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- 4 April 2006
Seniors Week
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Page: 21906
The Hon. HENRY TSANG: My question is directed to the Minister for Ageing. Will the Minister outline what the New South Wales Government is doing to recognise the achievements and contributions that seniors make to local communities in New South Wales?
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: Yesterday I had the pleasure of launching Seniors Week 2006 and presenting awards to outstanding senior members of our community. The Seniors Week Achievement Awards honour seniors and elders from across the State for their leadership and initiative. Yesterday 59 individuals and organisations received awards for outstanding contributions to health and wellbeing, education and lifelong learning, intergenerational understanding, community service and volunteering, environment and science, and business mentoring. Seniors Week is now in its forty-eighth year. It is the largest event for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere. It is an opportunity to thank, celebrate and recognise older people for their contributions to the community. More than 1.2 million people in New South Wales are aged over 60, which means that 250,000 people will participate in New South Wales Seniors Week activities. The Seniors Week theme "Live Life" challenges traditional perceptions about ageing, and encourages seniors to remain healthy and active. This year's Seniors Week campaign reflects the importance of how we, as a community and as individuals, remain active, healthy, positive and involved, as we grow older.
There are more than 500 Seniors Week activities to choose from in metropolitan, regional and rural New South Wales. I encourages seniors, including the first baby boomers who turn 60 this year, to learn something new—step out at one of the many dance events, enjoy the adventures of a new outdoor sporting activity, or visit the theatre. This year's Seniors Week features a number of events for people to enjoy, such as the Premier's gala concert; the Young at Heart Film Festival, the first ever Sydney Seniors Film Festival, at the Ritz cinema in Randwick; the Great Seniors Week Debate at the Enmore Theatre; laughter workshops at Bondi Pavilion; "Once Upon a Lifetime", a theatrical production at the Australian Theatre for Young People; cycling events for seniors; and two specially discounted concerts by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. In addition to the feature events, the Seniors Week Grants Program supports hundreds of activities and events from all corners of the State. Through this program the New South Wales Government helps local authorities and community groups by providing seed funding for Seniors Week projects.
This year $175,000 in grants has been allocated to 307 organisations to organise local events during the week. These grants enable local government organisations and small community organisations to celebrate Seniors Week in a way that is unique and appropriate to seniors in their local area. The Seniors Week celebrations will provide opportunities to celebrate older people in New South Wales, and demonstrate that they are valuable, welcomed and essential to our community. For further information about New South Wales Seniors Week 2006, people can pick up a copy of the Seniors Week program at Coles or Bi-Lo, or visit the Seniors Week web site at nswseniorsweek.com.au.
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