Local senior Barb greets everyone with a smile and seniors at Kubirri celebrate their birthdays
Weekly seniors wrap-up
Seniors are an integral part of our community and there is a lot we can learn from them. Every week Newsport puts the spotlight on the seniors in our region - because there’s nothing that goes above our local golden agers.
Local senior Barb greets people with a smile
Volunteer and local senior Barb Shea is a long-term volunteer at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre. You can find her behind the reception desk greeting everyone with a smile and a joke.
Barb is a long-term resident of Port Douglas and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
She used to own and manage the Seafood Factory at Oak Beach in years gone by. “All about Seafood” was known as the place to go for the freshest seafood and best feed in the Shire.
Barb is retired now but spends her spare time volunteering as a receptionist at the Neighbourhood Centre, it’s a role she loves.
“It keeps me going and keeps me out of mischief,” she told Newsport.
When she’s not volunteering, she is enjoying living in the best place in the world and spending time with her grandkids.
Barb is one of the many volunteers that work to help keep the Neighbourhood Centre running, ensuring there is support for our community.
The Centre has a lot of volunteer roles for those who want to make a difference. Drop in and say hello and find out if there’s a role for you!
Special birthday celebrations at Kubirri Aged Care Centre
Early each month, Kubirri Aged Care Centre holds a traditional birthday celebration for residents to mark their special day.
In the month of November, Kubirri provided residents who had birthdays, each with an amazing cake organised by the catering team on-site.
Birthday celebrations are held in Kubirri’s communal Chapel, where residents are then sung ‘Happy Birthday,’ receive their own cake to cut and can even wear a special party hat - if they wish!
Family members are also invited to partake in the birthday celebrations. In fact, there have even been instances of family members in the past who have ‘surprised’ the residents by joining in the celebrations at the Centre.
Senior MahJong at Mossman Library
The Douglas Shire libraries are not just places where you can borrow books, they are way more than that.
The Douglas Shire University of the Third Age (U3A) is proving to be hugely popular, with many classes available including Mahjong and creative writing.
U3A is operated by people who are retired or semi-retired and wish to enjoy a wide selection of learning and social activities.
Every week on Tuesday afternoons, U3A uses the main library space in Mossman to play Mahjong.
One member, Deborah Landers, who moved to the Douglas Shire two years ago, said that Mahjong is the highlight of her week.
“The game is great fun and good for my concentration skills,” she said.
“However, the friendships I have gained through U3A have meant more to me than anything and that is why I have built such a good life here.”