Fortnightly News 25/9/2020

Access to the Club

The usual access point to the Club has been moved to the northern part of Corinna Street. Transport Canberra neglected to let us know that the road adjacent to the Club was being upgraded. When it became clear to them that we needed access to the Club they agreed to put in the temporary access point. The road will be closed for about 9 weeks.

GARDEN CLUB

The garden club is starting up again after the Winter recess. If you are interested to come along and join in on most Monday and Friday mornings, please leave your name and best contact details with Polly.

We will be having a working bee on Friday 2nd October, starting at 9.30am to focus on weeding the garden beds. If you could spare a couple of hours, that would be great. Please bring your garden tools and a cup or mug for a drink.

Seniors Art Class: Floriography – the language of flowers

When: 10.00am – 12.00pm, Tuesdays from 6 October – 8 December 2020

Where: The Hunting Lodge, Tuggeranong Arts Centre

Cost: Free. Morning tea and materials will be provided.

Explore floriography – the Victorian-era language of flowers. With contemporary textile artist Carol Cooke, you will learn embroidery skills and techniques, and use them to complete a work with floral tributes – and secret messages!

This class for seniors (55 years and over) is suitable for beginners, or people with stitching and embroidery skills. Instead of using purchased patterns, you will design your piece, with layers of images, words and meaning.

Priority will be given to participants who live in the Woden and Tuggeranong regions, and assistance with the costs of travel will be available for some participants in those areas. If you do not have your own transport and need assistance to attend this class, please advise when you register. Numbers are limited and bookings essential.

To register: email Jacqui at Woden.Arts

Free wellbeing calls

Wellbeing Calls are available to anyone who is feeling lonely or isolated. A friendly chat with an Australian Red Cross Volunteer is just a phone call away.

To register to receive ‘check in calls’ Call (02) 6234 7630 between 8am and 4pm Monday – Friday

Free one-on-one digital learning sessions for senior

Woden Seniors is no longer offering iPad or computer classes, however the Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT has recently received funding to fill this gap.

The ACT Government has funded COTA ACT to offer free one-on-one digital learning sessions to seniors. The Seniors Pop-up Technology Hub will be a place where senior Canberrans can come and ask questions in a relaxed way and learn about how to get online and become confident with using technology. The learning sessions are designed to assist seniors with staying in touch with their community, family and friends, such as through email, social media, and video calls eg Zoom or Facetime, and be a resource for finding information online.

If you would like to know more about the free computer literacy workshops run by COTA ACT, call the COTA ACT office on 6282 3777 or email Events

Tax help for seniors

Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT has a Tax Help Volunteer again this year.

You can book an appointment for Tuesday, from 10.00am or any Wednesday afternoon at the COTA ACT office in Wisdom Street, Hughes on 6282 3777.

Tax Help is a free and confidential service to help people on a low income (around $60,000 or less) with simple tax affairs to complete their tax return online with myTax. It is available from July to October.

Volunteers can help you lodge your tax return or amendment online or claim a refund of franking credits.

Club Activities

These activities have already started,

Choir Practice (Monday 10.00 – 12.00 pm)

Line Dancing (Monday 10.00 – 12.00 pm)

Seated Exercise (Monday 12.00 – 1.30 pm)

Friendship Group (Monday 1.30 – 3.30 pm)

YMCA Gentle Exercise (Tuesday 9.30 – 10.30 am)

YMCA Ever Active (Wednesday 8.30 – 9.30 am)

Water Colour Painting (Wednesday 9.30 – 11.30 am)

Table Tennis (Wednesday & Friday 9.30 – 12.30 pm)

Stitchers (Thursday 10.00 – 12.00 pm)

Craft Group (Thursday 10.00 – 12.00 pm)

Tai Chi & Gentle Exercise (Thursday 2.00 -3.15 pm)

Painting and Drawing (Friday 1.30 – 3.30 pm)

These are activities where we can easily maintain a 1.5metre distance from each other. It is also essential that we maintain good hand hygiene and cough or sneeze into our elbows. There should be no communal refreshment breaks and members should bring their own drink bottles and snacks.

Each group leader will have to ensure that any commonly used areas such as tables and chairs are cleaned with the disinfectant wipes provided before and after the activity. Group leaders will be provided with a checklist of what must be done.

All groups must include each person’s full name and telephone number in the activity book to enable contact tracing in the event that there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Please bring the correct money for each activity to minimise handling of cash.

The Management Committee will continuously review activities and wellbeing over the coming months to ensure that we reduce the risk of infection by COVID-19.

Please Do Not Enter the Club if:

• You are feeling unwell and developing cold or flu like symptoms (including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath); or
• You have been in close contact with someone with these symptoms or is a confirmed COVID-19 case; or
• You or someone you have been in close contact with has recently returned from interstate or overseas.