Senior Citizens Clubs

26 Senior Citizens’ Clubs operate in Victoria and are associated with the Polish Community Council of Vic. Senior Citizens’ Clubs offer new opportunities for members to socialize and learn new skills. Individuals are encouraged to participate, utilize and access clubs in various places throughout Victoria.

The main goal and vision of these Senior Citizens’ Clubs is to improve the quality of life for their members, make their lives easier by assisting them in as many areas as possible and by organizing trips, excursions and outings to discover new places and new friends.

The goal is to have something to look forward to, to have a place to go, to make new friends and to revive old friendships.

The purpose of Senior Citizens’ Clubs is to provide opportunities for participants as following:

• To provide opportunities for socializing and friendship.
• To celebrate Polish national and religious events.
• To stimulate a spirit of mutual helpfulness among its members.
• To provide information regarding current legal issues, especially those that are of concern to the elderly.
• To promote self-esteem and to encourage the use of skills and life experiences.
• To encourage members’ participation in community activities.

Traditionally, the Polish Jamboree is organized as part of senior Citizen’s Week in March annually. In 2005-2006 the Jamboree was moved to October due to the Commonwealth Games. From the next year the Seniors’ Jamboree will change the name and it will be called the Polish Seniors’ Day. Now is organized in October week after Senior Week.

Every year in March the Polish seniors organize a picnic in Healsville where they provide artistic performance, mainly by singing and dancing. The participants have lunch together and benefit from it physically, socially and psychologically.

Meetings at the Clubs are held weekly or fortnightly, where lunches are served, followed by a program. Speakers are often invited to cover a variety of topics including issues of importance to the elderly such as welfare and health services.

The Senior Citizens’ Clubs were established by many dedicated members from the Polish community in Victoria some 25 years ago.

Every month PCCV organized meetings for Polish Citizens Clubs Presidents.