Much loved local senior helps others through difficult period - plus more
SENIORS WRAP
Where Annie Richardson goes, laughter follows.
As a volunteer for Pink in the Tropics and committee member at the PD Neighbourhood Centre she is a well-known and much loved member in the community.
Ms Richardson certainly remains young at heart and always takes the time to ask after others and share a story or two.
With her efforts for Pink in the Tropics she hopes to help others through a difficult period in their lives as she has fought breast cancer herself a couple of years back.
“My own brush with breast cancer was several years earlier, back then I had no interest in sharing my story,” Ms Richardson said.
"I was pleasantly surprised when I joined a meeting from the organisation in 2014 and I discovered the benefits of sharing and listening to different stories.
“Breast Cancer does not discriminate, it affects the old, young, wealthy and not so wealthy. On many occasions our support group is able to smooth the journey for those that need help with almost any daily task that seems too hard during and after treatment.
“I believe my job is to bring awareness to our Community that we are here and you are not alone.”
Founder of the Pink Sports Day
Apart from her love for her family of two sons and two grandchildren and the local community, Ms Richardson has a big passion for AFL.
Spending much of her free time at the Port Douglas Crocs football club, she came up with the idea to create a Pink Sports Day.
“After speaking with the Pink committee asking for permission to go ahead for an event that would bring awareness of our group to the public, I then contacted the football club, the rest is history.
“On our seventh year of hosting the Pink Sports Day, we added A Splash of Blue, also now supporting Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia.
“This day is a popular day on the events calendar in Port Douglas and the football crowd swells significantly on that day. I’m looking forward to this year’s event which will be on the 13th of May!”
MEANTIME IN OTHER SENIORS NEWS…
SENIOR CITIZENS IMMERSE IN MAORI CULTURE
Residents at Kewarra Aged Care Centre celebrated Maori culture this week with a special performance from the Nga Matawaka Maori Cultural Group.
The not-for-profit group is devoted to sharing their passion for Maori culture, teaching traditional Maori song and dance to those who wish to learn.
Frequent visitors to the home before the pandemic, the group was warmly welcomed back by residents who were thrilled to watch the energetic performers again.
The group has its origins in 2015 when a single Maori family migrated to Cairns and wondered how they could keep their traditions alive.
Much to their surprise, they found an even larger group of kiwis in the area than in their hometown of Auckland and so Nga Matawaka Maori was born.
Nicky Mifsud, Lifestyle Coordinator, said, ‘The group delivered a powerful message and left such an impression on everyone’. Resident David told her, ‘this is the best performance I have seen, and I have been here five years. Top notch!’.
For the residents who originally came from New Zealand the visit was an extra special treat. Dawn said, ‘That was just wonderful, I knew all the words and it brought back many happy memories of New-Zealand,’ while Barbara added, ‘I love it, it makes me happy when I am reminded of New-Zealand’.
Thank you!
Newsport thanks its advertising partners for their support in the delivery of daily community news to the Douglas Shire. Public interest journalism is a fundamental part of every community.
Got a news tip? Let us know! Send your news tips or submit a letter to the editor here.
* Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments on Newsport are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.