CHRISTMAS arrived a few weeks early for more than 150 seniors when they enjoyed plenty of festive cheers over a fully-catered lunch at Moree Services Club on Wednesday.
Students from Nora Carrigan’s Xavier Drama recited poetry and Moree West Public School Choir entertained with a repertoire of Christmas Carols.
The yuletide lunch, organised and co-ordinated by Moree Services Bowling Club secretary-treasurer, Lorraine Bartel, brought together seniors from across the Moree Plains Shire as well as residents from Whiddon residential aged care facility.
Moree Deputy mayor Wayne Tighe and councillors Fred McGrady, Dominique Hodgkinson and Kelly James welcomed the huge crowd.
“It’s really great to see such a turn-out for an event like this, and Lorraine and her committee always do a really good job,” Cr Tighe said.
“Getting so many people together to enjoy each other’s company at this time of year is a wonderful thing to do and really brings home the spirit of Christmas.”
Mrs Bartel said event expenses were covered by Regional Australia Bank’s Community Partnership Program, which has to date returned nearly $3 million to community organisations and community-led events.
“We are very fortunate to get funding for the Seniors’ Festival through donations from Regional Australia Bank,” Mrs Bartel said.
“It’s a very good roll-up, with about 150 guests. We have 20 residents from Whiddon and plenty of people from across the Moree district, including Pallamallawa and Garah.”
Councillor Dominique Hodgkinson said the seniors’ lunch was also an opportunity for Moree Plains Shire Council to showcase its Community Strategic Plan, to be officially launched today.
“Council staff are also here with brief surveys, where council would like input and feedback on what matters to the community,” Cr Hodgkinson said.
“Over the coming months, Council will host a large number of Community Strategic Plan engagement events to allow the community the opportunity to provide us with feedback and input.”
Surveys were handed out by MPSC integrated planning and reporting co-ordinator Rey Vila, school-based communications trainee Nash Woodbridge and Tourism Moree chair Vivien Clyne.
The 10-year strategic plan aims to identify the needs of the Moree Plains Shire community and will guide all Council-led activities and programs.
Meanwhile, free tickets are available for the New South Wales Seniors’ Christmas Concerts in Moree next month, with seniors urged to snap them up early.
There will be two free shows at the Moree Services Club on Wednesday, December 18 at 10am and 1pm.
The concerts star Amy Lehpamer from the musical & Juliet, Arlo Sims, Liz Player and Emily Kate from The Voice, and Will Skarpona from the Conservatorium of Music.
Moree is one of three regional centres to host the seniors’ Christmas concerts this year with other shows taking place in Broken Hill and Cessnock.
Performer Will Skarpona said he is looking forward to bringing the spirit of Christmas to seniors living in regional New South Wales.
“The NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts are guaranteed to delight audiences so make sure you book your tickets now,” Mr Skarpona said.
Seniors are encouraged to call the Moree Service Club on 6752 1566 to secure tickets or drop in and collect them from the team at the front desk.
Free tickets are available until the allocation is exhausted.
