November 2009

Group of people with balloons jpeg

Whittlesea U3A’s (back) Carole Glover, John Whitelock, Hans Majewski, Carol Whitelock, (front) Jill McNees, Flo Majewski, Kathy Lizio, Margaret Mitten and Nevill McNees celebrate the launch of the 2009 Victorian Seniors Festival at Federation Square.

Seniors flock to statewide festival events

About 17,000 seniors and their friends and families marked the start of the 2009 Victorian Seniors Festival at Federation Square—the largest turnout for opening day in the week’s 27-year history.

The festival included more than 1,000 free or low-cost events across Victoria.

More than half the events were hosted by all 79 of Victoria’s local councils—with funding support from the Victorian Government—making it a truly statewide event.

Ensuring the festival was even more accessible, Seniors Card holders again benefited from free public transport in metropolitan Melbourne and free regional bus services and selected train services.

Highlights of this year’s festival included the Veteran’s Golf Classic, the ACMI Seniors Film Festival, Parks Victoria’s Go for you life walks program and a broad range of music and theatre events covering more than 30 towns across Victoria.

The Office of Senior Victorians is already planning next year’s festival which will run from 3 October to 10 October.

• More about the Victorian Seniors Festival at www.seniors.vic.gov.au.