DECEMBER 2024 - JANUARY 2025
Wishing everyone a merry, merry Christmas with family & friends and we look forward to seeing you all in 2025, a little year older and wiser. And remember:
“Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases.” Bridger Winegar
November was a huge month with over 1200 seniors participating in 26 Seniors Week events over 8 days. Thank you to the Geraldton Seniors Week Committee who spent months planning and then working endlessly over the week. What a team!
2024 Seniors Week raffle winners.
Margaret Henderson was our first prize winner of the flyover to the Pink lakes valued at $620 donated by Shine Aviation. Congratulations to everyone who won a prize and for supporting the week.
QEII Volunteers
From July to November, we had 157 new members join bringing our total to1605 centre users. Thank you to our wonderful centre volunteers who greet people, fill out attendance sheets and assist in making the centre the friendly and thriving place it is. We appreciate your hard work and dedication.
The QEII Seniors & Community Centre is provided by the City of Greater Geraldton and funded by the State Government through the Department of Communities
The Aged Care Information session On Tuesday 12 November as part of 2024 Seniors Week was very successful and additionally service providers set up during the week in the centre foyer and Stirling Central providing seniors with a great opportunity to discuss their individual needs.
To all involved in this year’s Seniors Week.
Now we have some figures on attendance, I thought it to be a good time to share with you, but more importantly, to acknowledge and say thank you for the continuing effort you put in and your dedication to making Seniors Week such a great success.
• There were 26 events including new activities
• 1200 attendees and participants
The mayor, Councillors and the CEO all attended during
the week which displays great support and highlights the significance of Seniors Week.
Once again, it was great to witness it all coming together, the camaraderie, the support and friendship you show to each other is commendable.
Well done everyone. Could you please pass this on to all of the volunteers who also work tirelessly.
Kind regards,
Peter Treharne Manager Community & Cultural Development
from Peter and the QEII Team
CHRISTMAS
If you’re asked to bring something special for a bring & share Christmas party this slice will be a hit. Wendy has perfected it and its delicious
Grease & Line a 12inch X 10-inch Swiss roll tin
Step 1- Pastry Case
2 tbls butter
1 ½ cups self-raising flour
1 egg
2 tbls sugar
2 tbls milk
Melt butter and sugar, add milk and well beaten egg, mix well and add flour
Combine together and press into line tin. (I use plastic glove or gladwrap)
Cook 15mins in moderate oven or till golden brown- do not overcook
Step 2 - Lemon Filling
Put into saucepan 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar until dissolved and add juice of 2 lemons (large). Add 1 generous dsps of custard powder & 1 heaped dsps cornflour. Bring to boil and stir fast with wooden spoon until thick. I put together in the pot with water and stir until thickens. Allow to cool and pour on pastry case.
Step 3 – Marshmallow
Put into mixing bowl 1 cup sugar, ½ cup boiling water. Dissolve 1 tbls gelatine in ½ cup hot water, add flavouring. When cool beat until it thickens, pour on lemon mixture. If a little sticky dust with coconut. Put in fridge to set, cut into pieces.
In November the QEII Line Dancers performed at Geraldton Shore Care Community and to Nazareth Care to spread some joy and love entertaining the residents who had a wonderful time enjoying the music.
Geraldton
switchedonseniorsgeraldton@gmail.com
Facebook: Geraldton Switched on Seniors
Telephone 0474 639 961
Hi to you all, can you believe that Christmas is just four weeks away. There’s a saying “time flies when your having fun”. Our dear colleague Anne underwent another medical procedure recently and is recovering well. Anne was so pleased to have received a get-well card from us all. In the month of November, the beginner’s class were presented with the topic “What is the Cloud”, students found this topic very interesting, and now have a good understanding of how the data on their devices is backed up, also in Anne’s absence the beginners class requested assistance with resolving their specific issues on their smart devices.
The topic “What is Smart Home Technology” was presented to my continuous class. Students were shown a video clip of the multitude of appliances that could be connected remotely via their Wi-Fi network. Students found this topic very informative, also in November students requested assistance in resolving their specific issues on their smart devices, Our last class for the year will be on Thursday the 12th of December, and will recommence in the New Year on Thursday the 06th of February 2025. Anne and I would like to sincerely thank all our volunteers for their time and effort in the past year and would also like to thank our admin staff for managing our One-on-One appointments.
Anne and I wish to take this opportunity in wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
To All Readers: If you happen to see a topic in the Newsletter that you would like to learn or know more about, please feel free to join the class for that topic. You are most welcome to. Please contact us on 0474 639 961 for further information.
DID YOU KNOW? Here’s how to put a ‘contact information’ message on the front of your phone in case of loss
Android Phone: go to
Tap Settings
Tap Lock Screen
Tap Contact information: type your message here
Example: If found please contact (your email address) or (a different phone number)
Go back to the front screen and make sure it is locked. You will see your message displayed on the screen without unlocking your phone.
