Seniors Can Dance!
Federation 20th Anniversary Lunch and AGM
Late in 2018, the Federation of Northern Ethnic Senior Citizens Clubs (‘Federation’) gathered at the Greek Orthodox Church in Coburg to celebrate their 20th Anniversary.
The Federation, by bringing together culturally diverse Senior Citizens clubs to share knowledge, learn together and advocate collectively, has had far-reaching grassroots impact for ageing people of wonderfully diverse backgrounds.
Recognising the impact and commemorating this milestone, Spectrum worked with members to create a video of their reflections of the 20-year journey of the Federation.
Watch the video here:
The 20 year Celebration Luncheon commenced with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by Wurundjeri elder, Aunty Di followed by a short AGM. Bernie Nott, CEO of Spectrum welcomed guests and presented service recognition awards to the Federation’s President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.
Afterwards, guest speaker Hon. Telmo Languiller, State Member for Tarneit, on behalf of Sen. Robin Scott, Minister for Multicultural Affairs passionately spoke of his own experience migrating to Australia from Uruguay, highlighting and thanking them for the significant contribution the senior citizens in the room have made paving the way for his own generation and future migrants.
Guests shared a delicious meal, and then took to the dance floor, enthusiastically embracing a song list drawn from cultures throughout the world. Guests delightedly recognised the music of their birth countries, and at other times joined in the joy of other people’s recollections.
The Federation formed in 1998, was to provide a stronger voice and support for ethnic Senior Citizens Clubs in the Northern Region, auspiced by Spectrum. Culturally inclusive, the current membership includes Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Polish, Maltese, Filipino and Mauritian Clubs in the Yarra, Moreland, Banyule, Darebin, Whittlesea, Hume and Nillumbik local government areas.
The main objectives of the Federation are to provide opportunities for representatives of the Clubs to meet and cohesively identify common issues, exchange information, share skills and (where possible) resources. It also provides a forum to promote awareness of relevant policies and programs affecting its members.
Li Russo, Spectrum’s new Marketing Co-ordinator reflected on the day, “Being a migrant myself, I felt fortunate to experience this occasion and to hear the reflections on their journeys. There is much to be learnt from previous generations who (like my own family) migrated in search of a better future and who have ‘made their mark’ contributing to the vibrancy of multicultural Australia today.”