New seniors aid group eyes hub

Seniors in the Shire of Plantagenet might soon have access to a dedicated hub as the new Empowering Plantagenet Seniors group gains momentum.

The group was created two months ago to help senior citizens in the Shire during the coronavirus pandemic.

It started as a delivery service and averaged 120 customers a week with 100 customers on the day before Good Friday.

Now they have applied to rent a building in Mt Barker to help the group become a more permanent resource for local residents.

Co-ordinator and Shire councillor Sue Etherington was originally asked to help seniors who were self-isolating — and that is where the idea of deliveries started.

Ms Etherington said she had a close connection with seniors in the area and wanted to continue to help them after the crisis.

“We started a Facebook page and we now have so many volunteers which is unbelievable,” she said.

“We have covered the whole shire.

“I was thinking they would need a break and it turned out that the volunteers didn't want to give it up because they enjoyed it so much.”

She said that with so many volunteers and seniors wanting to take part, they did not have a central meeting place.

“We want to make a hub with offices for services like Hall and Prior, Silver Chain, Carers WA, and anything else that the oldies can call in and the information is there,” she said. “Eventually we would like to be able to be serving meals but to start off it will be tea and coffee and tea and biscuits.

“This building is fit for purpose and we could leave everything set up all the time.”

Pardelup Prison Farm even made jams, chutneys and woodworks to be delivered to local seniors.

Empowering Plantagenet Seniors volunteers will meet with Plantagenet Shire chief executive Rob Stewart today to discuss options around a seniors hub.