Woden Seniors Inc

50 years of providing Community Service to the over-50s of Canberra

Aug
28

By

Fortnightly News 28/8/2020

Category: Fortnightly News

Club Activity Vouchers – Cashless Payments

Woden Seniors is trying to reduce the handling of cash during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have introduced a voucher system for you to pay your activity fee with effect from 1 August 2020. Vouchers are available in denominations of $3; $5 and $6.50 from the front counter. You can purchase these with an EFTPOS transaction.

Cashless is quicker, easier and safer but for some people cash may be their only option and that’s ok.

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

Connect in Canberra

Connect in Canberra brings together information from across Government and the community in a range of areas including:

  • Community Services and Support;
  • Supporting our Neighbours and Communities;
  • Online safety and help getting connected;
  • Health and Wellbeing;
  • Activities Hub;
  • Kids’ Corner;
  • What’s On; and
  • Community Activity Packs.

For more information visit https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/connect-in-canberra

Iris Willetts

The family of the late Iris Willetts has made a donation of $1,000 to the Woden Seniors on her behalf. She was a very special lady who found such a lot enjoyment here at the Woden Seniors. At 82 she had sold her home in England and moved to Australia to be near her 3 children. She took up residence with Paul, her youngest son who resides in Holder but then bought a town house in Weston. Not being one to sit idle, one of the first things she did was join the Woden Seniors where she tried out several activities including Folk Dancing, Exercise Classes and the Choir; and the Choir was very glad to have her as it turned out that she was a brilliant pianist who could sight read anything! (Although she didn’t let on straight away that she could play!) The Folk Dancing, etc – didn’t last long but she became an essential part of the Choir and together with Dorothy Rafferty was our repetiteur until 2007. As well as her Choir commitment she also used to play with a church group at both Morling Lodge and Mirringani Nursing home and was in demand at various concerts. Unfortunately she developed macula degeneration and was forced to give up her regular musical activities.

Iris always said how much she loved Australia and how it had given her so much enjoyment to have wonderful friends and activities that she had found through her connection with the Seniors Club. At 90 she became “a dinky-die Aussie” (i.e. she was naturalised) and she passed away in January at 101 and 37 days. Her funeral was on 7th Feb 2020. A beautiful soul and a true friend who is sadly missed by all who knew her (especially me!). Gail Giuliano

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.

Car Parking

We have entered into a contract with Wilson Parking to manage our car park. The annual parking fee for members will remain the same. Wilson Parking uses number plate recognition to identify cars that should not be in our car park. They will issue a fine to vehicles that should not be in the car park. They will tow vehicles away that are repeat offenders. It is essential that we have the current registration number of the car you will be bringing to the Club car park on our system. You can check by looking at your blue parking ticket.

If a Club member does receive a parking fine whilst participating in a Club activity please bring it to the office and we will have it waived.

As you may be aware local workers have used the car park while the Club has been closed.