N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L

Community Services Reference Group

Report CS07 - 14 July 2014

Attachments: 1. Seniors Week Images 2014

2. Seniors Events Program 2014 3. Guringai Coal Loader Program Images 2014

SUBJECT: Seniors Week and Guringai Festival 2014 AUTHOR: Kylie Cook, Cultural Events and Projects Officer and Ciska White,

Community Development Librarian ENDORSED BY: Martin Ellis, Director Community and Library Services EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NSW Seniors Week is an annual celebration featuring hundreds of free or discounted events held across NSW by government, community and commercial organisations. North Sydney Council supports Seniors Week by running key arts and cultural focused community projects at no cost in addition to promoting and supporting activities facilitated by local Community Centres (free or low cost). The 2014 Guringai Festival in its 14th year celebrates Australia’s first people’s culture in the Northern Sydney Region supported by 11 councils and many community groups offering programs to educate and celebrate indigenous culture with a variety of activities ranging from story to dance, bushwalking, film screening and talks. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Nil RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT the Seniors Week and Guringai Festival 2014report be received.

Report of Kylie Cook, Cultural Events and Projects Officer and Ciska White, Community Development Librarian Re: Seniors Week and Guringai Festival 2014

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LINK TO DELIVERY PROGRAM The relationship with the Delivery Program is as follows: Direction: 4. Our Social Vitality

Outcome: 4.1 Community is connected

4.2 Community is diverse 4.3 Community is active and healthy

BACKGROUND Seniors Week 2014 ran from Saturday 15 March to Sunday 23 March 2014. The Guringai Program runs from 26 May to 13 July 2014 with the Council programs held on Saturday 31 May, Saturday 5 July and Sunday 6 July. The theme this year is ‘Wellness and Health for All People’. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS Community engagement will be undertaken in accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Protocol. SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT The following table provides a summary of the key sustainability implications: QBL Pillar Implications Environment Catering services to use recyclable materials.

Facilitators provided non toxic and sustainable materials for art workshops and basket weaving.

Social The Guringai program offers a high level of interaction between aboriginal and non Aboriginal people in an inclusive and educational environment. Seniors activities offered a high level of social interaction and health and well being focused activities.

Economic The cost of producing the Guringai brochure and promotional materials was shared between 11 Council’s. Council’s Seniors week activities where low cost to Council due to small grant of $1000 provided by the Office of Ageing, Disability & Home Care.

Governance Risk Management Plans were undertaken for the workshops. DETAIL Seniors Week 2014 Council’s public art program for seniors this year was ‘Art in the Park’ for two groups of 15 participants (over 50 years old) and consisted of drawing ‘Drawn to nature’ and painting

Report of Kylie Cook, Cultural Events and Projects Officer and Ciska White, Community Development Librarian Re: Seniors Week and Guringai Festival 2014

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‘Colour my world’ exercises presented by a professional artist/facilitator in the beautiful setting of Civic Park, with easels and equipment set up in the stage area. Participants provided great verbal feedback of the program and the facilitator and created unique and inspiring works in the experimental workshops. Images are provided of the Council ‘Art in the Park’ Program and the Council created flyer to promote the North Sydney Seniors Week offerings. Stanton Library hosted a full program of activities for Seniors Week to appeal to a range of interests. Over 80 attendees enjoyed the daily offerings which included meditation, yoga, a Pinterest class, and two public talks - ‘Transition to Retirement’ and ‘Demystifying the Myths of Ageing’. Other activities in the North Sydney LGA included a lunch with Noelene Brown (Australia’s First Ambassador for Ageing) hosted by the North Sydney Community Centre, Seniors lunch at Kirribilli Neighborhood Centre, lunch, tai chi, yoga and more hosted by the Crows Nest Centre. Guringai Festival 2014 The Council program included a variety of activities held at the Coal Loader titled ‘Walk Talk and Create at the Coal loader’ and included:

Acknowledgement of County and song with Jessica and Michael Birk; Film Screening of a ‘Through Indigenous Eyes’ which investigates aspects of

indigenous cultures in Australia by students from Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College;

Basket Weaving Workshop; Traditional Afternoon Tea; Children’s Art Workshop; and Walk and talk with Karen Smith from the Aboriginal Heritage Office.

There were over 60 participants in the activities throughout the day and was a wonderful way to celebrate Aboriginal culture. See images attached - Attachment 3. Stanton Library hosted a range of very popular family activities over the course of the Festival, including:

‘Talk and Taste’ Interactive talk and bush food sampling; ‘Adamriginal’ Music and puppetry workshop; Indigenous heritage talk; and Great Book Swap fundraiser for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Scheduled in July, Primrose Park Studio Artist Jessica Birk will lead a weekend workshop on site to develop designs and paint murals on the doors of Primrose Park Arts and Craft Centre. All ages and community members are invited to participate in this community project. Other activities in the North Sydney LGA include Dance Art and Song with playgroup, Art exhibition and Storytelling and dance.

1. Seniors week images 2014

NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL ART IN THE PARK WITH DEBBIE MACKINNON

DRAWN TO NATuRE Civic Park outdoor stage* North Sydney

Friday 21 March, 10.30am-1pm

You can learn to draw anything in this exciting and experimental drawing workshop. Put aside all notions of “I can’t...”, to unlock your inner artist.

