Queensland Seniors Week is only a few days away, but Queenslanders are already beginning to get into the swing of celebrations.
Minister for Seniors Coralee O’Rourke today (Wednesday 12 August) hosted a lunch with a group of seniors at Parliament House in the lead up to Seniors Week.
“This is a very special Seniors Week for all of us,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“Not only because this is the 60th anniversary of the celebration, but also because we have had to make some big changes to the schedule to follow public health directions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From 15-23 August, we will see the first virtual Queensland Seniors Week and, despite the changes and the challenges, there is still so much on offer across the state.”
The decision to include a mixture of virtual and in-person events was made earlier this year, to give seniors the opportunity to socialise from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
“The 2020 theme is Celebrating Queensland Seniors,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“At its heart, Seniors Week is all about connecting with the community and the virtual nature of some of the events hasn’t changed that.
“In fact, it has made activities even more accessible for some seniors who might not have been able to travel or access events or activities in the past.”
Queensland Seniors Week is coordinated by Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland, with funding from the Palaszczuk Government.
The week will kick off with Drawn Together, an event featuring performances and conversation between generations streamed online from the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on 15 August at 10.30am.
Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO and QPAC Elder in-Residence Aunty Colleen Wall, along with some of their younger relatives, will be among the guests featured in Drawn Together.
“The COTA team has done a fantastic job embracing the virtual transition for Seniors Week 2020,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“The official website is filled with new ways to connect, from virtual hugs to sharing stories and even contributing to a Spotify playlist inspired by Seniors Week.
“They have also encouraged the community to try out new types of events online, with offerings like art, theatre, exercise and other informative workshops.
“COVID-19 has helped us realise that we can still come together, even in times of physical distancing.
“This will be a great way for many community organisations to see how they can incorporate virtual options in their programs in future.”
