YESTERDAY the 2019 Macleay Valley Seniors Festival kicked off with dozens of seniors descending on the Kempsey Macleay RSL.
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It will run from February 13 to 24 at a variety of locations and will feature activities and information that seniors might find useful in their everyday lives.
Uncle Bob Smith, a Dunghutti Elder, opened with the welcome to country and Mayor Liz Campbell followed with some wise words.
"It is difficult to adequately express the part seniors add to our community, the endless hours of volunteering in local groups, in our schools and within our families, all our seniors are ambassadors of the Macleay, Cr Campbell said.
"Last year’s hugely successful inaugural seniors festival was so overwhelming that council, in partnership with Home Instead Senior Care, has launched an even bigger program this year.
"Seniors get out and about, have fun, seek community groups and friendships in the activities planned, and for now, smile, laugh and talk to one another, enjoy today and the 2019 seniors festival."
Our seniors are very important people in our community; they have countless skills, knowledge and wisdom to offer our younger generations, they deserve to be supported and celebrated with this festival
- Scott Marsh
There are activities scheduled throughout the 10 days including on February 16 a seniors 'High Tea Boogie' with Delma & Pete Oddfellows at 22 Kemp St, West Kempsey from 2 pm to 5 pm, and on February 17 the Gladstone Quality Markets at Gladstone Memorial Park 22 Kinchela St Gladstone.
"Our seniors are very important people in our community; they have countless skills, knowledge and wisdom to offer our younger generations, they deserve to be supported and celebrated with this festival," Scott Marsh from Home Instead Senior Care said.
Even though this year's event has only just started, one of the key helpers, Seniors and Marketing Librarian Mary Williams has already considered the future of the growing event.
"We hope to keep it as an ongoing event, we want to give seniors the opportunity to make new friends and get together at local community events, she said.
"These are all local organisations helping sponsor and put this on; it just shows what the community can do when we all unite."
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