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Community

28 July, 2024

Still fighting after 50 years

FIFTY years of fighting for the rights of the Far North’s seniors and battling the isolation epidemic by building a supportive community has been celebrated by the Cairns and District Senior Citizens Association.

By Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden (left), Cairns and District Senior Citizens Association president Alison Worell and LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden (left), Cairns and District Senior Citizens Association president Alison Worell and LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch.

In a heartwarming celebration on July 17 at the association’s hall in Gatton St, over 80  members, Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, division 7 councillor Anna Midleton and LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch gathered to celebrate the rich history of the organisation that has been building a network of senior citizens in the Far North for 50 years and advocating for better and more services for their community.

“It’s a big milestone and during my time as president (five years), we’ve had a lot of stress in getting the place functioning for what it’s supposed to function for and finally it is,” said the association’s president Alison Worell.

“We have new weight classes twice a week which meets the needs of our seniors, our book club is doing really well, and our card and board games can’t accommodate any more people.

“There are more and more men joining our association, from an 18 per cent male members we’ve pushed it to 23 per cent, and next year we’re planning our first retreat which will be amazing. 

“Loneliness is the biggest issue in the seniors, and we address that. Some of our members have lost a partner or their family, or they don’t know what to do and this is a friendly sociable space they can come to and that’s the most important thing.”

During the celebrations, Cr Eden unveiled a commemorative plaque in celebration of 50 years, invaluable members of the association were awarded, seniors band ‘Off The Record’ were also celebrated for over a decade of service and contributions, while Ms Entsch cut the 50th anniversary cake.

Cr Eden said it was a “momentous occasion, and the committee really turned on a wonderful event. Fifty years is no small feat, and they are resilient and determined and they’ve had a wonderful day today so I’m excited for them”.

“We will continue to support them, and I know they will be applying for council’s infrastructure funding grant, so we’ll make sure that this avenue for community groups is available and we have officers that support them in making these applications,” she said.

Ms Worell said that she had a set of goals for the future including getting support with technology literacy for the elders, continuing to fight for the bus stop opposite their hall on Gatton St and government funding. “We operate with no funding from state or federal governments, so it’d be crucial for us to get that financial support because we rely on grants and the grants for seniors are very limited,” she said.

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