PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS
Seniors Week
Mr MELLISH (Aspley—ALP) (2.31 pm): In contrast to world Bikini Day, happy Seniors Week. The Aspley electorate is home to nearly 9,000 seniors, making up nearly 20 per cent of the electorate. We have lots of fantastic retirement and aged-care communities in the electorate, including AVEO Aspley Court, Aveo Bridgeman Downs, Aspley Gardens, Gateway Lifestyle Village, John Wesley gardens, Holy Spirit Carseldine, Opal Raynbird Place, PM Village at Bald Hills and TriCare Compton Gardens.
I have had the pleasure of visiting many of these since being elected last November and meeting many of the residents and the wonderful staff working in these communities. Every time I visit I am impressed by the extent to which everyone continues to be engaged in and supportive of our local community, whether it be the monthly trivia nights at Bridgeman Downs encouraging everyone to come and have fun with their mates, Bingo at Aspley Gardens or the regular bowls games at Gateway Lifestyle Village bowls club keeping everyone active.
I am very proud to have so many seniors orientated groups in my community too. Membership of the Aspley View Club is mainly women in our community who dedicate large amounts of their time to the club which is focused on supporting and advocating for the education of young, disadvantaged Australians through raising money to support the Smith Family’s Learning for Life students. They do an incredible job and we are very lucky in Aspley to have so many incredible organisations and community groups that come together to support our seniors and support our broader community.
We also have Geebung Meals on Wheels which is run by an incredible and very welcoming group of volunteers serving mainly seniors in our community. This invaluable service goes a long way to helping our community’s seniors stay independent and in their own homes. I have enjoyed the time I have spent there and look forward to continuing to volunteer there on a regular basis.
Aspley Care is a program conducted by Our Lady and St Dympna’s parish. This program produces lots of solutions in our community, supporting people from all walks of life, including seniors. Their support comes in many different and practical ways including emergency relief in the form of food parcels or assistance with bills, social events, assistance with transport and help around the home.
Our community’s seniors have an incredible wealth of knowledge and have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to making our community what it is today. I am particularly looking forward to Friday, 14 September when I am hosting a seniors information session and morning tea at the Aspley Hornets club, with special guests the Attorney-General and member for Redcliffe and Queensland’s Public Trustee.
The topic for discussion at this event is ‘Protect what you love’. Attendees will be advised not to get caught out and be prepared for the unexpected with an enduring power of attorney. The other special guest planning to attend our information session on 14 September is eminent Aspley resident and member of the Order of Australia Everald Compton. As the founding director of National Seniors Australia, Everald will reiterate the importance of updating your will and making an enduring power of attorney.
I take this opportunity to thank the seniors of my electorate for all their ongoing contributions to help grow our community and their hard work on a regular basis.