Full house for Aldinga Positive Ageing Forum

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie hosted a full house for her third Positive Ageing Forum for 2021.

Held at the Aldinga Community Centre on Monday, more than 170 seniors from the local area enjoyed a morning program of guest speakers and an expo of stalls celebrating positive ageing in the community.

Among the special guests were broadcaster Graeme Goodings who spoke about his journey with bowel cancer treatment; Tim Donlan the Principal at Donlan Lawyers who discussed legal matters including Powers of Attorney, Elder Abuse and Advance Care Directives; and National Seniors Chief Advocate Ian Henschke who spoke about why seniors were an asset and the advocacy priorities for National Seniors Australia.

Local speakers included Dean Rowe who spoke about his fundraising work with Judith's Legacy as well as representatives from Healthy Cities Onkaparinga, University of the Third Age, and Onkaparinga Dementia Friendly Alliance of SA.

Local community groups Moving Into Dance and Fantastic Shedtastics gave dance and singing performances and the expo featured stalls from the Aldinga Men's Shed, the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, Palliative Care South Australia and the Willunga Environment Centre.

Sponsor Channel 44, South Australia's community television station, live-streamed a broadcast of the event. An edited program will be screened at a later date.

"The feedback from those who attended our Aldinga event has been extremely positive. People have really valued the information provided about the services and supports for older Australians,” Rebekha said.

“The national response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lead-up to the Royal Commission into Aged Care has resulted in so much uncertainty in our community so I really wanted to do something to bring everyone together, to provide timely and useful information and ideas, and celebrate the positives about life as an older Australian.

"Much has happened in the aged care sector since the former Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt visited Mayo in 2018 and spoke to our community about the issues with Home Care packages and aged care facilities.

"The recommendations from the Royal Commission indicate we are going to see significant changes in how services are delivered, and it's my job as Mayo's voice in Canberra to make sure these much-needed reforms are followed through."

The Aldinga event follows on from forums held at Mount Barker and in Victor Harbor in July which attracted about 350 participants to each event.

Carolanne Barkla, Chief Executive of the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, was the keynote speaker at Mount Barker and at Victor Harbor, the special guest was Barossa food icon Maggie Beer who, through the Maggie Beer Foundation, has become well-known for her food and nutrition advocacy for older Australians in the aged care system.

Photo: Chris Guille, the Chairman of National Seniors Australia, with Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie.