageing” programs, which include Yoga and gentle exercises, health discussions, indoor games and regular outings. Membership varies from 30 to 60 at the different centres.

To mark Seniors Week, a series of event shave been planned:

14 March: Picnic at Auburn Park

21 March: Auburn Town Hall

26 March: Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre Hall

27 March: Liverpool Library Hall

Transport available.

Contact person Jay Raman 0410 759 906, www.sriomcare.org.au

Hornsby Senior Citizens Group

Established 2006. Membership 112. The group meets monthly at Senior Leisure and Learning Centre, Epping (while their home centre at Hornsby Community Centre is being refurbished). They celebrate five events annually, including Republic Day-Australia Day, Seniors Week, India’s Independence Day, Diwali and Christmas. Monthly sessions are centred around discussion forums (on topics such as health, alternative medicine, meditation etc), quizzes, bingo, devotional songs and entertainment. Two excursions are also organised annually.

Besides these, a library has been built up, with over 600 books on fiction, philosophy, and religion. A Hobby and Learning Centre for the Seniors group activities was set up in 2008. In Sept last year, a Study Circle was inaugurated for exchange of ideas and opinions between people with a quest for knowledge.

Contact person: Saraswathi Venugopalan; Malli Iyer 0413 129 710.

Australian Sikh Association Senior Citizens Group

Established 2004. Membership 100. The group meets monthly at Glenwood Gurudwara, on premises set aside for them. Activities on offer are exercise (on gym equipment), large screen TVs showing Indian programs, and indoor games such as cards etc. Three to four outings are organised annually. To mark Seniors Week, members will head off to the Sydney Entertainment Centre for the Premier’s Gala Concert on 23 March.

Contact person: Dr Gurcharan Sidhu 02 9887 1735.

Other Seniors’ Week events

SEVA International

Thursday, 25 March South Asian seniors (60 years and older) are invited to enjoy a light lunch, chat with aged care workers and share ideas about healthy ageing. From 1030am – 2.30pm (program starts 11am)

Cost: Gold coin

Venue: Harris Park Community Centre, 11 Albion Street, Harris Park

Contact: Caroline on 9804 7271 or sydromeo@tpg.com.au after 6pm You must register to attend. RSVP by Fri, 19 March

UIA’s Seniors Forum

Saturday 20 March Seniors Forum will be held at Parravilla Function Centre, Campbell St Parramatta, starting 9.30am. Working lunch will be provided. Details Aruna Chandrala 0410 338 900 or visit the website www.uia.org.au