Appointment of 16 seniors as special ambassadors for IYOP

1/1/99

Seniors Minister Rhonda Parker has announced the appointment of 16 respected Western Australian seniors as special ambassadors for the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP) which starts today.

Mrs Parker said the year presented a unique opportunity to challenge the stereotypes and attitudes towards ageing.

"The ambassadors have been appointed to promote throughout the state the international year and its theme in WA, A Western Australia for all Ages, raising awareness about positive ageing," she said.

"They will speak about the five key principles of the year that are of such importance to seniors - independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity.

"Our IYOP ambassadors are respected community members who have made significant contributions in their professions or in community service.

"Their active lives, independence and self-fulfilment promote the core message of the International Year of Older Persons, that of positive ageing.

"The ambassadors include Theo Kannis, winner of the 1998 Western Australian Citizen of the Year Award for Community Service; prominent surgeon Dr Val Lishman; Aboriginal elder Norm Harris; and the 1997 and 1998 Seniors of the Year Mrs Dorothy Meiklejohn and Mrs Ethel Hodgson," the Minister said.

"Another important role of the ambassadors is to raise awareness about the biggest social issue facing our community - the ageing of our population.

"In WA, people aged 60 or over currently make up 14 per cent of the population but by 2021 the figure will increase to 22 per cent or about half a million people," Mrs Parker said.

"Dealing with this change will require a shift in attitudes towards ageing by individuals, families, all levels of government and the private sector.

"Many events planned throughout the International Year of Older Persons will help bring about this shift as well as strengthen relationships between the generations and highlight the contribution of older people to our community," Mrs Parker said.

"They include a universal design competition and expo to encourage the design of products for seniors as well as community, educational, artistic and recreational activities."

Mrs Parker also announced that applications for a second round of grants totalling $200,000 for projects promoting the International Year of Older Persons will be advertised shortly.

The ambassadors are:

Dr Peter Brine AM - retired doctor now living in Albany, member of the Seniors Ministerial Advisory Committee.

Mr Peter Dean - media personality.

Mr Brian French - President of Seniors' Recreation Council and a Seniors Ministerial Advisory Committee Member.

Miss Beryl Grant OBE - an active member of seniors organisations and member of the SeniorsMinisterial Advisory Committee.

Mr Norm Harris - chairperson, Commission of Elders Metropolitan Region, and a Seniors Ministerial Advisory Committee member.

Mrs Bettine Heathcote - President of the Council on The Ageing, chair of the IYOP Implementation Committee and member of many community organisations.

Mrs Ethel Hodgson - 1998 Senior of the Year and supporter of many charities particularly the Nulsen Haven Association.

Mrs Edie Hoy Poy OAM - Active member of the Chinese community.

Mr Theo Kannis AM, OBE, BEM, ARCH, DEP, JP - Prominent member of the Australian Pensioners League and community organisations and a Papal Knight.

Mrs Deborah Kirwan - Vice President of the Council on the Ageing, Chair of the Australian Coalition '99 (WA), member of co-ordinating committee for IYOP celebrations in WA; member of the IYOP Implementation Committee.

Dr Val Lishman AM - Retired Bunbury surgeon who is a strong promoter of healthy ageing and still does locum work in remote parts of the State.

Mrs Dorothy Meiklejohn - 1997 Senior of the Year and organiser of recreational activities through Come Out Camping Older Adults.

Mrs Ruth Reid AM - Chair of the Family and Children's Advisory Committee and active community member.

Mrs Adeline (Billee) Shepheard - Member of the Geraldton Hospital Auxiliary Committee and Geraldton Home Help Committee.

Mr Jack Tinetti - OAM manager of the Goldfields Aged Pensioners Welfare Association, active member of the Goldfields seniors' community.

Mr Paul Wilmot - Chief executive officer, Anglican Homes and former national president of Aged Care Australia.

Media contact: Owen Cole 9481 7810