Fortnightly News 9/6/2017
ACT Budget for Seniors
There is some good news in the ACT Budget for Seniors in the Woden area:
- free off-peak bus travel for seniors;
- funding to design a nurse led walk- in Centre in Weston;
- expansion of the Woden Library.
Soup Kitchen
Sue Allen has the soup kitchen is up and running on Wednesdays only at this stage. Choice of two soups and bread for $5. If you would like to help out with cooking or serving please let Sue know.
Funding for the Club
You may have seen a recent article in the Canberra Times reporting my comments on elements of the ACT Budget, specifically in relation to the lack of regular ACT Government funding for the Seniors Clubs in Canberra.
The Woden Seniors Club is primarily funded by members through activity fees, fundraising and ad hoc hiring of rooms and to a lesser extent car parking spaces to other groups.
The ACT Government provides ad-hoc grants for specific purposes, for example the new chairs we bought recently, this funding however represents less than 2% of our annual turnover. When we have approached the ACT Government for a regular supplement to our funding, the response has been to approach the local Licensed Clubs for funds from their poker machine revenue.
The Woden Seniors Club is registered as a Charity for Taxations purposes which means that any donations made to the Club are tax deductible.
BridgeMates for the Bridge Club
Anne Murray has been successful is securing a $2,000 grant from the Hellenic Club to fund the purchase of BridgeMates, an electronic system that automatically calculates the scores in a Duplicate Bridge movement. We can expect to have these installed over the next couple of weeks. This is an important development as it keeps the Senior’s Bridge Club competitive with other local Bridge Clubs and makes directing and scoring of a Bridge movement much easier for the activity leader.
Woden Seniors Book Club
We have a book club. The Book Club is registered with the ACT Library and the books are chosen from the Library’s Book Club list and available for borrowing. The Book Club will meet at 10:30am on the last Friday of the month in the Anne Murray room. New members are welcome. The following books have been selected for discussion over the next three months:
Friday 30 June: Dead Cat Bounce by Peter Cotton;
Friday 28 July: Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith;
Friday 25 August: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.
U3A Warrani Chorale
The U3A Warrani Chorale is holding it’s first concert of the year ‘Songs From Far Off Lands’ at the Weston Creek Uniting Church, Parkinson St., Weston on Wednesday 14 June 2017 from 10:30 – 12 noon. Admission is by gold coin donation and light refreshments are included.
2017 Big Book Fair, 11 – 13 August 2017
Woden Seniors BIG Book Fair
10 am to 4 pm
11 to 13 August 2017
The Book Fair is now only two months away and the organisers are busy preparing publicity for major outlets such as radio, Internet, and print media.
Members too can help publicise it by:
– providing details of the Book Fair to the editors of small local newsletters such as sporting clubs, school or church newsletters;
– distributing to friends and family ‘ Save the date’ bookmarks, which can be picked up from the counter at the Club.
We are pleased that Justine Burke of Luton Real Estate at Weston Creek has sponsored the printing of posters for the Book Fair. These will be available for distribution soon. Watch this space if you would like to help.
Veterans and Seniors Newsletter
The Veterans and Seniors Newsletter produced monthly by the ACT Government is packed with useful information for older people. It can be accessed by the following link.
Those interested in receiving it can elect to have it emailed or sent by post each month. To request to be added to the mailing list here are the addresses.
Email:
communityparticipation
Phone: 133 427 (Access Canberra – ask for ACT Veterans and Seniors Newsletter)
Postal Address:
ACT Office for Veterans and Seniors
Community Participation Group
PO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
SPIRAL 2017 PROGRAM
Spiral is a group of senior citizens (60+ to 90+) that meets each Thursday morning, they are non-denominational with people from varied backgrounds, occupations and origins. The Spiral Photo Album gives a good sense of who they are and what they do. There are no fees but a $1 contribution to costs is requested. Spiral is seeking new members, helpers and guest speakers. You are not obliged to come every week and you can come for the talk and/or the morning tea. Any questions or suggestions please contact me or one of the other people on the list below.
Location: The Uniting Church in Gillies Street, Curtin.
When: Thursday morning.
Time: Speakers will commence at 10.10 and most will join us for the morning tea that will follow.
June 15 Canberra Mandolin Orchestra
Formed in 2003, this talented group has performed at the High Court, Government House and the National Folk Festival. We are privileged to have them perform for us – again.
June 22 Alice Ferguson The 39 Steps
Canberra Repertory’s next production is the “exciting, frenetic, and hilarious adaption of John Buchan’s book and Alfred Hitchcock’s film The 39 Steps“ which runs from June 16 until July 1. Alice, a very experienced actor, is backstage this time for a change and will be able to answer any questions you may have about how the wonderful Rep people put it all together.
June 29 David Boddy: LEGO lover and community champion
David was an ACT finalist in the Local Hero category of this year’s Australian of the Year awards. David established the Canberra LEGO Users Group in 2009, the driving force behind the Canberra Brick Expo. Since then the Expo has raised more than $250,000 for the Canberra Hospital. Be amazed by what can be done with LEGO bricks. For example, there is a 92,000-piece portrait of the Queen at Old Parliament House!
July 6 Harpers Bizarre
After a great reception last year, this wonderful band of harmonica players returns to entertain us.
Much more than a clever name, this is a rare opportunity – there are few harmonica groups about these days.
July 13 Caroline Le Couteur
You might be surprised when you meet Caroline and learn more about her.
And a change to the previously announced program. One of The Heartbeats is about to get a second hip replacement so their August performance has been postponed:
November 9 The Heartbeats
Spiral contacts.
Brett Yeats – phone 6281 7684 or email address is yeatsb
Mavis Angove – 0438 460 813 or 6292 1437 or mavisangove
Sara York – 0419 587 578 or sarawyork
Sue Driscoll – 0418 697 240 or suedrisc
Angelika Dunker – 6281 4023 or angelika.dunker
Betty Yeats – 6281 5679
Justice of the Peace
You will find Maureen in Club on Tuesdays & Thursdays between 10.30am and 2pm for Justice of the Peace matters.