Watch out for iPhone instructions next month!
For Tuesday One-On-One appointments Please contact the Office on 9956 6636 . An available time will be allocated to you, to see the next available Volunteer.
As from Thursday the 06th February 2025
Beginner’s classes are every Thursday 9.00am until 10.00am except for School Holidays and our Continuing classes are also on Thursday, also beginning at 09:00 until 10:00am. We have places available in both classes.
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR SWITCHED ON SENIORS GERALDTON 0474 639 961 and our NEW FACEBOOK PAGE GERALDTON - SWITCHED ON SENIORS
Please like us and follow our progress and updates.
Your phone, your style…..
Testimonial from a QEII centre user:
I attended an Energy Ahead Workshop when they came to the Centre in May and found it very helpful. They offered a home visit and I accepted. When they came to my house, they checked all my electrical appliances to see how much power I was using and I found out when I boil the kettle it cost me 20c and it was more economical when slow cooking food to use my slow cooker than my gas stove. They also made me aware that I wasn’t receiving the energy rebate, and advised how to go about getting it. They also replaced my globes with LED globes for free. After I received my next power bill they gave me a courtesy call to see how it was all going.
Highly recommended as I am making savings on my energy bill.
Many people arrived early at the 5 November meeting to see Lyn at the door and pay for our yearly Christmas Lunch. The price this year is $35
We made a cup of tea and chatted to friends until Val opened the meeting and welcomed us all. The door prize was handed out and happy birthday was sung to quite a few people celebrating November birthdays, including me, We discussed the coming Christmas meeting and were encouraged to bring a present to the cost of $10 to share.
We talked about taking a drive into the country by bus to see the big tractor early in the New Year that is in Carnamah. It’s the biggest tractor ever built, and many people are interested in seeing it. Only if the bus is filled, we will go as the trip otherwise becomes too expensive.
We then had our monthly raffles and strangely many of the prizes were won by the same two people. We wished them good luck. At 11am our guest speaker, a young police officer provided information on crime scene prevention, improving home
security, reporting what we see, Neighborhood watch, Safety in your home and Always having the phone by your bed side.
Make sure your vehicle is safe always and is locked. Reduce risk by closing the windows. Never leave your handbags or any money/jewelry on your seats or in places where it can be seen. If you see suspicious activity ring the police.
Join Neighborhood Watch to protect yourself and the people in your Street.
For Life threatening Emergencies call 000
You can also report anonymously to Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have any information about any crime or suspicious activity.
Stay safe over the Festive season.
Note: This scribe position is becoming vacant next year; If you are interested in writing the article for the committee see Val or Lyn. They will be grateful for your help.
Maria Flavel
Please note – No meeting in January
One persons junk is another person’s treasure and if your looking at getting rid of some treasures the Pensioners Social Club are always after donations for their trading table.
With Hazel Burton
Hazel was born in New South Wales and completed a hairdressing apprenticeship. She travelled overseas, working in Norway and England before returning to Australia where she met her future husband to be, Richard.
Richard came from Geraldton and was a top clay shooter and they met in NSW. Hazel moved to Geraldton in 1971 to join him and they got married and Geraldton has been her home ever since. Over the years they enjoyed travelling to many interesting places together.
About 24 years ago, Hazel learned about a gentle gym class at the centre, where she met Betty Bunn and Iris McKenzie, one of the original instructors.
Hazel has been attending ever since and has been involved as a volunteer for most of that time, leading the class.
“It is a very important part of my life, helps keep me healthy, I have met many great people and made many long-term friends. I’d recommend it to anyone to keep your body flexible and physically active,” Hazel says.
$70 Christmas ham donated by Woolworths Competition closes Thursday 19 December, must be a registered QEII Seniors & Community Centre member to enter. Email rosettaf@cgg.wa.gov.au or drop your entry into the QEII Seniors & Community Centre
The QEII Knitters & Crochet Group are made up of approximately 30 members ranging from 70 to 90 years old and work hard all year to provide donations to those in need. They even deliver the items too. Amazing work everyone
A total of 1390 knitted & crocheted items were made and donated by the QEII knitters & Crochet Group to the following organisations in 2024:
Cancer council, Geraldton
Geraldton Regional HospitalMaternity and Cardiology Department
Geraldton Police station
St John Ambulance, Geraldton
Local Charities – Ngala, Mission Australia, Variety Club, Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre, Centacare, Desert Blue Connect, Salvation Army Geraldton, Department of Communities, Vinnies, Crawford House (Perth)
Schools – 8 local schools
Additionally recycled items including art packages, books, toys and wool scraps were donated to schools in the region.
