This year’s East Gippsland Seniors Concert What the World Needs Now is featuring Melissa Langton.
A joyous, foot stamping, hand clapping celebration of the swinging sixties. Vocal pyrotechnics! Breath-taking harmonies! Off the wall humour!
The hits of Tom Jones, Burt Bacharach, Lulu, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Carole King and The Fab Four and so many more! It was the era of protest, civil unrest and undergarments being thrown inappropriately onto stage.
Melissa by no means discourages these acts during her show! One of Australia’s most popular Concert performers for more than 15 years. With 3 Green Room Awards she has been blazing a cabaret trail around Australia and all across the world!
“Sensational! Cabaret at its very best.” The Age
"A Powerhouse comic performance." The Sydney Morning Herald
When Tuesday, 10 October
Time 10am-12pm
The East Gippsland Seniors Festival Booklet has over 50 events and activities across East Gippsland during the month of October.
Seniors can visit art exhibitions, enroll in courses, enjoy live entertainment, attend come & try days, participate in social gatherings, luncheons, morning teas, dinners, attend health & wellness activities, listen to interesting presentations and access some great information sessions relevant to healthy ageing.
East Gippsland Shire Council is a proud supporter of the festival bringing all the community events and activities together producing the booklet, holding the free Seniors Concert “Swinging Sixties” and hosting over 20 activities and events at the library, service centres & the Forge.
The Victorian Seniors Festival is a major state-wide festival for seniors. For over 40 years, the festival has provided opportunities for senior Victorians to participate in a range of activities and events and connect with their community.
Read the East Gippsland Seniors Festival Program here.
The East Gippsland Aged Friendly Strategy assists Council to implement an age-friendly approach to population ageing, as developed and encouraged by the World Health Organisation(WHO), Age-friendly Cities and Communities and the Victorian State Government, Age Friendly Victoria.
For more information email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au or phone 5153 9500
Our libraries run several activities that promote learning and development activities through social activities and educational seminars. For more information please visit the Libraries page.
Do you know or can you identify a vulnerable person within your community? Is this person in a position to care for themselves in an emergency?
View the vulnerable persons register.
Police Seniors Register East Gippsland
The Police Seniors Register East Gippsland is a crime-prevention and community care initiative by Neighbourhood Watch and Bairnsdale District Police to achieve a safer and more confident local community.
Why register?
When you register on the Police Seniors Register your details will be entered on a confidential computer database. You will receive an identity card linked to the information you give us on the application.
Whether out shopping locally, travelling interstate or overseas, in the event of an emergency, the person attending can contact the Police Seniors Register to ascertain your next of kin, your doctor and any health problems you may have.
If you reside full time in East Gippsland Shire, you can find more information and complete an application to join the Register - by clicking here.
To find out more about the Register or give your time as a volunteer, contact the Register Coordinator on 0403 540 972. Email: nhweastg@gmail.com
Elders Rights Advocacy
Elder Rights Advocacy supports older people, their families and representatives in Victoria to address issues related to Commonwealth-funded aged care services.
The service is free, independent and confidential.
For more information:
· Watch video youtu.be/qJ4oWZy9EQE
· Free-call 1800 700 600
· Email era@era.asn.au
· Visit the Elder Rights Advocacy website era.asn.au
Home and Community Care provides basic personal support and home maintenance to help people to live independently. It is supported by financial assistance from the Australian and Victorian governments.
Services includes vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathroom and toilet, and washing. Personal Care is help with showering, toileting, grooming and dressing and respite care staff care for a person whose family or carer needs a short break.
Council supports these providers to deliver home and community care services.
You can also speak to these organisations if you are interested in volunteering.
Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance area including all areas around Paynesville, Eagle Point, Newlands Arm, Bengworden, Lindenow and surrounds, Bruthen, Buchan and Nowa Nowa.
Website: Gippsland Lakes Complete Health
Telephone: (03) 5155 8300
Orbost to Cann River and surrounds: East of Nowa Nowa to Orbost as well as Tubbut, Bonang, Bendoc areas.
Website: Orbost Regional Health
Telephone: (03) 5154 6666
Website: Mallacoota District Health and Support Service
Telephone: (03) 5158 0243
Website: Omeo and District Health
Telephone: (03) 5159 0100
Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 8.00 pm, Saturday 1.00 am - 2.00 pm
Telephone: 1800 200 422
My Aged Care is a Federal government service that assists residents over the age of 65 or their carers to link with help and home-care support. Upon making contact, an assessment is made on how best to support the older resident and their carer. Assessments are free of charge and help determine a person’s individual care and support needs and their eligibility to support services.
Hot meals are delivered Monday to Friday by volunteers to elderly or disabled residents of Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance and surrounding towns by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health.
This service allows people to remain with dignity and independence in their own homes. Frozen meals can be arranged for weekends and public holidays where necessary. Short-term assistance is also available.
Inclusee's mission is to use the power of connection to reduce isolation and loneliness for Australians. It offers a wide range of specialised programs through user-friendly technology, and creates a place where people can make new connections, learn new skills and get online safely and on your own terms.
If you would like to access or try free online social or digital support that includes a device and data (posted to you), weekly tech support sessions and other great activities such as book clubs, trivia, bingo click here to see the full program or call 1800 287 687.
Inclusee is a FREE government funded service that connects older Australians and First Nations people, fostering meaningful connections in a safe and supportive virtual community. Inclusee believes everyone should be able to enjoy a rich social life, regardless of their location or personal circumstances.
• If you are working less than 35 hours per week in paid employment, or fully retired - apply for a Seniors Card.
• If you are working more than 35 hours per week - apply for the Seniors Business Discount Card.
If you have a Seniors Card, you are eligible for free or concession public transport, and all card holders can take advantage of discounts and services from businesses via our Discount Directory.
