Council has Queensland Seniors Week covered

Published: 13 Aug 2020

Gerri Kissner is a 77-year-old grandma with a blackbelt who works with children, people with disability and disadvantaged youth.

Eddie Weiss has provided suicide-prevention training to more than 4000 people to help them save lives.

Irene Champion has personally donated more than $8000 worth of local native plants to Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens and is the foremost expert on our region’s native flora.

These are just three of the 50 amazing seniors who were nominated for Mackay Regional Council’s Selfless Seniors exhibition which opens next week.

The exhibition runs from August 17 to 26 in the Jubilee Community Centre and digitally across the region. It features professional portraits and stories paying tribute to those seniors who were nominated.

Mayor Greg Williamson said there was a great spread of seniors in the exhibition.

“We had nominations from up the Valley as well as 15 from Sarina, so this is a great regional snapshot of the seniors who make our region a better place by their selflessness,” Cr Williamson said.

“The photos are outstanding, and the stories really make you appreciate how valuable our seniors are to our region and our community,” he said.

A digital version of the exhibition will also be on show in Sarina at Sarina Neighbourhood Centre, Awal Medical Centre, the Mackay Region Visitor Information Centre and Goodes Butchers.

All of council’s libraries, including Sarina, Mirani and Walkerston, will also be showing the exhibition in digital format.

The exhibition is, of course, in time for Queensland Seniors Week, which runs from Saturday (August 15) to August 23.  This year marks the 60th year of celebrating Queensland seniors.

Cr Williamson said council had a variety of initiatives targeted at senior citizens.

“Our libraries run some very popular – and free – tech classes which can introduce seniors to technology in a simple and stress-free environment,” he said.

“Their Digital Accessibility Program is great for seniors interested in making the move to a tablet or mobile device to access e-resources like eBooks and magazines.

“Artspace Mackay is running ‘Seniors: Conversations with Art’, a free and enjoyable discussion led by Artspace staff.

“The group will look at images of traditional and contemporary artworks from our gallery and museum collections from around the world.

“And, let’s not forget about our Senior Pets initiative – it’s a tremendous program that is designed to find loving homes for older abandoned animals with a senior person.

“Adoption is free and animals with lower energy levels are picked to suit seniors and their lifestyles.”

FACT BOX: Seniors programs at a glance

  • Selfless Seniors exhibition – in Jubilee Community Centre and regionally via digital displays from August 17
  • Digital Accessibility Program – Gordon White Library, August 18 and 25 from 10am to 11am (bookings required)
  • Be Connected Workshop (Basic Computer Skills) - Gordon White Library, August 18 from 10am to 11.30am (bookings required)
  • Seniors: Conversations with Art – Artspace Mackay, August 20 from 10.30am to 11.30am (bookings required – call 4961 9722 for details)
  • Senior Pets for Senior People – register your interest at mackay.qld.gov.au/seniorpets