Palmerston Senior Scooters
Palmerston City Council, Northern Territory
Background
Palmerston, in the Northern Territory, is located 21km south of Darwin. The City was developed in the 1980s and has been one of Australia's fastest growing areas. Palmerston's population is relatively young with a median age at June 2001 of 27.9 years, the national median age is 35 years. Two thirds (66%) of Palmerston residents are under 35 years and nearly one quarter of the population (22.7%) are under 10. Only 7.9% of the population are 55 or over, compared to Darwin with 14.9%. Whilst there has been a gradual increase in the over 55 cohort since 1986, the Palmerston population is likely to retain a younger age profile by national standards for the foreseeable future.
Initiative
Palmerston Senior Scooters, supported by the Palmerston City Council, is a program aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older residents.
The initiative encourages seniors with a chronic disease, to get fit and stay fit through dancing. Each session provides participants with the opportunity to meet others, be entertained, exercise and have fun. The initiative has no budget. Voluntary co-ordinators organise the sessions and special events and participants contribute $2 per session towards venue hire.
Through the Council's Senior Advisory Committee, the initiative has branched out into schools, demonstrations and a six week block of teaching line dancing.
Achievements
Palmerston Senior Scooters has had a huge impact on the local senior's community as demonstrated by a high level of interest in the sessions.
Community feedback and appreciation is evident in many ways, one of these being the amount of invitations to perform at different events. Over the last two years the Palmerston Senior Scooters have performed at a special Seniors Month Concert - the concert won the Palmerston Community Event of the Year in both years. A documentary on ABC Stateline drew attention to the Scooters after a performance at the Chronic Disease Conference. The Scooters have also performed in Shopping Centres, Markets, Palmerston City Council and kicked up a storm at Government House.
The initiative has also received a number of community awards, an Australia Day Award and a Kellogg's Local Government National Heart Foundation Award for 'Healthy Ageing'
The Mayor of Palmerston is a great supporter of The Palmerston Senior Scooters and the organiser see this initiative as one that will continue for many years.
Contact for further information
- Judy Joyce
- Coordinator
- Phone: 08 8932 4767
- Email: judy.joyce@palmerston.nt.gov.au
