Seniors Month cooks up a Sunday roast

THE second annual Queensland Seniors Month is coming up, having grown over the past 62 years from a nine-day week to a month-long celebration.

Connecting Queenslanders through inclusive events and activities, Seniors Month brings people of all ages, cultures, and abilities together, uniting them through shared interests and passions.

It is also an opportunity to discover new programs and activities, and support services.

Beginning on October 1, the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, Queensland’s Seniors Month will include National Grandparents Day, on October 30.

“Our continued theme of Social Connections remains relevant as these connections are essential at any age.” COTA Queensland’s Seniors Month Coordinator Lisa Hodgkinson said.

“A great variety of events will be on offer in the Sunshine Coast region.”

Food is at the top of the list of activities that connect us, and social isolation will be tackled one fork at a time with Queensland’s Largest Sunday Roast on October 16.

The aim is to bring Queensland together to enjoy a Sunday Roast on the same day, with households of people of all ages sitting down to a big meal and sharing stories of life, culture, and creativity regardless of physical and language barriers.

One in three seniors and one in two teenagers have reported feeling lonely and with more than 880,000 seniors in Queensland – one in three of them living alone – that’s a lot who may be feeling lonely.

The Largest Sunday Roast is an opportunity to reconnect with friends and family who may have been isolated, hosting a Sunday Roast any way you like – at home with family and friends, at the local park with the community, or at a participating restaurant.

Invite older friends and family, reach out to your neighbours and get together on October 16 to create Queensland’s Largest Sunday Roast.

Register your intention to participate and help COTA measure if it’s making a difference.

 Visit qldseniorsmonth.org.au or call 1300 738 348.