Seniors Festival

The Victorian Seniors Festival "Learn, Love, Live" returns this October with a range of live, local and online events—giving more seniors more opportunities to get involved.

Enjoy a range of great live and local events in your community or further afield. Make the most of free travel to visit Melbourne, attend events, or catch up with family and friends.

To check out what’s on and find out more about the Victorian Seniors Festival.

Thank you for nominating local champions

Council celebrated the Seniors Festival by hosting an event in October and presenting celebration boxes to older residents who made significant contributions to the Macedon Ranges community.

Thank you to everyone who nominated someone. More details about recipients can be found below.

2023 Seniors Festival recipients - nominations

Kay Murphy

Kay has been an incredible volunteer of Romsey Neighbourhood House and involved in a number of areas. She tirelessly takes passengers for their medical appointment as well as being involved on the committee as well as the back of house operations.

Alan Moor (two nominations)

1. Alan is the Chair of the Kyneton Community House Board of Management and has championed the weekly Kyneton community lunch, the launch of the Good Food Hub and the Christmas Twilight Market. He is also previous President of U3A Kyneton, and current Vice President. Alan is involved in organising and chairing the Fridays at U3A weekly talks, the choir, Men’s Kitchen and is on the committee of Kyneton Connect newsletter. He spends many hours each week in voluntary activities in the Macedon Ranges community.

2. Alan is always stepping up to make things happen, especially for seniors but also for others in Kyneton. He is very willing to pitch in, and passionate about the organisations he volunteers for. He is a key Board member on multiple committees (Chair at Kyneton Community House, Vice Chair of U3A and an ordinary member for Kyneton Connect). So many events and activities happening in Kyneton are the direct result of Alan's tireless efforts and generosity.

Barry McDonald

Barry has been committed to extensive volunteer work with the Woodend Lions Club for over 10 years and his role as the Woodend Farmers Markets Town Crier.

The Lions Club is known for its charitable work and community service, so Barry's involvement includes participating in various projects, fundraisers, and initiatives aimed at making Woodend a better place.

In the Woodend Farmers Markets Town Crier role, Barry's role is to announce the opening of the markets, provide information to attendees, and to contribute to the overall atmosphere of the event.

His contributions help build a stronger, more connected, and culturally rich community while encouraging others to get involved in volunteer activities as well.

Kathleen Keating

Kathleen contributes to the community in a number of ways, including through her attendance at the local St Ambrose Church where she regularly provides home cooked meals for families in need and helps new families integrate into the local community.

She is a long term member of the Woodend Golf Club and more recently the Trentham Golf Club. As well as being an active player, she has volunteered in a number of committee roles to help support the operations, longevity and success of the club.

Currently, as Ladies President, Kathleen takes time to welcome new members, playing rounds with them to help them acquire their handicap and learn the rules of the game. She provides home made meals to cater for local men’s and women’s tournaments, working long hours in her home kitchen and the club kitchen.

Beverly Young

Bev has volunteered hundreds of hours to making quilts for the Quilts of Valour.

Quilts of Valour Australia aims to award quilts to veterans, service personal of the Australian Defence Force and our Allies as well as immediate families of Veterans and Defence Personal who have passed. Many of the recipients have been local.

Bev is very talented and has made some amazing quilts since she started six years ago. Bev is a great champion for donating her time to give others a sense of comfort.

Alan Mitchell-Lappin

Alan Mitchell-Lappin is the current President of the Woodend Masters Football Club who, outside of all his duties in the running of a football club, recently liaised with Vic Koorie AFL Masters group to put on an exhibition game between Woodend Masters Football Club and the Vic Country Indigenous Team.

This event occurred on the 17th of September 2023, and included a Welcome to Country from a Djaara elder, a commemorative Indigenous Team jersey designed for the match, and a thoroughly entertaining game of football.

A Barkindji man, Alan has contributed to the Macedon Ranges through supporting the shires culture as a First Nations elder and as a volunteer champion.

John Muscat

John and his family has lived in the Macedon Ranges for over 65 years. He is always helping out our sporting clubs, local businesses, RSLs etc. through his work in the concrete/construction industry.

During the June storms in 2021, John was pivotal in making sure all the residents in Garner Quadrant were able to access their properties safely. He lead the charge with the clean-up even though he and his wife personally had no power for seven days and is always first to raise his hand when someone needs help.

Neville Spiers

Neville has been volunteering for the State Emergency Service for many years helping with fires interstate and the floods up north. Neville is a member of the GoodSAM responder group, being a crucial helping hand to paramedics with saving lives and is also the conference President for the Gisborne branch of St Vincent De Paul.

Neville is a passionate apiarist. He aims are to protect the environment, to provide access to information and to support others wanting to keep the bee population alive. He gives time delivering talks at kindergartens and community events on bees and how they're important to the environment.

John Evans

John has been an active member of the Romsey community for many years and has been involved in Romsey Neighbourhood House since it first commenced in 2004, and continues to be a valued volunteer of the House today.

He has been on the Committee for many years as well as part of the local Lions Club and more recently the Romsey Men's Shed. His outstanding commitment to his local community should be recognised.

Marjorie Williams

Marj has been volunteering in the Macedon Ranges community for 14 years and has been the President of Kyneton Seniors for eight years. She is passionate about supporting seniors in the community.

