Seniors Week celebrates variety in life

The ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, today officially launched the 2012 ACT Seniors Week at the 14th annual Chief Minister's Seniors Breakfast at Ainslie Football Club.

The week runs from 19 to 25 March 2012 with the theme of ‘Variety in Life'. In the ACT, it is celebrated with a program of more than 200 events and activities

"Seniors Week has been celebrated in the ACT for over 20 years and aims to promote positive attitudes with the general community towards older people and increase the community inclusion and participation of older people," the Chief Minster said.

The Chief Minister was joined at the Breakfast by guest speaker Patricia Reeve, a prominent national identity in the Council of the Ageing. Ms Reeve was instrumental in the ‘Fair Go for Pensioners' political campaign during the 2010 Federal election. ACT Minister for Ageing Joy Burch and members of the ACT Ministerial Council on Ageing also attended the event.

"Seniors Week is a chance for all of us to celebrate the lifelong contribution of that our senior citizens make to the ACT community, and acknowledge their knowledge and experience" the Chief Minister said.

"Occasions such as Seniors Week not only provide opportunities for our older citizens to engage more with their community, they remind us all to recognise and honour their role in our families and neighbourhoods."

At the breakfast, the Chief Minister spoke about the ACT Government's commitment towards positive ageing in the ACT, and its ongoing work to develop Canberra as an age-friendly city.

"We are making good progress in our drive to create an age-friendly capital as our city continues to grow. In 2010, Canberra was named as a member of the World Health Organisation's ‘Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities'.

"We are very lucky to live in a city that has such a high standard of living, and the ACT Labor Government is committed to ensuring it remains accessible and enjoyable for all Canberrans," the Chief Minister concluded.

Highlights of Seniors Week include the Chief Minister's Concerts, the Seniors Expo at the Old Bus Depot Markets and the Life's Reflections Photographic Exhibition in the Canberra Centre. Seniors Week is funded by the ACT Government and organised by COTA ACT.

For more information about the program, visit http://www.cotaact.org.au/