*Seniors Action Group
Start Finish Class Cost Notes
8.30 4.00 Indoor Bowls $5.00 *SAG 9.00 11.00 Darts $5.00 *SAG
9.15 10.00 Balance Gym Free
10.30 11.15 Balance Gym Free
MONDAY TUESDAY 8.30 9.30 Pole Walking Free 9.00 10.30 10.00 11.30 Over 50’s Gentle Gym Free WEDNESDAY
11.30 12.30 Parkinson Support Group Free 12.30 4.00 Canasta Free 1.00 3.00 Table Tennis $5.00 *SAG 1.00 4.00 Scrabble Free
7.00 8.00 Walk Group Free Meet at Two Foreshore 9.00 4.00 11.00 6.00 Pickle Ball Pickle Ball $5.00 $5.00 9.00 1.00 Understanding your hand held device $5.00 Appt only. 9.30 11.30 Dementia Carers Support Group Free 1st Tuesday of the month
10.00 1.00 SAG Meeting 10.00 11.30 Visibility Group Free 12.30 2.30 Line Dancing Free 12.00 12.45 Pilates $5.00 1.00 3.00 Mahjong Free 1.00 4.00 Ukulele Dreamers $3.00 12.15 - 12.45 Beginners Class 4.00 6.00 Pickleball $5.00 1.15 2.15 Rehabilitation Gym Free Referral required 7.00 8.00 African Drumming $7.00 $10.00 Waged
WEDNESDAY (CONT)
Start Finish Class Cost Notes
9.00 Noon Laughs & Crafts Free 9.15 10.00 Balance Gym Free 10.30 11.15 Balance Gym Free 9.30 10.30 Parkinson Support Group Free 12.30 4.00 Canasta Free 1.00 4.00 Scrabble Free 1.00 3.00 Pickle Ball $5.00 2.00 3.00 Bereavement Support Free 3rd Wed Monthly
THURSDAY 9.00 Noon Knitters & Crochet Group $0.50 9.00 10.00 Over 50’s Gentle Gym Free 9.00 Noon Art Class $5.00 10.00 Noon Chess Free 10.15 11.15 Rehabilitation Gym Free Referral required 1.00 3.00 English as a Second Language Free 1.00 4.00 Euchre & Frustration $5.00 *SAG
9.00 10.15 10.00 11.15 Switched on Seniors / Beginners Class Continuation Class Free Free Bring own device 9.00 11.00 Mahjong Free 8.30 Noon Chat N Do Craft Group $2.00 Not on 1st Thurs of the Month 10.00 12.30 *PSC Meeting 1st Thurs Monthly
11.00 12.00 African Drumming $7.00 12.30 3.45 500 Card Game Free 1.00 4.00 Bingo Books *PSC Bingo 2nd Thursday of Month 1.00 4.00 Rummikub Free 2.00 2.45 Zumba $5.00
FRIDAY *Seniors Action Group *Pensioners Social Club
500 Card Game
Free
Thursday 12.30pm – 3.45pm
Contact Paula 0408 215 503
Final Session 19/12/24. Resumes 9/1/25.
African Drumming
Thursday 11.00am – 12noon
$7.00
Final Session 12/12/24. Resumes 6/2/25.
Tuesday 7.00pm - 8.00pm
$7 concession $10 waged
Final Session 10/12/24. Resumes 4/2/25.
Art Class
$5.00
Friday 9.00am – 12noon
Final Session 13/12/24. Resumes 7/2/25.
Balance Gym
Free Mondays & Wednesdays
9.15am – 10.00am & 10.30am – 11.15am
Final Session 11/12/24. Resumes 8/1/25.
Bingo
Cost of Books
1.00pm – 4.00pm
Proudly run by: Pensioners
Social Club
President 0439 907 455
No bingo in January.
Canasta
Free Monday & Wednesdays
12.30pm - 4.00pm
Final Session 18/12/24. Resumes 6/1/25.
Caring Cuppa –Bereavement Support Group
Free 3rd Wednesday of each Month 2pm – 3pm
Hosted by Midwest & SJOG Palliative Care Services
9956 2497 or 9965 8888
Final Session 11/12/24.
Chat N Do Craft Group
$2.00
Thursday 8.30am – 12noon
Not on First Thursday of the Month
Contact Gloria 0427 170 548 or Tina 0422 397 997
Final Session 12/12/24. Resumes 9/1/25.
Chess
Free Friday 10am - 12noon
Contact Shirley 9964 9584
Final Session 20/12/24. Resumes 10/1/25.
Darts
$5.00
Monday 9.00am - 11.00am
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
President 0498 999 406
Final Session 16/12/24. Resumes 6/1/25.
