THE NSW Seniors Festival was officially launched in Kempsey this morning, and the shire’s Citizen of the Year, Betty Green, challenged local mature people to seize every opportunity presented by life.
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The 2018 Seniors Festival Ambassador, Betty said it was a travesty that so many withdrew from community activity as they aged.
Rather than “live under a rock”, Betty challenged seniors to seek out new opportunities – something she is threatening to do herself with a paddleboard top of the wish-list.
“It’s my challenge to you,” she said.
Mayor Liz Campbell also spoke passionately of the need to embrace life at the festival launch at the town library.
A special guest was author Anna Featherstone, who regaled all with a potted history of her many adventures – from the early days of managing resorts and “working for the Packers” through to buying 90 acres of land at Nabiac.
“It had really, really bad soil – there was not a single worm when we dug into it,” Anna said.
But with toil and fervent, Anna and her husband – along with help from many others – transformed the patchy property into something akin a River Cottage on roids.
They grew bees, and made everything from boutique balms and moonshine, and ventured into farmstay – so successfully, that they picked up a national tourism award.
And like many small farmers, Anna kept chickens, who were housed in an old caravan, which was towed around the property improving the soil in the process. “We called them Hens on Holiday,” she laughed.
Watch video of the launch:
Locally, this year’s Seniors Festival features 19 exciting activities and workshops all highlighting the theme Let’s Do More Together.
Some of the events include a Seniors Road Safety Awareness Workshop at the South West Rocks Country Club on Wednesday April 11 from 10.30am to 12.30pm and a Macleay Valley Food Bowl produce and tastings morning on Thursday April 12 in council’s Civic Centre Courtyard from 10am to 11am.
“Council staff have worked hard to provide a varied program for our seniors. There is something for everyone,” Betty said.
“As seniors, we need to get out and about and this is a prime opportunity for us to learn new things especially with technology and get out and meet up with other members of our community.”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the NSW Seniors Festival which is the largest festival for seniors in the southern hemisphere.
The program of events:
Council has partnered with NSW Family and Community Services and Home Instead Senior Care to deliver the program of events this year.
A free, full-colour copy of the festival program is available from council offices and library branches and can also be downloaded from council’s website (www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au).