29/10/01
Seniors Minister Sheila McHale officially launched Seniors Week 2001 at the awards ceremony where the Senior of the Year was announced on Sunday.
More than 30 years of dedicated community service won Attadale senior Betty Smith-Gander the title of BankWest WA Senior of the Year.
Mrs Smith-Gander also won the Seniors Community Service Award after being named Metropolitan Senior of the Year at the regional awards ceremony held on October 8.
Ms McHale said the calibre of entries for this year's awards was outstanding.
"The quality of the 120 nominations was exceptional and we are very lucky to have such energetic and motivated seniors in our community," she said.
"Their commitment, compassion and dedication to improving quality of life make them excellent role models for people of all ages
"I am delighted that so many people wanted to recognise and honour the valuable contributions these seniors make to our community by nominating them for these awards."
Other Western Australian seniors honoured at the BankWest WA Seniors Awards ceremony were Alma Toomath of Carnarvon in the Arts and Culture category; Phyllis Henning of Koorda in the Business Leadership category; and Victor Nolan of Perth in the Sport and Recreation category.
The awards recognise not only seniors, but also individuals and organisations that have provided outstanding service to seniors.
The Seniors Award of Excellence was won by Sue Ingham, Geraldton, for her dedication to improving physical and social environments for local seniors. The Seniors Exceptional Award went to 'Prime Movers' which provides low impact exercise classes for seniors set to music.
Garden City Shopping Centre won the Seniors Card Quality Business Award for its free 'ShopMobility' service.
The WA Seniors' Awards 2001 are a State Government initiative through the Department for Community Development.
They are supported by BankWest, Woolworths, Lotteries Commission of WA, Western Hearing Services, SkyWest, Soul Pattinson, Queensland Travel Centre, GWN, The West Australian, ABC Radio, West Regional, Have-a-Go News and Council on the Ageing.
A list of winners and their background details are detailed below.
Media contact: Priscilla Fouracres on 9213 6900
2001 WA SENIORS AWARDS WINNERS
BankWest WA Senior of the Year - Betty Smith-Gander (71), Attadale
Betty's service to the community is far-reaching and varied. An active member of the
Red Cross for more than 30 years, she has gradually extended her activities to include co-ordinating a team of volunteers at Fremantle Hospital, assisting Melville Senior High School students with literacy problems and providing care to Kosovo and East Timorese refugees staying at the Leeuwin Barracks.
Seniors Community Service Award - Betty Smith Gander (71), Attadale
As above.
Runner up: Donald Tulloch (74), St James
Highly Commended: Joy Watt (73), Attadale
Anne Murray (68), Nollamara
Jill Gibson (65), Ashfield
Yvonne Bishop (73), Sorrento
Seniors Art and Culture Award - Alma Toomath (61), Carnarvon
Alma's art spans a lifetime of Indigenous cultural expression, encompassing painting, sculpture, ceramics and graphic design. Alma has played a formative role in establishing many Indigenous arts-based enterprises and was a founding member of the Aboriginal Music College, Clontarf and the Dumbartong Aboriginal Arts Corporation.
Runner up: Kevin Moran (62), Hillarys
Seniors Business Leadership Award - Phyllis ('Merle') Henning (71), Koorda
Identifying the need for farming families to operate their farms as businesses,
Merle organised training courses that improved the business acumen of farmers in the Wheatbelt. Establishing the Wheatbelt Cottage Industries Inc as an outlet for people to sell their products, Merle's work resulted in the Department of Commerce and Trade setting up a $100,000 Cottage Industry Program.
Runner up: Terence Cahill (71), Carnarvon
Seniors Sport and Recreation Award - Victor Nolan (74), Perth
A runner himself, Victor has devoted countless hours over 50 years to coaching aspiring athletes, solely for the satisfaction derived from seeing them perform at their
best in events. Victor pays for all his expenses himself, is always quick to congratulate his athletes when they do well or console them if they do not, and has devoted time, effort and money to coaching young athletes, making them his top priority.
Runner up: Richard Daly (70), Maylands
Highly Commended: Audrey Browning (68), Hilton
Seniors Award of Excellence - Sue Ingham (49), Geraldton
Sue provides seniors with transport and meals for the entire week, and gives tips for seniors in the home, including suggestions for using simpler methods such as changing furniture around to make entry and exit easier. Sue makes special time to drive to neighbouring nursing homes and hospitals to visit some of the residences, where she will deliver afternoon teas and spend time listening to their tales and encouraging social interaction and activity with other residents.
Runners up: Cheryl Morton (49), Gingin and Jenny Donaldson (56), Gingin
Highly Commended: Jan Lauder (54), Mandurah
This award is open to individuals under the age of 60 who have provided outstanding service to seniors.
Seniors Exceptional Organisation Award - Prime Movers
Prime Movers (Exercises to Music) conducts low impact exercise especially designed for older adults in classes across the metropolitan area and from Jurien in the north to Mandurah in the south. Prime Movers is acknowledged as the peak body providing exercise for seniors and has the biggest membership of all seniors' recreation clubs in the State.
Runner up: Supporting our Seniors
Highly Commended: The School Volunteer Program
This award is open to non-profit organisations and recognises outstanding service to seniors.
Seniors Card Quality Business Award - Garden City Shopping Centre
Introduced at Garden City in September 2000, ShopMobility is a free service that provides seniors with a selection of electric scooters, manual wheelchairs and various other mobility aids, enabling them to move freely around the centre and enjoy the pleasure of independent shopping. The facility has also allowed special community groups to enjoy extended services such as the library and cinemas so they can maintain a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle making outings less stressful for them.
This award is open to businesses or shopping centres participating in the Seniors Card Discount Directory and recognises outstanding service to seniors.
