Tweed Seniors Festival

Local Achievement AwardsVolunteering at Tweed Seniors Festival Program of events

For more information on
the festival contact 
Lyn Porter on 07 5569 3110 or email
communityservices@tweed.nsw.gov.au.

Tweed Seniors Festival celebrates the role and contributions older people make to our community.

It runs as part of the NSW Seniors Festival, which is the largest celebration of its kind in the southern hemisphere. 

Seniors Festival 2025: 3 - 16 March

The theme of the festival is Time to shine!

Each year the festival provides a full program of events and entertainment, with a huge variety of exciting activities across the state.

To see events that took place during the 2024 festival, here is the 2024 - program of events(PDF, 667KB).

Tweed Local Achievement Awards

The NSW Seniors Achievement Awards program is run as part of the NSW Seniors Festival. The Tweed Local Achievement Awards recognise seniors that help make our community a diverse, active, and inspiring place to live.

Local Achievement Awards 2024

Winners of the 2024 Local Achievement Awards.  (left to right) Colin Smith, Ian Simpson, Marlene Salkeld (Alan – Marlene’s Carer/Husband), Vickie collecting on behalf of Julie Stephens, Sonia Trichter, Mary Grant

2024 Local Achievement Award Winners

  • Colin Smith – recognised for volunteering, particularly with the RFS   

  • Ian Simpson – recognised for his volunteering with wildlife and for organising social events at his local bowls club 

  • John Rawson – recognised for volunteering with the Australian Red Cross and in local aged care facilities  

  • Joseph Kerr – recognised for volunteering with the Banora Point Community Centre helping other seniors with technology  

  • Julie Stephens  – recognised for her passion and support of Fun Activities for Banora Seniors (FABS) at Banora Point Community Centre 

  • Liza Macmillan – recognised for her volunteer work with Cavalier Rescue and other community activities and events

  • Marlene Salkeld – recognised for her promotion of inclusion in the local community and her work with her Blind and Vision Impaired Support Group 

  • Mary Grant – recognised for her decades of work with Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers, particularly helping local native birds 

  • Sonia Trichter – recognised for her work with Friends of the Pound which she is currently president of.  

Past winners 

2023 winners

  • Brenda Blunden – recognised for volunteering, particularly with Fingal Head Coast Care

  • Veronese Burgess – recognised for tireless work with local elders and community

  • Julie Cummings – recognised for service to Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club

  • Carol Edwards – recognised for volunteering and fundraising efforts for local charities including Wedgetail Retreat and Murwillumbah Flood Relief

  • Jeannette Horne – recognised for volunteering to run weekly trivia nights at South Tweed Sports Club

  • Judy and Mark Eglington – recognised for almost 65 years voluntary service as members of the NSW Rural Fire Service

  • Margaret Hulbert – recognised for service to Crabbes Creek Community Hall and local community

  • Denis Kinzett – recognised for service to Crabbes Creek Community Hall

  • Louise Muir – recognised for creation of a much-loved local garden in Banora Point

  • Alan Rogers – recognised for years volunteering at Murwillumbah Hospital coffee shop and Murwillumbah Theatre Company

  • Alan Vincent - recognised for service to Crabbes Creek Community Hall.

LOCAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD_2023_resized_1.jpg

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry and Tweed MP Geoff Provest with winners of the 2023 Local Achievement Awards who were acknowledged for their incredible contribution to the community.

 

2022 winners

  • Glenda Ashby – service to Marine Rescue Point Danger
  • Carole Cohan – service to Meals on Wheels, Tweed VIEW Club and Fun Activities for Banora Seniors (FABS)
  • Merilyn Gilmore – service to numerous Tweed charities over more than 30 years
  • Ruth Philip – service to South Tweed Over 50s group
  • Irene Rainey – service to Tweed Valley Justice Association and work as a JP
  • Annie Simonds – service to Friends of the Gallery and Friends of the Pound
  • Alan Young – service to Twin Towns Radio Yacht Club
  • Sue Breckenridge – service to Murwillumbah Farmers Market and small farmers

 

Volunteering at Tweed Seniors Festival 

Seniors standing in a circle holding hands

We are always looking for people in the community to join the Tweed Seniors Festival Working Party. The group helps with planning and running the festival each year.

Participating as a volunteer is a great way to get involved in your local community and meet other likeminded people. 

If you are interested in volunteering for the Tweed Seniors Festival Working Party, fill out the expression of interest form. 

Expression of interest