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NSW Seniors Week achievement award winners a reflection of today's seniors

Updated 18 March 2013

Minister for Ageing Andrew Constance has kicked off celebrations for NSW Seniors Week by acknowledging 14 Achievement Award recipients for their service and contribution to NSW.

Among the recipients acknowledged during yesterday’s ceremony at Parliament House is a businessman from Sydney’s west, who in addition to building a successful career, continues to contribute to the community by fostering cultural exchanges between Australia and Korea; and an Aboriginal elder who mentors young Indigenous men in sport.

“This group represent the diversity of talent, generosity of spirit and limitless energy of seniors in our State,” Mr Constance said.

“As a collective they represent what it means to be an older Australian today.”

This year a new category of Supporting Working Seniors was introduced to the six categories presented to acknowledge the role work has played and continues to in the lives of seniors.

The Hawkins Masonic Village Men’s Shed is the inaugural winner.

“The shed is a place where male residents, many of whom are former carpenters and machinists come to spend time enjoying their craft,” Mr Constance said.

The NSW Seniors Week Achievement Awards marks the beginning of an exciting program of events held throughout the week.

An estimated 250,000 seniors are expected to attend more than 900 local events throughout the State, finishing on Sunday 24 March.

The activities support the objectives of the NSW Ageing Strategy which was launched last year to support the health and wellbeing of seniors.

Around 30,000 seniors alone will attend the Premier’s three Gala Concerts being staged at the Sydney Entertainment Centre today and tomorrow.

For more information about NSW Seniors Week events visit www.nswseniorsweek.com.au.

Comedy debate: Is technology ruining our lives?

Updated 18 March 2013

Comedians Wendy Harmer and Peter Berner and social commentator Jane Caro (“technology is not ruining our lives”) will take on broadcasters Phillip Clark and Bernie Hobbs and comedian Anthony Ackroyd (“technology is ruining our lives”) in what promises to be a hilarious oratory battle

Keeping the proceedings under control will be journalist, author and keen observer of the habits of humans is David Dale, adjudicator for the debate.

Is technology such a new phenomenon? If you welcomed the automatic washing machine but lament the damage television has done to dinner time conversation, come along to the Sydney Town Hall on Friday 22 March to see if the combatants can change your mind. Early adopters, tech-sceptics and conscientious objectors are all welcome.

The event is FREE and is presented by NSW Seniors Week, the NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing and City of Sydney.

To book visit cityofsydneyseniorsweek.eventbrite.com.au or call 9265 9489.

Date: Friday 22 March

Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm (Doors open at 12:30pm)

Location: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney

Cost: FREE (but bookings essential)

2013 NSW Seniors Week celebrated from Sunday 17 March – 24 March.

For more information visit www.nswseniorsweek.com.au

Register now for Park to Park

Updated 11 March 2013

Registrations for the Park to Park walk close Friday 22 March. Commencing at Sydney Olympic Park the walk ends at Parramatta Park with a festival of entertainment, food stalls and markets.

Star lineup and second chance for tickets to Seniors Week Concerts

Updated 06 March 2013

Minister for Ageing Andrew Constance today announced that a mix of Australian music legends and rising stars will take to the stage for the 2013 Premier’s Seniors Week Gala Concerts at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

“Australian music will be celebrated as some of our country’s biggest talents including Wendy Matthews and Rick Price entertain 30,000 seniors over two days,” Mr Constance said.

“The great news is that people who missed out on securing tickets to the concerts will have a second chance when any returned tickets are released for re-allocation from 9.00am sharp on Thursday 7 March 2013.”

‘Live From Studio A - A Celebration of Australian Music’ will also include performances from musical theatre stars Michael Cormick, Christie Whelan-Browne and Michael Falzon and rising star Prinnie Stevens who captured Australia’s attention in The Voice.

The last minute tickets are for the 10.30am and 2.30pm concerts on Monday 18 March and the 11.00am concert on Tuesday 19 March. These tickets will be available through Ticketmaster; online at www.ticketmaster.com.au, in person at participating NSW Ticketmaster outlets or by phoning 1300 855 501 for the cost of a local call. Due to the demand for tickets, lengthy delays may be expected if booking by telephone.

