Newsletter and IYOP Initiatives Australian Coalition '99

AC '99 Update - Edition No. 3 (August 1998)
NEWS FROM AC'99 STATES & TERRITORIES

Australian Capital Territory

AC '99 ACT has made arrangements with the organisers of the Floriart Festival to feature the IYOP logo in flowers in Canberra in September 1999. As well as this, Canberra residents can look forward to seeing the logo in native flowers at the National Botanic Gardens in Canberra.

The Canberra Mail and Canberra City Mail Centres will be running IYOP franked messages on envelopes during 1999. AC '99 has also negotiated with Canberra Milk to print IYOP messages on its 600 ml milk cartons throughout 1999.

Contact: Louize Glenn, AC99 ACT
Tel:(02) 6282 3777 Fax: (02) 6285 3422
Email: louglenn@dynamite.com.au

New South Wales

A strong partnership has been forged between the NSW government and community in the organisation of IYOP. A high level of community participation in a range of intergenerational events is planned. Representatives from all NSW AC '99 Partners will be involved in activities, and the names of the NSW IYOP Ambassadors will be announced.

Later this year, AC '99 NSW and Volunteering NSW will launch commemorative IYOP wines in conjunction with Tyrrell’s. Renowned artist, Pro Hart, has agreed to the use of his painting "The Grape Pickers" on the wine label. Orders can be placed with Jane King at Volunteering NSW, Level 2, 105 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.

This month, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW (ECC) is launching a Harmony Campaign in Sydney. AC '99 NSW and ECC are looking at collaborative ways to celebrate older people and diversity.

Preliminary meetings have been held with organisers of several major Sydney cultural events. AC '99 NSW is not ready to announce details but promises some initiatives that will be "out of the ordinary"!

Contact: Anthony Brown, AC '99 NSW
Tel: (02) 9299 4100 Fax: (02) 9299 4414
email: cotansw@ozemail.com.au

Queensland

Planning is well advanced with government and non-government organisations working together to co-ordinate the "launch"on October 1st 1998. One activity of the launch is the ABC debate which will involve university students and eminent older people of the community. The Queensland Governor, the Premier and the Minister have been invited to participate. It will be a high profile media event broadcast live throughout Queensland on the ABC, with highlights to be repeated in the evening between 6pm and 9pm on ABC television. The launch will be highlighted by initiatives including seniors riding Harley Davidson motor cycles, an air exhibition of vintage planes and a convoy of vintage cars.

There are more than 60 events presently planned for IYOP throughout the year. To date the events include four International Conferences to be held in Brisbane, an international hockey tournament, four National events and numerous Statewide events. This number is continually growing and the involvement of the entire state of Queensland is promising to make the year eventful.

AC '99-Qld congratulates the members of Older People Speak Out(OPSO) on their magnificent efforts in raising awareness of AC '99-Qld in the regional areas. The enthusiasm from regional Queensland and district organisations has been overwhelming, and a total of 139 organisations around Queensland have become registered partners of the coalition.

Contact: Louisa Taliacos, AC99 Qld
Tel: (07) 3256 6766 Fax: (07) 3256 6788
Email: cotaq@ecn.net.au
URL: http://www.cotaq.org.au/ac99q

South Australia

AC '99 SA has exciting plans for October 1, 1998. The Premier will launch IYOP, and Sir Eric Neal, Governor of South Australia, will launch Celebrate Seniors. The combined Celebrate Seniors/ IYOP Parade will commence in Victoria Square and participants will make their way to Government House Gardens.

Sponsorship agreements are being finalised with three different media outlets: Channel 9 SA; Radio 5DN and "The Advertiser". A liftout featuring the AC '99 SA Calendar of Events will be published in "The Advertiser " in January 1999, and a calendar update in the "Looking Forward" supplement will be published monthly.

Contact: Ann Lloyd, AC99 SA
Tel: (08) 8232 0422 Fax:(08) 8232 0433
Email: alloyd@cotasa.org.au

Tasmania

There are many other exciting events in planning including: several retirees expos throughout 1999; a regional picnic hosted by the Association of Senior Citizens Clubs of Northern Tasmania; and the Jean Yeates creative writing prize will for 1999 have the theme "Towards a Society for All Ages". Older people in Hobart can look forward to "Dancing on a Saturday night", to be sponsored by COTA Tasmania.

There will be many intergenerational celebrations throughout 1999. Examples include a tour of Tasmania’s historic bandstands by The Tasmanian Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble which will perform "Music for All Ages". On the Australia Day weekend, the "Celebrate Multicultural Australia" festival will be held in Devonport, with a special IYOP focus, including a performance by the Devonport Senior Citizens choir.

Contact: Ann Hughes, AC '99 Tas
Tel: (03) 6228 1897 Fax (03) 6228 0481
Email : cotatas@bigpond.com

Victoria

The 1 October 1998 event called Making the Most of Lifewill start the countdown to 1999. This event, which will be free, will be opened by the Governor of Victoria, Sir James Gobbo, and will include a huge choir, the Royal Australian Navy Band and dancers from a variety of cultures performing at the Opening Ceremony. A wide range of physical activities from golf and table tennis to rock climbing and abseiling, plus less physically demanding activities such as scrabble, bridge and computer activities will also be organised. Water World activities will be staged on Albert Park Lake and displays of veteran cars and model trains and square dancing are more examples of the celebratory activities.

A "showbag" will be available which will include the IYOP 1999 Diary, an IYOP bookmark, a "stress" ball, a photo-frame fridge magnet, plus up-to-date information on Partners’ projects.