VALUING Seniors is at the heart of one State Government’s unique project to gather stories giving an insight into the lives and contributions of older residents.
Perhaps the concept is not unique but the stories can claim that moniker.
Since 2013, the New South Wales government has been fostering a story writing and publishing initiative.
Annually, a competition is held where Seniors are asked to submit stories of up to 1,000 words about their lives or a segment of their lives.
Each year, a theme is chosen for the competition. This year, the theme was ‘What made me’, last year, it was ‘Ageing and Life Lessons’.
And each year, the top 100 stories are chosen for publication in a professionally illustrated magazine, which is widely distributed and publicised.
Entrants whose stories are selected out of the many highly competitive entries, are invited to attend a special ceremony at Parliament House to meet and share their stories.
While it is a competition open to only New South Wales Seniors Card and Seniors Savers Card holders, it may be worth lobbying your local State parliamentarian to bring the concept across the border to Queensland.
