Events

June 2011

Information and photos of events the Ambassador for Ageing attended in June, 2011.

Health and Wellbeing Expo at Roma, Qld - 25 June 2011

Queensland Health organised the Health and Wellbeing Expo at Roma, a small town in the western Darling Downs area, to raise awareness about local services available to older people in the district.

According to Noeline these types of Expos are a fantastic source of helpful health information.

"Older people really embrace these types of community events because they know there is so much valuable information available to them in one location. And at some Expos you can even get free health checks done. At the Roma Expo older people had the opportunity to have a free blood pressure test," Noeline said.

"Another good thing about these Expos is that they help build partnerships across the delivery of public health services."






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Positive Ageing Expo - City of Whittlesea City Council - 21 June

The City of Whittlesea invited a number of speakers along to their Positive Ageing Expo to talk about a variety of important issues. One of the speakers was from the headquarters of the Men's Shed organisation and he spoke about how this Australian concept is sweeping the world. The speaker spent many years in the area of men's health and he talked about the many benefits experienced by men who have joined a Men's Shed.

Another speaker was from Centrelink and he spoke about what financial support is available to older people after they reach retirement age.

Noeline got a very warm welcome and during her speech she told the audience about the establishment of the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential for Senior Australians which was announced by the Australian Government in March this year. "The Panel will advise on how to maximise the benefits and opportunities that will come with a larger and more active community of older Australians," Noeline said. "The new Advisory Panel will also examine how businesses and policy makers can assist senior Australians in their transition from the workforce into other endeavours, such as mentoring and volunteer work."




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Opening Night of 'Home for Lunch' - a play about retirement - 16 June

Noeline was invited to speak at the opening night of 'Home for Lunch' which is a play about retirement. The play focusses on a man who became lost after he retired. Like many men, the main character of the play defined who he was by his job and once he no longer worked he became depressed. The play was a powerful reflection of what often happens in life and there were many moments of humour which added to the play's appeal.

During Noeline's speech she applauded the great performances and she congratulated the playwrite for creating a theatre production that dealt with a difficult subject matter in a very entertaining way.

"We need to acknowledge that many men find retirement difficult, particularly the initial stages of retirement, but there is life after work and I encourage anyone with time on their hands to think about volunteering - it will give you something worthwhile to do and helping others has the potential to improve your health and well being," Noeline said.






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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - Bendigo 15 June

Purple was the colour used to acknowledge World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2011 in the City of Bendigo. The Ambassador for Ageing gave the keynote address at the Bendigo Town Hall to mark this day of awareness and to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons. Noeline acknowledged the contribution older people have made to our country, shaping our culture and making sacrifices to ensure a great future for our nation. As Ambassador for Ageing, Noeline spoke about how older people should live in dignity and security, free of exploitation and abuse, and that they should be treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status, and irrespective of their economic contribution.




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Fun Over Fifty Expo – Melbourne, VIC – 4-5 June 2010

Noeline really enjoyed attending the 'Fun Over Fifty Expo' which was put on by the Kingston City Council and a few Rotary Clubs during 4-5 June.

The event was held at the Kingston City Centre in Melbourne and it provided guests with an array of information about services and activities available to older people. During the two day event there were some fabulous demonstrations and presentations, including traditional Scililian Folk Dancing, Pro Angler demonstration, fitness lessons, and much more.

In addition to talking about healthy, active ageing, Noeline also urged people to write their life story. "I've never met a person who didn't have an interesting story to tell and it's important we record our stories because it's a vital part of our social and cultural history."






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