Funding boost helps Redland seniors stay active

Redland City’s seniors are set to benefit with the Donald Simpson Community Centre receiving a funding injection from the Palaszczuk Government to support activities offered by the centre.

Visiting the centre today, (Tuesday, 03 October) Seniors Minister Coralee O’Rourke said the one-off grant of $25,000 would help them with activities for local seniors.

“The Donald Simpson Community Centre has more than 1800 members and organises a range of activities, including educational and wellbeing sessions, as well as entertainment for seniors,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The volunteers are the backbone of the centre, and I’m proud to be able to announce this one-off funding to support them to continue the fantastic work they do in this community.

“The Palaszczuk Government committed to helping ageing Queenslanders develop the connections they need to reach their full potential and lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

“Through our Queensland: an age friendly community Action Plan we are helping to build a brighter future for older people right across Queensland.”

Mrs O’Rourke said the grant would help the centre to continue to support local seniors and contribute to an age-friendly community.

“This grant will ensure seniors living in the Redlands continue to have access to the services and information they need,” she said.

“Here at the Donald Simpson Community Centre seniors engage in a wide range of activities, from Mah Jong and line dancing to scrabble and walking groups.”

Donald Simpson Community Centre Chairman Tony Christinson welcomed the grant saying it would help them continue to deliver activities and services for seniors in the region.

“We’re extremely grateful for a grant of that size, which will help us through a difficult time and will help us to make plans to move things forward,” he said.

“This centre was built 30 years ago as a seniors centre, to help off-set social isolation and give people somewhere to go to take part in activities of their choice.

“We have free WIFI here and seniors log in and do all the things they want to do online.

“On a Monday morning we have 70 to 80 people down at one end of the centre doing quilting and the buzz of conversation is incredible.

“Down the other end we have a U3A session that often has up to 120 people at it, depending on the topic.”

Mr Christinson said the centre was a hive of activity every day, and the funding would go a long way to ensuring that continued.

For more information on the Palaszczuk Government’s Queensland: an age friendly community Action Plan, visit: https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/seniors

ENDS

Media Contact: Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389