Special week for seniors

THE annual celebration of the contribution older people make to the city began on Monday and tickets are now available for a range of events on the Seniors Week 2007 program.

Using the theme Live Life!, Seniors Week is a statewide event offering older people a range of experiences highlighting their diverse interests and input into society as well as giving the wider community a chance to recognise their achievements.

Organised by a local committee with support from Wollongong City Council, Seniors Week 2007 will be the 31st occasion the event has been held in the city. More than 70 events have been organised for between March 10 and 18.

Activities range from joy flights and bus trips through to educational workshops, concerts, sporting events, luncheons and afternoon teas and competitions.

Many favourite events are again on the schedule as well as some new activities.

One of these is the presentation of the city's annual Older Persons Awards, being presented as part of Seniors Week for the first time after moving from its traditional October slot.

Originally based upon an idea of the late Merv Nixon in 1992, the Older Persons Awards were previously celebrated on the United Nations Day for Older People. It will be presented during the Seniors Week opening ceremony on March 11.

The Award is presented to those who contribute to the better lifestyle of older people in the community.

The winners in 2005 were Peter Hutten, of Mt Kembla, and Anne Bruinenberg, of Dapto.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Alex Darling said tickets for some events would be available through the council's Burelli Street Administration Building.

"With such a fabulous range of activities to choose from, we find each year that those with limited spaces quickly fill up once tickets become available,: Cr Darling said.

"We're therefore asking those wanting to ensure their attendance at a particular event to visit our Cashier's Office as early as possible."

The full program of events is included in the Seniors Week 2007 booklet, which is now available through the Administration Building and all branches of the Wollongong City Library, Horizon Credit Union, Illawarra Credit Union and the IMB.