Leaders honoured on International Day of the Senior

COMMUNITY leaders have been honoured for their contribution to seniors at awards marking the International Day of the Senior and Queensland Senior Month on the Sunshine Coast.

Gerontologist and Founder of IAgeWell, Tanya Dave said the awards acknowledged and rewarded the valuable contribution of those who have made a profound impact on the community.

“We are extremely fortunate to have some wonderful individuals and businesses,” she said. “Our aim is to make the Sunshine Coast the most age- friendly community in Australia. These awards recognise the great work done in our community.”

Parkinson’s disease advocate and lifestyle coach Nikki Creber.

Winners include NIKKI CREBER, who lives with Parkinson’s disease and created the lifestyle protocols and wrap-around teams to improve the quality of life of  people diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

She is a passionate advocate who is now lobbying the government for three specialist Parkinson’s nurse practitioners to provide community-based clinical support.

DARRYL OLSON heads a vibrant home-grown media business on the Sunshine Coast and is well known as a great supporter of local business.

He and his team, who also publish My Weekly Preview and Salt magazines as well as the new free daily news site sunshinecoastnews.com.au  are being recognised for Your Time, which connects, engages,  informs and inspires the local senior community.

The Urban Angels is a local group being recognised for its valuable service to the senior community. They provide restaurant-quality food for seniors doing it tough.

BIRGIT SOWDEN and her team of volunteers prepare and distribute food to those in need.

“These are the hidden gems of the Coast,” Tanya said.

Martin Duncan with one of the many happy Sconetimers.

MARTIN DUNCAN, fondly known as the Sunshine Coast Foodie, established Sconetime  to help tackle isolation among the elderly. He now runs popular monthly events around the Sunshine Coast and with his team of volunteers brings joy and connection to the senior community.

Advocate for seniors in social housing Patricia Munro.

PATRICIA MUNRO has been described as an angel to seniors residing in social housing. She is an advocate for those forgotten by the system.

Patricia, who also resides in social housing, provides transport, food and counselling and has stayed by the side of people during their final hours.

“It is the compassionate actions of people like Patricia that make this community great,” Tanya said.

IAgeWell helps people age well, working with service providers, local government and peak bodies to help create age friendly communities.