With the NSW Seniors Festival set to get under way next week, Bathurst is set to again mark the occasion with a host of activities for senior citizens to engage with the local community.
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The annual event, to be held from April 13 to 24, will bring a host of local organisations together with a shared goal to provide socially engaging events for seniors to participate in.
Bathurst Seniors Festival committee member John Hollis said the event aims to celebrate senior citizens who make positive contributions to the local community, as well as engage seniors who may feel socially isolated.
"It's surprising how many seniors are reluctant to explore other avenues for entertainment in the community, so the Seniors Festival gives isolated individuals the chance to further explore what's out there," Mr Hollis said.
"When you retire, it's easy to fall out of touch with day-to-day activities, which is why it's essential to make the effort to expand the horizons."
Mr Hollis said while the impact of COVID-19 has caused a slight reorganisation of the event, it has allowed new activities to fill the void.
"When we went through last year's program and asked the 'can we or can't we' question for this year's event, we only lost 15 per cent of our activities, which has freed up room to add new ones," he said.
"Bathurst Seymour Centre has fronted up with some new activities, and there will be a host of insightful entertainment options and workshops to keep seniors engaged across the duration of the festival."
The Seymour Centre will host four sessions during the festival to educate seniors on a range of topics, including community safety [April 14], Centrelink services [April 19], affordable accommodation [April 20] and environmental strategies [April 21].
Chief executive officer Terisa Ashworth said each session will be limited to 20 people in order to meet COVID protocols.
"We encourage seniors to register as this is a great opportunity to access useful information, and encourage seniors to contact us on 63321449 for more information," Ms Ashworth said.
Evans Arts Council will run a creative arts and crafts workshop at Panthers Bathurst on April 17, with various other activities to take place at venues such as BMEC, Bathurst RSL Club and Bathurst Library.
"It's an opportunity to make new friends or get together with old ones and participate in many community events," Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke said.
The Seniors Festival program is available at www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au.
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