April 2004

Volunteer teacher is Victorian Senior of the Year

An inspirational teacher who has unearthed the artistic potential of older people in a rural nursing home has won the 2004 Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year.

Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings presented the award to 66-year-old volunteer art teacher, Corres Schubert of Waaia, at Government House.

Mr Jennings said Ms Schubert conducted art classes for residents at the Baala House Nursing Home and Pioneers Lodge Aged Care Hostel in Numurkah.

‘Ms Schubert encourages elderly residents to pick up a paint-brush and use art to build their self-confidence and express themselves.

‘The art classes have uncovered many talented artists including a 99-year-old resident and the students are now exhibiting their paintings at local art shows.

‘Thanks to Ms Schubert, these seniors now believe in their ability and are making a vital contribution to the local arts culture.’

Mr Jennings said many of the residents had disabilities, which have in the past limited their participation in social activities and in pursuing their hobbies.

‘The art classes help residents develop new skills and socialise with their peers while producing some fine artwork,’ he said.

Ms Schubert also volunteers at the Numurkah Health Services in Aged Care, where she hosts outings for residents, drives the bus and provides one-on-one assistance to frail residents.

Mr Jennings also presented 11 Senior Achiever awards to outstanding Victorians from across the state.

The awards, conducted jointly by the Government and the Council of the Ageing (COTA) were part of the Victorian Seniors Festival 2004:

Recipients of COTA Senior Achiever Awards were:

• Alfred Floyd, 88, of Tecoma. Mr Floyd is a founding member and popular volunteer tutor at the Ferntree Gully U3A (now Knox U3A), who believes continuing education is the key to a successful life in older age. He tutors two classes a week and believes he learns as much from those attending his classes as they do from him.

• Gerry Lamers, 67, of Plenty. Ms Lamers started the first fundraising and bone marrow donor recruitment branch in the Eltham and Diamond Valley area following the death of her daughter from leukaemia. The branch has since raised more than half a million dollars. Ms Lamers and her husband have established an accommodation centre for families in North Melbourne so families could be near loved ones receiving treatment in city hospitals.

• Margot Lustig, 79, of Caulfield. Ms Lustig has overcome obstacles all her life. She was told ‘you can’t go to university when you’re a mother’ and she did, and ‘you have to retire at 60’and she didn’t. Now she provides bereavement support, helping older people come to terms with the loss of a partner.

• Nancy Mann and Esme Mewes of Boronia. These women established Waltzing Wheels 10 years ago. Together with a team of volunteers, they teach ballroom dancing to wheelchair-bound residents at local nursing homes and hostels. Each year they organise a wheelchair debutante ball, a popular event in the Knox Seniors Festival calendar.

• Leslie Noseda, 67, of Apollo Bay. Mr Noseda is president of the Otway Ranges Walking Track Association and has been active in the alignment and marking of the proposed 70km walking track. He regularly escorts walkers along the route to experience the lesser-known features of the Ranges.

• Remy Sarmiento, 78, of Braybrook. Ms Sarmiento is the chairperson of the Filipino Australian Senior Citizens Advisory Council of Victoria. Her personal concern for the welfare and wellbeing of Filipino seniors has made a big difference to their lives.

• Wal Smith, 75, of Hamilton. Mr Smith has devoted thousands of voluntary hours to the field of cycling and cycling administration, acting as a judge or official. Wal Smith can also be found acting as timekeeper for national whipcracking championship and regional and state sheep shearing titles.

• Rob Reynolds, 84, of Wendouree. Mr Reynolds has one of the most familiar faces in Ballarat and for good reason. Since joining the Calkendren Respite Services volunteer ranks four years ago at the age of 80, Mr Reynolds has sold just under 14,000 raffle tickets.

• Jean Melzer of Cape Paterson. Mrs Melzer has excelled in actively promoting the concept of lifelong learning to senior Victorians. Currently the President of the U3A Network Victoria, Jean Melzer is also the President of the Cape Paterson Progress Association, working to retain the natural bush and heathlands against degradation and pollution.

• Barbara Fraser, 72, of Elsternwick. Miss Fraser co-ordinates 80 volunteer tutors conducting 80 classes each week for the U3A Glen Eira. She also provides support to members in need, through personal contact, hospital visits and transport assistance.