Newsletter and IYOP Initiatives Australian Coalition '99

AC '99 UPDATE - EDITION No. 6 (February 1999)
AC99 State News

TASMANIAN GREY MARDI GRAS
The International Year of Older Persons will be launched in style in Tasmania on Sunday 21 February with a Grey Mardi Gras. A street march will be held which culminates in a multi-faceted celebration on the lawns of Parliament House in Hobart.
There will be bands, dancing, games and demonstrations not only relevant to older people but will also involve younger people in line with the year's theme - towards a society for all ages.
Later in the year, AC'99 Tas plans to hold a forum (maybe a Grey Parliament) to debate and endorse a range of policy recommendations which will improve programs and benefits for older persons.

EXCITING SPONSORSHIPS IN THE ACT
Australian Coalition '99 (ACT) has welcomed a successful start to IYOP. Sponsorship (currently standing at over $380 000 both in kind and financial) has been received from various organisations including Canberra Radio 2CC, Win Television, Diabetes Australia, The National Convention Centre and the Canberra Chroncle as well as the ACT Government.
The Event Program was released on 19 January with distribution to every household in the ACT. The first events for 1999 are a success with all tickets gone activities including the YMCA Activities Day and the Rotary Concert.

VICTORIA COMMENCES '99 WITH CELEBRATIONS
In January, National Seniors Association (Victoria) and Knox Seniors Network held parties to welcome IYOP, while the City of Greater Bendigo held a celebratory concert in the Bendigo Mall. On Autralia Day there were IYOP booths as part of the celebrations in Melbourne.
During February Ballarat Health Services is holding its "Ageing Through the Lens" photographic exhibition and competition; and the Ballarat Teachers' College has a 50th anniversary reunion for those who were students at the College in 1949, where a letter from Queen Elizabeth II will be read. Other events in February include a function at which the Filiopino-Australian Seniors Citizens Advisory Council will launch its program for 1999 and a focus on IYOP will be part of the Vietnamese New Year festivities in Richmond.
For further information contact Kay Koetsier on (03) 9654 4443 or email: cotavic@vicnet.net.au

LAUNCH OF GRANDPARENTING ASSOCIATION IN NSW
Council on the Ageing (NSW) will launch a Grandparenting Association on the inaugural Grandparenting Day to be celebrated on Sunday 27 June 1999 at the Sydney Showground, Homebush Bay.
This will be a day of entertainment for parents, children and grandparents, and the Grandparent of the Year will be announced. COTA will also conduct grandparenting effectiveness information sessions.
Seniors Clubs are invited to make up bus tours to attend Grandparenting Day. For more information on Grandparenting Day please call Rodney Sheaves at Council on the Ageing (NSW) on tel (02) 9299 4100 and fax (02) 9299 4414. For further information about other IYOP NSW plans please contact Anthony Brown on the same numbers.