For more information go to: www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/seniors-card or phone 1300 797 210
East Gippsland’s RECHARGE Scheme™ lets you recharge your electric scooter and wheelchair while away from home.
This helps you plan your trip and you can feel more confident getting to and from your destination, knowing support is available.
Recharge times can vary, depending on the state of batteries before the charging process, the size of batteries and the size or voltage of the charger. Newer batteries will take longer to charge as they have more capacity. Older batteries you will find, over time, may harden in places (sulfate), which lessens the capacity and therefore will not hold their charge for as long.
Mobility devices must be recharged after every use. Use the following rule of thumb: for every hour’s use, the mobility vehicle should be on charge for double the time.
Mobility devices are available with either an on-board charger or off-board charger. If you have an off-board charger, you need to bring it with you if you want to utilise the RECHARGE Scheme™ service. Do not borrow a battery charger if its not the same model as yours. Using a charger that isn’t compatible may do serious damage to a mobility device.
To work out the distance you can travel if you use a RECHARGE Point™ location for an hour, ask yourself these questions:
If it was at near full capacity when you left your destination you should still have between 20-30km of available travel power. If your battery was at a medium level you can expect to be able to travel between 10-15km. If your battery level was near low, you should not attempt to travel more than 10km without recharging first.
Keep in mind that the lower power you battery has, the longer it will take to charge to an optimum level to ensure your journey can be completed safely.
As long as your battery gauge indicates there is half battery capacity and you are within 15 kilometres from your destination you will safely finish your journey. It is difficult to ascertain what distance can be travelled exactly, as there are many factors. The condition of the batteries, size and the load on the mobility device, as well as the terrain you are travelling on are some examples of what you will need to consider.
Here is a guide to work out the range per battery charge on newer batteries for your mobility device. Please note that if batteries are older or worn the range will vary and will need to be adjusted accordingly.
Battery size (12v)
Yes, you can top up the charge at any time, as long as the current level is below its full capacity. An added safety feature of the new batteries is that many are designed so that you cannot overcharge your batteries. These chargers will switch off when the battery has reached full capacity and then go on trickle charge to top up when needed. This minimises the potential for damage experienced by some owners of older style or reconditioned electric scooters (over five years of age) which may not incorporate an automatically cut-off feature for fully charged batteries.
The lifespan can vary depending on usage, battery type, age, care and maintenance etc. It is very important to ensure you recharge your battery frequently. Allowing your battery to completely discharge may cause damage to the battery and/or the mobility device’s electrical programmer. Charge your battery every two weeks at minimum, even if you are not using your mobility device. This is most important during the winter months, when you may not be using your mobility device as much.
Gippsland Aged Care Specialist Officers provide in-person support to help navigate the aged care system.
Aged Care Specialist Officers are based in Bairnsdale and Morwell to provide in-person support to older people in Gippsland, providing greater choice in how people access the aged care services they need.
The officers are based at Services Australia centres in the Centrelink offices at:
60-62 Macleod Street in Bairnsdale
Corner of Elgin and Chapel streets, Morwell
An Aged Care Specialist Officer can provide you and/or a chosen representative with in-person support to connect with and navigate the aged care system.
Aged Care Specialist Officers can:
• Provide in-depth information about the different types of aged care services.
• Check if you are eligible for aged care services.
• Register and refer you for a My Aged Care assessment.
• Offer financial information about aged care services.
• Help you appoint a My Aged Care representative.
• Connect you with local support services, social workers, interpreters and advocates.
For more, see the My Aged Care information sheet.
Whether you are needing some extra help at home or considering a move to residential aged care, an Aged Care Specialist Officer can give you the support you need to get started on your aged care journey.
In addition to the support offered by Aged Care Specialist Officers, Services Australia staff at the Gippsland service centres can help you:
• Access general information about aged care services.
• Navigate the My Aged Care website.
• Connect you to more specialist support.
Arrange a face-to-face appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer by phoning 1800 227 475 or speaking with the Services Australia staff at a service centre.
You can still access My Aged Care services through the My Aged Care website at www.myagedcare.gov.au or the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200422.
To find out more about the My Aged Care face-to-face service, read the My Aged Care guide or visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/my-aged-care-face-to-face-services.
Carer Gateway is a national initiative funded by the Australian Government.
The program provides support services, free of charge, to unpaid carers to help them manage their role as carers and improve their wellbeing.
Uniting Vic/Tas delivers this program in Gippsland.
Any person who provides unpaid care to a family member, friend or neighbour with a mental illness, disability, chronic health issue or age-related condition is defined by Carer Gateway as a carer.
Carers can be any age and they can provide full-time, part-time or even occasional help to others.
Through the program, Uniting Vic/Tas provides the following support (in-person, online or over-the-phone):
Carers can visit the Carer Gateway website or contact the team on 1800 422 737.
Or, if you want to refer a carer on their behalf, please feel free to fill out the e-referral form.
East Gippsland six Senior Citizens’ Clubs offer a variety of social, physical, leisure, recreational and intellectual activities to their members over 55 years of age.
The following towns have senior citizens clubs:
Bairnsdale Senior Citizens Centre
52Anderson Street, West Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875
Phone: 0435 586 005
Bruthen & District Senior Citizen Club
No venue
Phone: 0407 507 849
High Country Seniors Citizens Group
34 Gibbo Street, Benambra Vic 3900
Phone: 03 5159 9208
Lakes Entrance Senior Citizens Club
47 Coates Road, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
Phone: 03 5155 2482
Mallacoota District Senior Citizens Club
No Venue
Phone: 0408 580 219
Orbost Senior Citizens
Nicholson Street, Orbost Vic 3888
Phone: 03 5154 1520