City activities ‘to keep seniors busy’

CHELSEA KENNEALLY
AN ANNUAL festival next month will give seniors plenty to do, according to councillor Kylie Fisher.
Cr Fisher said Geelong Seniors Festival would offer more than 90 events for free or little cost.
Victoria’s biggest senior festival would be a great chance for seniors to discover activities available to them within their community, she said.
Festival activities would include workshops, dances, concerts and tours.
The adventurous could try sailing, while traditional afternoon tea would be available for other festival patrons.
Cr Fisher, who holds council’s community development portfolio, said the Victorian Seniors Festival ran for a week but Geelong’s went for a month.
Last year more than 7000 people attended 80 festival events throughout the region, she said.
“The feedback from 2010 was overwhelmingly positive – 94 per cent of survey respondents said their participation in the festival as a positive experience, with 96 per cent saying they were planning on coming back next year.
“It’s a great way to get active, keep your body and mind healthy and to make new friends. This is what we are aiming to achieve.”
Cr Fisher said organisers hoped the activities would encourage house-bound seniors “to get out of their house and have some fun”.
The festival program would be available at council customer service centres throughout the municipality, she said.