Celebrating ‘seniority’
A film festival, zoo deals, a picnic with Cole Porter…these are some of the events coming up to celebrate the interests and achievements of older people.
Seniors weeks are one excuse to celebrate the interests, achievements and contributions of older people but no excuse is really needed. Here are a few events coming up – in Sydney and Melbourne – that will have people grabbing their hats.
If you are in Sydney…..
The Young at Heart Film Festival
The Young at Heart Seniors Film Festival kicks off again in March this year.
This annual flagship event of NSW Seniors Week, now in its eighth year, is a week-long showcase for film premieres, beloved classics and social events for seniors, their friends and relatives; and the only film festival in the world catering specifically to film lovers over 60 years of age.
The festival includes a mix of premieres, beloved classics, panel discussions and filmmaker Q&As with $5 tickets for seniors 60 and over and some free sessions. There is also the Young At Heart Short Film Awards which recognises Australia’s best short films starring seniors, with cash-prizes for the best senior talent, judged by an industry jury, and the Audience Award for Best Film.
The festival runs during NSW Seniors Week (17–24 March 2013) at Dendy Opera Quays in Sydney and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, in western Sydney as well as selected regional venues. Dpwnload the program and get all the details: www.youngatheart.net.au/
Above: Show with a view – Konira the Andean Condor stars in the QBE Free Flight Bird Show
Zoo deals for Seniors Week
Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is offering seniors a special discounted entry of $15 from 17 to 24 March in celebration of Seniors Week. Visitors will be able to see Kitoto, the newest member of the giraffe herd, Gucci the miniature goat at Backyard to Bush, as well as the Zoo’s newest youngsters, three Fennec Fox kits that are just starting to explore their exhibit. Konira the Andean Condor stars in the QBE Free Flight Bird Show, showing off her three-metre wingspan.
The special price is available on valid upon presentation of a government seniors card and applies to both Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. For more information visit www.taronga.org.au.
Above: 2012 Sydney Memory Walk & Jog participants crossing the finishing line
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW 2013 Memory Walk & Jog
Entries are now open for the 2013 Sydney Memory Walk & Jog, to be held on Sunday 5 May around the Bay Run at Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner west. Participants can either do a 2km walk, a 7.5km walk or a 7.5km run. Generously sponsored by Bupa, this year’s Memory Walk & Jog will also feature, for the first time, the corporate team challenge. Teams of three can register to compete for their organisation, with their times totalled to find the fastest overall team.
Memory Walk & Jog entrants will also be encouraged to raise money to help reach a fundraising target of $500,000 across all Memory Walk & Jog events held in NSW this year. This includes the Memory Walk & Jog in the Hunter in September and in Wollongong in October. The CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, The Hon. John Watkins, said the organisation was expecting 2,000 runners and walkers to take part in this year’s event – almost double last year’s number. For more information, or to register, head to www.memorywalk.com.au.
And if you are in Victoria….
Above: members of the production of A Picnic with Cole Porter
A Picnic with Cole Porter
The Australian Shakespeare Company is presenting a new production, A Picnic with Cole Porter, at Rippon Lea House & Gardens in Melbourne from 25 February-7 March 2013 as well as a special performance, in association with Open Gardens Australia, at Bolobek in the Macedon Ranges on 16 March.
Audiences will enjoy a picnic on the lawn of the magnificent Rippon Lea Estate while taking a musical journey through the Cole Porter Songbook which features songs including Let’s Do It – Let’s Fall In Love, Anything Goes, Just One Of Those Things, Night And Day, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, It’s De-Lovely, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Don’t Fence Me In, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Well Did You Evah, Too Darn Hot and more. The show will feature a medley from Kiss Me Kate, Cole Porter’s musical about a production of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew that won the first ever Tony Award. Between the tunes are entertaining anecdotes about Cole Porter’s life and music.
Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster. $45 general admission, $40 concession. Groups of 10 or more, $40 per person.
Bookings: www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au or Telephone: 03 8675 7511 OR Ticketmaster 136 100
www.ticketmaster.com.au
