23/8/01
With BankWest Seniors Week 2001 fast approaching, Western Australians are reminded to get their nominations in for this year's WA Seniors' Awards.
Seniors' Minister Sheila McHale said the WA Seniors' Awards highlighted the many individuals and organisations whose work ensured ageing was a highly positive and rewarding experience that benefited all levels of society.
"Each year hundreds of worthy Western Australians are nominated, which makes picking winners very difficult and proves how much our seniors contribute to the Western Australian community," Ms McHale said.
This year's awards have four categories open to seniors who are 60 years or over on June 1, 2001, but also recognise, in three categories, organisations and individuals under 60 years who have provided outstanding service to seniors.
This year categories open to seniors include:
- Seniors Community Service Award;
- Seniors Sport and Recreation Award;
- Seniors Arts and Culture Award; and
- Seniors Business Leadership Award.
Last year Bette Davis, of Carnarvon, won the Business Leadership Award winner for her work in the community. Bette is chairperson of the Gascoyne Health Service Board and the Gascoyne Enterprise Centre, liaison officer for the Red Cross Disaster Committee, has been a Justice of the Peace since 1978 and is one of the few people in the region selected to sit on the Children's Court.
Nominees in the Community Service, Sport and Recreation, Arts and Culture, or Business Leadership categories are eligible for the Regional Senior of the Year Awards. Winners in the North, Mid-West, Goldfields, South, and metropolitan regions will be announced on October 8 at a function in Bunbury. They will compete for the prestigious BankWest WA Senior of the Year announced during BankWest Seniors' Week.
Last year's Seniors Arts and Culture Award, as well as Northern Senior of the Year Award, went to Margaret Lawson for her contribution to the Kununurra community in arts and culture.
She has acted, managed and staged all phases of Isolette Theatre productions, runs small tutorial groups for aspiring young actors and performers in Kununurra, is an active member of the Kununurra Arts Council and has helped bring members of the Darwin Symphony to one of WA's most isolated towns.
Nominations are also sought for individuals under the age of 60 for the Seniors Award of Excellence, and organisations who have provided outstanding service to seniors in the categories of Seniors Exceptional Organisation Award and Senior's Card Quality Business Award.
An additional award this year is a People's Choice Award for the seniors who nominate the winning business or shopping centre in the Senior's Card Quality Business Award.
If you know of a special senior who deserves to be recognised for their contribution in the areas of Community Service, Sport and Recreation, Arts and Culture, or Business Leadership, get your nomination forms in by Friday, August 31.
Nomination kits are available from public libraries, GWN offices or by contacting the Department for Community Development, Seniors' Interests toll-free on 1800 671 233 between 9am and 3pm.
Category winners and the BankWest Seniors of the Year will be announced at a Gala Ceremony at the Burswood Resort Casino on Sunday October 28.
The 2001WA Seniors' Awards are sponsored by BankWest, GWN, Woolworths, Western Hearing Services, Soul Pattinson, Queensland Travel Centre, GIO, The West Australian, The West Regional Group and the ABC Radio.
Media contact: Priscilla Fouracres on 9213 6900
