Western Australia’s most outstanding seniors have been honoured by Seniors and Ageing Minister Mick Murray at this week’s WA Seniors Awards.
Phillip Paddon picked up the Juniper Lifetime Achievement Award for the metropolitan area, while Lesley Balinski picked up the regional award.
Mr Paddon has volunteered for more than 15 years, encouraging older people to remain active as they age. He is vice president of the Seniors Recreation Council of WA, runs annual events for the Square Dancing Association of WA and stages country music concerts.
Mrs Balinski is actively involved in working with the culturally and linguistically diverse community in Katanning. She tutors English, helps new arrivals settle in the town, and advocates for them as part of the Katanning Multicultural District Health Advisory Council.
Mrs Balinski also works closely with the town’s young people, organising events, drama workshops and teaching ballroom dancing.
The WA Seniors Awards recognise the important contributions of seniors to the community. For the first time, both regional and metropolitan seniors have been honoured with a new ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award.
The 2017 WA Seniors Awards are presented by the Council on the Ageing (WA) in partnership with the Department of Communities. Seniors Week gets underway on October 29, with a huge range of activities available to young and old.