Seniors Festivities

Bland Shire Council will celebrate the contribution of seniors to the community with a series of Seniors Festivities over the coming weeks.

A range of activities are planned between 28 March and 13 April to celebrate seniors and provide opportunities for local residents aged 60 years and over to come together.

The festivities commence on Wednesday 28 March with a Sing-a-long and Musical Morning Tea at the Bland Preschool.

Grandparents and grand friends are invited to spend the morning with children and staff from 10.30am until 11.30am. Bookings are essential by phoning Council’s  Children’s Services Unit on 6972 2795.

A collaborative art workshop will be held at Splatter Gallery on Tuesday 3 April from 10.30am until noon.

Participants will combine their artistic talents to create a collaborative masterpiece which will be displayed at the Bland Community Care Centre.

Morning tea is provided and bookings are essential on 6972 2266.

Relationships Australia will conduct a seminar on grief and loss at the Bland Community Care Centre on Wednesday 4 April which will be followed by bingo.

The grief and loss session will be held from 11am until noon and provide an overview of the different catalysts for grief, discuss common myths and explore strategies that may be helpful.

Bingo will commence at 1.30pm with prizes to be won.

Both events are part of an open day at the Bland Community Centre with people of all ages encouraged to come along and see what the facility has to offer. A free morning tea will be served by Community Centre staff at 10.30am.

Bookings are essential on 6979 0287.

One of the many highlights of the Seniors Week festivities will be a tour of the historic Naradhan Woolshed on Thursday 5 April.

The bus will depart West Wyalong at 9.30am and cost is $10 which includes the bus, entry to the wool shed and a Devonshire tea. Bookings are essential to 6972 2266 by 3pm on Thursday 29 March.

The Naradhan Woolshed was built in 1888 and was pivotal in the establishment of sheep farming throughout the district.

Council will host a special movie screening of “Victoria and Abdul”  -  starring Judi Dench, Ali Fazal and Michael Gambon - in the Council Chambers at 10am on Friday 6 April.

A free morning tea will be provided with bookings to Council on 6972 2266.

The West Wyalong Men’s Shed will also hold an open day and barbecue lunch on Friday 6 April at its premises at 123 Railway Road.

The open day commences at 10am with a free lunch available from 12.30pm.

Alzheimer’s Australia will visit West Wyalong on Friday 13 April.

The memory van will be parked outside the West Wyalong Newsagency from 9am until 10.30am with members of the public invited to visit and speak individually to Paddye Parnell about memory concerns, dementia and brain health.

Ms Parnell will present a free Healthy Brain Ageing workshop at the Bland Community Care Centre at 11am which will address the myths surrounding dementia and provide information relating to normal ageing and memory loss. More information is available by phoning 6979 0287.

Also on Friday 13 April, a free Sensory Garden Workshop will be held at Majors Mulch between 9am and 10.30am.

Participants will discover the many benefits of sensory gardens to enrich lives. A Devonshire tea will follow and bookings are essential by phoning Council on 6972 2266 by 3pm on Tuesday 10 April.

A booklet outlining all of Council’s Seniors Festivities is available from the Bland Shire library and Council’s Shire Street offices.