Corangamite Shire Council will receive a grant of $1500 as part of the State Government’s funding for the 25th Anniversary Victorian Seniors Festival.
Gayle Tierney, the Member for Western Victoria said the Corangamite Shire council will share in Active Living Grants worth almost $195,000 to Victoria’s local governments for the 2007 Victorian Seniors Festival, which runs from Sunday 7 October to Sunday 14 October.
“The grants provide seed funding to help each Victorian council stage festival events for seniors in their community,” Ms Tierney said.
“Every year the Seniors Festival offers hundreds of free and low cost events to entertain, engage and celebrate seniors across Victoria.
“The funding helps ensure people aged 60 years and over across Victoria can get involved and enjoy the Festival.”
Ms Tierney said the State Government was also providing a grant of $550 to help Corangamite Shire council meet some of the cost of providing transport for seniors to get to the Festival.
This year, the Victorian Government is again providing free public transport to Seniors Card holders during the week of the festival.
Seniors can travel free on metropolitan public buses, trams and trains from Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 October. For their convenience and comfort, seniors are strongly encouraged to avoid travelling in peak hours – before 9am and between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays.
Free V/Line regional rail and coach services are available on Sunday 7 October, from Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 October, and on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October.
Seat reservations are now compulsory for all V/Line Intercity train services and many coach services. Seniors must make a booking to make sure they have a seat for their entire journey.
Reservations for free travel during the Seniors Festival open at 10am on Tuesday 4 September, and can be made at any staffed V/Line station, V/Line agent or by calling V/Line on 136 196.
“The annual Seniors Festival demonstrates the Victorian Government’s commitment to seniors, encouraging them to get out, get active and get together.
“I also encourage members of the local community, particularly our voluntary, sporting and service organisations, to nominate a person aged 60 years and over for the Premier’s Senior Victorian of the Year Award and COTA Senior Achievers Awards.
“The awards recognise extraordinary contributions to the community by a senior and will be presented by the Premier just prior the Victorian Seniors Festival.”
Information about the awards and nomination forms can be obtained from Seniors Information Victoria, phone 1300 13 50 90 or visit www.seniors.vic.gov.au.
The 2007 Victorian Seniors Festival program will be available through Coles and Bi-Lo stores in early September.
