Gold Coast gets set to celebrate Seniors Week

Older people in the communities throughout the Gold Coast region are set to celebrate Seniors Week in style in August, thanks to funding from the Department of Communities.

Seniors Minister Warren Pitt said 12 organisations from the Gold Coast region had shared in Queensland Government funding of $13,966 to help them plan Seniors Week celebrations.

Funding recipients from the Gold Coast region are:
• Beenleigh and District Senior Citizens $1000
• Centacare Beaudesert $1950
• OzPol Community Care $1000
• Moncrieff U3A, Paradise Point $1000
• National Seniors Association, Nerang $1000
• RSL Currumbin-Palm Beach $1126
• Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council $1400
• Coolangatta Senior Citizens $1000
• Southern Gold Coast 60 and Better Program $820
• Alzheimer’s Association, Arundel $1000
• Churches of Christ Care, Gold Coast $720
• Studio Village Community Care, Helensvale $950
• Connect the Coast Association, Nerang $1000

“Seniors Week is a highlight of the year for older Queenslanders. This year it will run from 18-26 August,” Mr Pitt said.

“It’s an exciting time when older people throughout the state celebrate their diversity and promote healthy ageing among the wider community.

“Celebrations include Indigenous and multicultural events, concerts, expos, dances, intergenerational debates, sport and a host of other activities.

“Seniors Week is a great opportunity for the whole community to get involved in activities that recognise older Queenslanders and their contribution to society.”

Mr Pitt said total funding of $126,325 was distributed among 125 community organisations around the state to promote activities celebrating older people.

“This year Seniors Week will again promote inclusive activities by encouraging Queenslanders of all ages to honour and respect older people,” he said.

“Older people deserve to be valued for their hard work, experience, knowledge and contributions, all of which have helped build the foundations of the Gold Coast and Queensland.

“Their influence goes beyond intergenerational boundaries and the benefits to local communities are long lasting.”

Mr Pitt said Seniors Week funding this year was being announced earlier than in previous years.

“We appreciate that it takes some time to plan and organise these events,” he said.

“Members of local councils, seniors organisations and community groups are really the people that make Seniors Week special and the Queensland Government is dedicated to supporting these groups in their planning.

“From this month, Gold Coast organisations will also be able to post their activities on the Seniors Week events calendar, available on www.communities.qld.gov.au/seniors.”

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280