NSW Seniors Week Ambassador and Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose will be the MC for Monday’s two concerts and veteran actress Robina Beard will MC on Tuesday.

The Premier’s Gala Concerts are staged by the NSW Government to thank seniors for their ongoing contributions to family, workplaces and the general community. Up to 30,000 free tickets are available for each concert series for NSW residents aged 60 years of age or older.

The 1.3 million seniors in NSW make up about 15 percent of the State’s total population.

2013 NSW Seniors Week runs from Sunday 17 March to Sunday 24 March and will feature over 900 events across the state. More information is available at www.nswseniorsweek.com.au.

Ita Buttrose named one of twelve 2013 NSW Seniors Week ambassadors

Updated 25 February 2013

Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose and eleven esteemed seniors from across NSW have been named this year's NSW Seniors Week Ambassadors.

From popular media personalities like Ita and Graham Ross to seniors renowned in their field of expertise including retired neurosurgeon Michael Besser, firefighter Bill King, foodies Kumar Pereira and Merle Parrish, each represents the diversity of seniors in NSW.

Minister for Ageing Andrew Constance today announced that the 12 ambassadors are:

Steve Widders
Bill King
Ita Buttrose
Graham Ross
Kumar Pereira
Merle Parrish
Nan Bosler
Noni Gove
Ann Cusack
Aunty Ruth Simms
Deborah Ruiz Wall
Michael Besser

"The ambassadors embody the "LIVE LIFE" theme and are representative of seniors who are active, healthy, social and independent," Mr Constance said.

"Each ambassador will share their perspective and views about being a senior at various NSW Seniors Week events and through the communication of their stories."

NSW Seniors Week is in its 55th year and will be held from Sunday 17 March - Sunday 24 March 2013.

An estimated 250,000 seniors are expected to attend more than 900 local events during the week.

"I'm proud to be seen as a senior," Ms Buttrose said.

"Getting older doesn't mean you aren't active, living life to the fullest and that you haven't got other mountains to climb."

Find out more about the 2013 NSW Seniors Week Ambassadors.

Events programs are available through local clubs or visit: www.nswseniorsweek.com.au

Seniors Week concerts booked out

Updated 11 February 2013

All tickets to the 2013 Premier’s Seniors Week Gala Concerts at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on 18 and 19 March are now booked out.

Minister for Ageing, Andrew Constance, said the concerts were extremely popular, but people who missed out on gaining tickets still had a final chance to attend, as a limited number of tickets are usually returned by people who were unable to attend for various reasons.

The release of any last minute tickets will take place from 9.00am on Thursday 7 March. These tickets will be available through Ticketmaster; online at www.ticketmaster.com.au, in person at participating NSW Ticketmaster outlets or by phoning 1300 855 501 for the cost of a local call. Due to the demand for tickets, lengthy delays may be expected if booking by telephone.

The theme for this year’s concerts is ‘Live From Studio A – A Celebration of Australian Music’.

Past performers at the Premier’s Gala Concert include Ian Stenlake, Jean Kittson, Lucy Durack, Debra Byrne, Fiona O’Loughlin, Jonathan Biggins, Rhonda Burchmore, Todd McKenney, Denise Scott, Doug Parkinson, Tamsin Carroll and Damian Leith.

2013 NSW Seniors Week runs from Sunday 17 March to Sunday 24 March and will feature over 900 events across the state. More information is available at www.nswseniorsweek.com.au.

NSW Seniors Week dates

Updated 21 May 2012

2013 NSW Seniors Week:

Sunday 17 March – Sunday 24 March 2013

Future NSW Seniors Week Dates:

Sunday 16 March – Sunday 23 March 2014

Previous NSW Seniors Week Dates:

Sunday 18 March – Sunday 25 March 2012

Sunday 20 March – Sunday 27 March 2011

2013 NSW Seniors Week Event Program

See the 2013 Program on the Events page.

Event web registrations

Registrations will soon be open for event organisers wanting to promote their 2013 NSW Seniors Week event on our website. To register, go to our submit your event page.