Kerrabee dinners much more than a meal

Maroondah’s older residents can enjoy great food, great company and great fun during dinner parties held at Council’s Kerrabee social support base.

Kerrabee hosts four dinner parties throughout the year to help residents feel more connected with the community as they share an evening meal together and take part in fun games and activities. 

For a small fee, Maroondah residents aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, can enjoy a two-course meal, friendly conversations, entertainment and/or activities. Transport options are also available to assist residents to feel confident to attend.

For many, the dinner parties are much more than a meal.

“The parties are fantastic. It’s so important for us to have this evening out. We’ll get out to lunch with family, but we never get out of an evening, so it’s just terrific,” Beth said.

“I like the atmosphere at the parties - the friendly faces, the way we are looked after, and the effort put in,” Andree said.

The parties are part of Council’s

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Rob Steane, said the program provides support to senior residents who have support needs, a disability, or who are socially isolated.

“Council’s social inclusion and wellbeing program is so important for residents who, due to limited capacity, disability, isolation or other factors, may feel lonely.

“By providing opportunities to get out and about and make new connections, the program helps residents feel more independent and more connected with the community,” Cr Steane said.

Along with dinner parties, Kerrabee offers social opportunities and activities that can include woodwork, craft, gardening, exercise, games, outings, guest speakers and entertainers.

“I’m here once a week for the support group and we’ve got some outings, which I really look forward to,” Andree said.

“We do all sorts of things. Sometimes we have daily exercises and lots of outings. Sometimes we have lunch somewhere or go to Bunnings. There is a different activity every time.”

Max has been attending Kerrabee for about 18 months. He enjoys the “good camaraderie” and the range of activities on offer.

“We do heaps of activities. We have an outing once a month and we get to choose those. Council also offers guest speakers. They had a volunteer come along from the Stroke Foundation. We have artists, we have singers - it’s really good,” Max said.

“The Council program is excellent. We’re so lucky in Maroondah to have a program like this. The staff are excellent and the people are really friendly.”

“The staff are fantastic,” Beth said. “They look after every care.”

The next dinner parties will be held in September and December. To find out more about Kerrabee’s dinner parties or the social inclusion and wellbeing program, contact Jane, Council’s Program Leader Social Inclusion and Wellbeing, on 1300 88 22 33 or email