Tuesday, 17 October 2017

Maria Wiseman has been awarded one of the prestigious Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria Senior Achiever Awards at the Victorian Seniors Festival Awards, nominated by the Gippsland Gateway Day Club for her ten years of volunteer coordination of the programs offered by Gateway.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing, congratulates Maria for her award after a ceremony at Government House, where she and 14 other award recipients were recognised for their community contributions.

The Gippsland Gateway Day Club is for any older person who wants to join and many members remain involved into their nineties. Maria is admired and respected by the club members and the broader community for the approach she has to helping older people to stay in touch and enjoy themselves with others.

Older Victorians make up more than 15 per cent of the state’s population and the annual Seniors Awards recognise the enormous contribution made by seniors across the state.

The awards are part of the 2017 Victorian Seniors Festival which runs throughout the month of October and offers more than 1,500 free and low-cost events all over Victoria, including a huge array of social, cultural and educational activities.

For more information about events and activities, visit seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festival or pick up a free Victorian Seniors Festival program at any Coles store, local library, council office or neighbourhood house. You can also call 1300 135 090 to have a program sent to you.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley:

“These awards celebrate Victoria’s dedicated seniors, who do so much for other people and for their communities”

“Thank you and congratulations to all the worthy award recipients and nominees, for your wonderful contributions to our state.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“Congratulations to Maria Wiseman for winning the well-deserved COTA Senior Achievers award. Her work is so valuable, and on behalf of the Gippsland community I thank her for her huge contribution.”