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- 10 April 2002
Bankstown Seniors Week Activities
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Speakers - Ashton Mr Alan
Business - Private Members Statements
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Page: 1330
Mr ASHTON (East Hills) [5.55 p.m.]: Tonight I want to talk about the events that took place in the Bankstown City Council area during Seniors Week, a great tradition that dates back many years. I know that just about every member of this House tries to attend as many functions as possible during Seniors Week, and it is a pity that this year Parliament was sitting during that time. The title for this year's Seniors Week was "Inspiring, Imagining and Interacting". Many groups in the Bankstown area play a role in making Seniors Week a success. One of those is, of course, Bankstown City Council, which puts a great deal of time and effort into conducting various events.
I want to go through some of them to show the variety of events that took place in Bankstown. The Bankstown Sports Club is a great supporter of Seniors Week and the official opening was held at the club. Ron Lockwood was Mayor of Bankstown on six or seven occasions and the Memorial Essay/Poetry Competition is named in his honour. This year second prize in the competition was won by Neville Bryce, a wonderful man who lives in Padstow. He has lived in the Bankstown area for over 50 years and has been a tremendous supporter of a whole range of activities including the RSL, youth movements and the like. His story was entitled "My First Impression of Bankstown".
I will not read the piece of poetry he wrote, which is entitled "The Bicentennial Dunny", but I am sure the honourable member for Wollongong, who is at the table, would appreciate it if he gets an opportunity to read it later. During Seniors Week there was a mystery tour of Bankstown. One of the local bus companies transported seniors around Bankstown to look at some of the sights, and there were many to see. There was a seniors golf day. That is the type of event I would have liked to attend, although I would probably have needed a cart even if some of the seniors did not.
A luncheon was arranged for Meals on Wheels recipients and frail aged day care patients, courtesy of the Greyhound Social Club, another local club that is in the business of helping members of the community and it is doing good work. Meals on Wheels virtually began in Bankstown back in the 1960s, something that the community is proud of. A bus trip was arranged to the Bowral and Berrima areas and those who went on the trip were able to take in the sights of the Southern Highlands. The frail aged and nursing home patients enjoyed a concert hosted by the Bankstown Trotting and Recreational Club. I have been told it was fantastic.
There was also a Healthy Ageing Expo at the Bankstown RSL. A lady I knew when I was teaching at Picnic Point High School was very much into healthy food. She was able to convince some senior citizens of the need to eat good, healthy food. Revesby Workers Club has a tradition of holding seniors concerts. It can take 1,200 to 1,500 people and it was packed. The concerts are free. Throughout the year the club holds other such functions. I am now the patron. Federal member Daryl Melham and other State members and former members such as Pat Rogan and the Minister for Gaming and Racing have visited the club, which does a great job for seniors and young people.
The New South Wales Department of Sport and Recreation promotes the shoot and shuffle senior titles at Bankstown Square. Steve Mortimer, the former great Australian and Canterbury-Bankstown rugby league player, is the brains behind shoot and shuffle. Other clubs and frail aged villages may be interested in holding such functions. Primary and high school kids are also involved. A town hall dance was also held. The closing concert for Seniors Week was held at Bankstown Square. I thank Neville Bryce; Wendy Oliver; Pat Pride; Olive Flynn; Norma Smith, who is the President of Revesby Workers Club; Max Treuer, former President of the Bankstown and District Trotting Club; Merv Cook, a director of the Bankstown Sports Club; Mr Bill Crouch; Mrs Hien Tran; Mrs Lidija Sestakova; Chris Passanah, manager of corporate communications at Bankstown Council; and Kerry Sebio, Julie Hayes plus the council and mayor of Bankstown for the fine work that is done every year in Seniors Week. [Time expired.]
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