Drumming, dancing, walking, yoga and laughing – it’s all on the program for Byron Shire’s week-long Seniors Festival which kicks off on Monday as part of the NSW Seniors Festival.
The theme for this year’s festival is “It’s in our nature” and everyone who falls into the ‘wise and experienced’ age group (60 and over) is invited to join in the free activities at the Byron Community Centre in Byron Bay.
Mayor Simon Richardson said the festival was a fantastic way to highlight the magnificent contribution the residents who have decades of life experience make to the Byron Shire.
“It’s a great honour for Council to be supporting the 2021 Seniors Festival and if the program for next week is anything to go by it looks like being a cracker of an event,” Mayor Richardson said.
Statistics from the 2016 Census show that 16.9% of Byron Shire’s population is aged over 65 with the majority living in Brunswick Heads, followed by Mullumbimby:
- Brunswick Heads – 22.2%
- Mullumbimby – 19.6%
- Ocean Shores, New Brighton, South Golden Beach – 16.7%
- Myocum, Coorabell areas – 16.7%
- Byron Bay – 16.5%
“Some of these people have lived in this Shire all their lives, others are newcomers but they all offer experience and a perspective on life that is rich and colourful,” Mayor Richardson said.
“On behalf of Council I hope that people use the Byron Shire Seniors Festival as a way of getting out, meeting new people, learning some new things and celebrating all that is great about our community,” he said.
More information about the 2021 Byron Shire Seniors Festival is available from the Byron Community Centre.