When the annual Senior Lifestyle and Care Expo run by the Local Cancel was set to be discontinued, Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre stepped in and took it upon themselves to organise and deliver the event for 2023.
“Bundaberg Council used to host an annual senior’s expo, but last year they decided they weren’t going to do it anymore…I said ‘you know what, we’ve got to do it. We’ve got to have a senior’s expo for the people in Bundy” explained Corrie McColl, Manager of Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre.
The Neighbourhood Centre’s Expo featured an astounding 54 stall holders and several speakers who shared information on a wide range of topics and services including Emergency Planning, Advance Care Planning, Road Safety, Financial Advice Matters, My Aged Care and Brave Brothers Men’s Support.
Corrie, alongside a small team, planned and organised the entire event which was held on Friday June 9 and attracted around 550 locals aged 40 and over.
“A few of us came together quite regularly over a period of about six months and we pulled together a large Seniors Lifestyle and Care Expo.”
“The Expo was all things senior, for people over the age of 40-45 who might be starting to think about the future.”
Corrie highlighted the ageing population in Bundaberg and surrounds and emphasised the need for people in the community to have access to information about available services.
“We’ve got a really high, increasing population of older people here. 24.9% of our population are 65 and over and along coastal regions of Bundaberg, many new lifestyle and living developments are being built for people over the age of 50… we wanted to make sure that people had the opportunity to plan for their futures and understand what was available to them in the community.”
The event was a significant success, and demonstrates yet again the willingness, capacity and determination of people within local Neighbourhood and Community Centres to step up and meet community needs when no one else will.
Thank you to Corrie and the team in Bundaberg for delivering the event for your community.
Written By: Taylor Bast
Published: August 2023