Kathy Page

Kathy is well known for her enthusiasm and hard work to help others in our local community. Currently, through the Country Women’s Association, she provides catering support and guidance to others. She is always the first to volunteer for jobs that need to be done.

Kathy works with her local church community with catering and assists with visiting fellow parishioners. She supports the Red Cross and Vision Australia through local fundraising and works supervising the local Op Shop that raises money for aged care facility ‘The Oaks’.

Kathy is an avid walker and encourages people to join her, supporting socialising and a positive attitude.

Shirley ‘Joy’ Evans

Joy has been a strong community member and leader for many years.

She was part of the Mothers Club and supported the Tylden State School, has taught religious education in schools and has been fondly known as "Gran" to many of the local children.

Joy worked tirelessly in the Uniting Church Op Shop for about 40 years, was the President of the Op Shop committee and was involved in the Tylden Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary for many years, taking leading roles during this time.

She has worked tirelessly for the Uniting Church in Tylden since 1960 and transported children to Woodend church to take part in Sunday School.

Joy has stayed physically and mentally active during her life time in the area, taking part in many of the activities and giving her support and leadership as needed to ensure activities continued to thrive.

Joy is a strong support to her family and has fostered the community spirit in her children. Many of her children are now carrying on her community support and are volunteers in local community groups.

Wayne Lawrence (two nominations)

1. Wayne is the new president of the Macedon Senior Citizens. He goes out of his way to pick members up to bring them to our Tuesday lunch catch-ups. He makes sure everyone has a good time and genuinely cares about the welfare of all our members. He has adapted well to all the changes the club has faced in the past 12 months.

2. Wayne has picked up the leadership for the Macedon Seniors group and has steered them into a strong position of autonomy and growth that will leave an ongoing legacy. He is passionate about supporting others in the community to the point of driving members to weekly lunches to ensure they are socially connected.

Wayne is supported by a great team and has worked tirelessly to give everyone a voice and to encourage others to play a part in the long term viability of the group.

Valerie Stannard

Valerie has been instrumental in the running of Romsey Neighbourhood House's Community Foodshare initiative. She has created an enormous sense of community at the Foodshare making people feel involved and welcome. We thank her for her tireless dedication and contribution to her community.

Rose Chambers (two nominations) 

1. Rose has been a member of the Riddells Creek Senior Citizens group for 16 years, 15 years as Treasurer. She is also the hiring officer for the group and is always on hand to lend a hand. Rose is a passionate advocate for the seniors in her area and is one of the driving forces around ensuring supports are in place to assist those in need.

2. Rose has worked hard for the Riddells Creek Seniors Club in maintaining the financial aspects of the club. She a strong voice for the group and always around to help out where needed.

Kevin Richiardi

Kevin has been volunteering as the line marker for the Kyneton Football Netball Club for about 30 years. He arrives early before all games start on the weekend to prepare the oval to play on. Kevin’s dedication to the community and to team sport fosters participation, connection and positive role modelling.

Without people like Kevin who are willing to give their time volunteering, community sport would be lost.

Ray Williams

Ray has been Secretary of the Kyneton Senior Citizens Club for seven years focusing on digital upgrades of club records.

He has served on the Probus committee, volunteered at Primary Schools, tutored online during the COVID pandemic and supported respite to special kids.

Margaret Hutchinson (two nominations)

1. Margaret is the President of the Riddells Creek Senior Citizens group. She has been a member for 12 years and President for 10. Margaret genuinely cares for the members of her group and is always available to support others. She is an organiser, an advocator and a doer who is passionate about maintaining good social connection for others in her community.

2. Margaret has worked extremely hard for the Riddell Seniors Club and is always around to help others.

Robert Evans

Robert was President of the Christian Business Men’s Association Macedon Ranges Group for over 10 years. Projects he has been involved with included:

  • Hay to Help - supplying hay to people affected by flood and fire
  • conducting a public forum on the social and economic costs of drug abuse
  • presenting a submission to the Victorian Attorney General and Victorian Law Reform Commission requesting a “Compassionate Use of Medicinal Cannabis Act” be developed and passed into Victorian Law
  • holding a public forum on the early warning signs of Family and Domestic Violence
  • holding public information presentations on “Saving Energy and Money at Home and on the Road”; and
  • he works to improve conditions in substandard housing.

Robert is also a member of the Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministry.

Judith McKay

Judith has been a valued volunteer at Romsey Neighbourhood House for a number of years, being instrumental in helping to develop many initiatives of the House for the wellbeing of our community. Judith has been involved in the creation of the Romsey Community Co-Op, the Romsey Foodshare, been involved in running our Clothe It Forward initiative just to name a few. Her commitment to service towards our local community has been commendable.

John (Mick) Keating

As a member of the Woodend Golf Club, Mick has been an active player, has volunteered in a number of committee roles, has been Club Treasurer for many years and plays an integral role in managing the annual tournament. He offers his time at working bees and other events held by the club to help ensure the club is kept in the best possible conditions for all members and players.

Since January 2020, Mick has been actively involved in the Campaspe Parkrun every Saturday. He has participated as a runner on 18 occasions and on April 1, 2023 he reached the milestone of volunteering at the Campaspe Parkrun on 50 occasions. Mick can be seen every Saturday morning in his usual marshalling point, encouraging the runners and walkers.