Dementia Carers Support Group
Free
First Tuesday of the month
9.30am - 11.30am
Contact Nicole 131 151
No session in January.
English as a Second Language
Free
Friday 1.00pm – 3.00pm
– Provided by Midwest
Multicultural Association
Marnie Ryan 0423 234 475
Final Session 6/12/24. Resumes 7/2/25.
Euchre & Frustration
$5.00
Friday 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
Contact President
0498 999 406
Final Session 13/12/24. Resumes 10/1/25.
Indoor Bowls
Cost $5.00
Monday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
Contact President
0498 999 406
Final Session 16/12/24. Resumes 6/1/25.
Justice of the Peace
Free
Contact Peggy Hodgson
0427 290 136
Knitters & Crochet Group
$0.50
Friday 9.00am – 12noon
Jean Steer 0499 251 242
Final Session 13/12/24.
Resumes 10/1/25.
Laughs & Crafts
Wednesday 9.00am –12noon
Join us for exciting crafts each month
Final Session 18/12/24. Resumes 8/1/25.
Line Dancing
Free
Tuesday 12.30pm -1.00pm
New Learners 1.00pm – 2.30pm Beginners & Intermediate
Start time is 1.00pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month
Final Session 26/11/24. Resumes 7/1/25.
Mahjong
Free
Tuesday 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Thursday 9.00am – 11.00am
Final Session 19/12/24. Resumes 7/1/25.
Over 50’s Gentle Gym
Free
Wednesday 9.00am –10.00am, & 10.30am –11.30am
Friday 9.00am – 10.00am
Wear enclosed gym shoes and bring a water bottle
Final Session 18/12/24. Resumes 8/1/25.
Parkinsons Boxing/Support Group FREE
Mondays
11.30am to 12.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am to 10.30am
Final Session 16/12/24. Resumes 6/1/25.
Pensioners Social Club Inc Meeting
1st Thursday of each Month 10.00am – 12.30pm
Proudly run by: Pensioners
Social Club
Contact President 0447 372 120
No meeting in January.
Pilates
Tuesdays
12.00pm - 12.45pm
Final Session 17/12/24. Resumes 21/1/25.
Pickle Ball
$5.00
Tuesdays 9.00am - 11.00am Tuesdays 4.00pm - 6.00pm Wednesday 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Final Session 18/12/24. Resumes 7/1/25.
Pole Walking Free
Wednesday 8.30am –9.30am
Provided by Seniors
Recreation Council of WA Inc Greater Geraldton Branch
No session in December. Resumes 8/1/25.
QEII Lounge & Library
Everyday 8.15am – 3.45pm
Rehabilitation Gym Free Tuesdays 1.15pm - 2.15pm Fridays 10.15am - 11.15am
Geraldton Regional Hospital Physiotherapy 9956 2204.
Final Session 17/12/24. Resumes 7/1/25.
Rummikub Free
Thursday 1.00 – 4.00pm
Contact Bibah & Milan Chesi 0417 944 959
Final Session 19/12/24. Resumes 9/1/25.
Scrabble
Free Monday & Wednesday
1.00pm – 3.00pm
Final Session 18/12/24. Resumes 8/1/25.
Seniors Action Group
Meeting
2nd Tuesday of each Month
10.00am – 1.00pm
Proudly run by: Seniors
Action Group
Contact 0498 999 406
No meeting in January.
Switched on Seniors
Geraldton/ Be Connected
Free
Beginners Class
Thursday 9.00am – 10.00am
Continuation Class
Thursday 10.15am - 11.00am
Contact 0474 639 961
Final Session 5/12/24. Resumes 6/1/25.
Seniors Recreation Council
WA Geraldton Branch
2nd Wednesday tri-monthly
9.30am – 10.30am
Val Brown 0447 372 120
Table Tennis
$5.00 Monday 1pm – 3pm
Run by: Seniors Action Group
Contact 0498 999 406
Final Session 16/12/24. Resumes 6/1/25.
Ukulele Dreamers
$3.00
Tuesday 12.15pm - 12.45pm Beginners.
Tuesday 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Membership $20.00
Di Trotter 0407 217 312
Final Session 17/12/24. Resumes 11/2/25.
Understanding your hand held device
Tuesday 9.00am – 12noon
Appt only - $5 donation
Contact QEII 9956 6636
Proudly run by: Switched on Seniors Geraldton / Be Connected
Final Session 10/12/24. Resumes 4/2/25.
Visibility Group
Free 4th Tuesday of each Month 10.00am
Contact 1800 847 466
No meeting in December.
Walk Group
Free Tuesday 7.30am
Meet at Two Foreshore prior to departure time
Lina Mittoni 0427 869 786
Zumba
$5.00 Thursday 2pm – 2.45pm
Final Session 5/12/24. Resumes 16/1/25.