All drawing abilities welcome, including complete beginners. Be prepared to get a bit messy and have a go! You just need to bring a willing hand and open mind.

COlOuR My WORlD

Friday 21 March, 1.30pm-4pm

Lots of would-be painters struggle with colour. In this fun and experimental workshop we will explore how to create a vibrant and exciting work with a limited colour palette.

Its all about just trying something new...bring an open mind plus apron or old shirt to keep your clothes clean!

CROwS NEST CENTRE2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest

The Crows Nest Centre will be hosting a range of free events each day during Seniors Week. Our events aim at promoting positive, active and healthy ageing.

Monday 17 March, Yoga 11am-12pm

Wednesday 19 March, Yoga 11am-12pm

Thursday 20 March, Feldenkrais 9.45am-10.45amCrows Nest Computer Club open day 10am-2.30pm

Friday 21 March, Tai chi 10am-11am Cooking demonstration, performance by David Watkins from Stagedoor Entertainment (renditions of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin) and a free two course a-la-carte lunch from 10am.

Bookings are essential. Transport can be arranged.

Please contact Geoff on 9439 5122 or gwhiting@crowsnestcentre.org.au

NEUTRaL baY SENIORS190-192 Military Road, Neutral Bay

10am – 12pm daily

Seniors are welcome to pop in for tea and coffee on Monday, Thursday and Friday and join in the many daily activities on offer. Enquiries 9953 6447.

Contact Lower North Shore Community Transport on 9438 3504 for transport options. Bookings required.

All Seniors Week activities are free unless otherwise stated.

FREE EvENTS

Supported by the Office of Ageing, Disability & Homecare, and North Sydney Council.

SENIORS wEEK 17-21 March 2014

*In the event of bad weather please meet at Customer Service and you will be escorted to an alternate Council space.

All materials supplied, plus morning/afternoon tea

Bookings Essenntial, numbers limited.

Bookings 9936 8192 or email: Kylie.Davies@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

SENIORS wEEK @ STaNTON 2014234 Miller Street, North Sydney

MEDITATION WITH lyNDA KERR

Monday 17 March, 10am library Conference Room, level 2

Lynda from The Reiki and Meditation Project has been assisting people from all walks of life to live happier, healthier more balanced lives. She will lead a one hour meditation session.

THE SENIOR AgENDA: DEMySTIFyINg THE MyTHS OF AgEINg

Monday 17 March, 1pm library Conference Room, level 2

Join Aloma Fennell for her inspiring seminar follow-up to the International Federation of Ageing (IFA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) joint conference, in Prague, and hear how the tide is turning for Seniors the World over. She will discuss how the myths surrounding ageing are constantly and continuously being challenged.

TECHNOlOgy TEST DRIvE: PINTEREST

Tuesday 18 March, 10.30am library Conference Room, level 2

Find out how you can use Pinterest to discover new and exciting things on the internet. Learn how to compile digital scrapbooks of things you love. We’ll show you how to start a collection and share it your finds with friends and family.

TRANSITION TO RETIREMENT

Wednesday 19 March, 1pm library Conference Room, level 1

Retirement can represent a third of your life, so what will you do with the next 30 years? In this exciting seminar, Margo Blacklaw from Training and Coaching Solutions will help you explore your retirement opportunities, and examine where you are now in your life and where you want to be.

SENIORS WEEK TRIvIA CHAllENgE + REFRESHMENTS

Thursday 20 March, 12pm

Join a team to test your wits and join in this fun lunchtime trivia challenge. The quiz will include refreshments and awarding of prizes.

yOgA FOR SENIORS

Friday 21 March, 10am

Yoga provides health benefits for adults of all ages and fitness levels, and seniors can especially benefit from the increased flexibility and balance it offers. This class will be lead by a practitioner from local natural therapies and yoga centre, Life Source.

Bookings 9936 8400 or email: library@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

NORTH SYDNEY COMMUNITY CENTRE

220 Miller Street, North Sydney (behind Stanton Library)

luNCH WITH NOElINE BROWN

Friday 21 March, 12pm-1.30pm

Join us for lunch with Noeline Brown who will talk about her exciting role as Australia’s first Ambassador for Ageing. Ms Brown will talk about healthy active ageing, ageing well and ageing gracefully. After her talk she will be happy to take questions about her role as Ambassador for Ageing and about her career as one of Australia’s best-loved actors.

Seats are limited, so bookings are essential www.northsydneycentre.com.au Ph: 9922 2299

KIRRIbILLI NEIgHbOURHOOD CENTRE

16-18 Fitzroy Street, Kirribilli

SENIORS WEEK COMMuNITy luNCH PARTy

Tuesday 18 March, 12pm-2pm

To show our appreciation of your ongoing value to your community, you are invited to your Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre for a Free Lunch Party to Celebrate you during Seniors Week. There will be Guest Speakers, Entertainment and prizes to be given away. We will be offering a main course followed by dessert, refreshments, tea & coffee. Bookings are essential. Please contact reception by Friday 8 March 9922 4428

1. Guringai Coal Loader Program images 2014