Celebrating Over 55s - Seniors Festival Grants awarded

Over 55s image.jpg

Nillumbik Shire Council supports the wider community to be actively involved during the Victorian Seniors Festival, which is a major state-wide festival for and involving seniors, with an emphasis on fun and good times that takes place every October right across Victoria.

Small grants up to $500 are annually available to support programs, events and activities aimed at people 55 and over during the month of October. 

2025 Celebrating Over 55s - Seniors Festival Grant Recipients

Diamond Creek Men's Shed

Open Day and Doc-Shred-25 | $500
The Men's Shed will hold an Open Day to showcase their activities to the community, including displays, morning tea, and a free barbecue lunch for visitors. The event will run alongside Council's Shred Day, held next door. Members will be on hand to assist older residents with shredding tasks and to promote the Open Day.
Friday 24 October 2025 - 53 Challenger Street, Diamond Creek and Challenger Street Park carpark for Doc-Shred

Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club

Walking Basketball Welcome Day | $500
Hosting a Walking Basketball Welcome Day, consisting of warm-ups, basic skills sessions, and a friendly game, followed by a morning tea.
Friday 3 October 2025 - location to be confirmed

Kangaroo Ground Adult Riding Club

Horse Appreciation Day for over 55s | $500
A morning tea for over-55s, with invitees including current riders, former Nillumbik residents who have retired from riding, and those now living in aged care (Estia Health, Diamond Creek). The oldest guests will present ribbons for the "Most Appreciated Horse".
Thursday 16 October 2025 - Kangaroo Ground Adult Riders, Kangaroo Ground - St Andrews Road, Kangaroo Ground

Nillumbik Dementia Friendly Alliance

Open day at Memory Care Cafe | $500
An afternoon tea held at the Memory Care Café included a demonstration of the Magic Table (Tovertafel) and interactive activities for people living with dementia in the Shire of Nillumbik. The event also provided information about local support services available to both carers and individuals living with dementia.
Monday 6 October - Hurstbridge Community Club, Graysharps Road, Hurstbridge

Nillumbik U3A

Mini Expo - Discover, learn, connect | $500
A Mini Expo was held to showcase the wide range of classes and activities offered by Nillumbik U3A. Talented members demonstrated their skills, creativity, and knowledge across a variety of subjects – from arts and languages to science, music, and more.
Wednesday 8 October 2025 - Central Pavilion, 18 Panther Place, Eltham

Rotary Club of Diamond Creek

Devonshire Delights - Morning tea with Diamond Creek Rotary | $500
A relaxed morning tea with delicious scones, accompanied by tea and coffee. Guests learned about various community and international projects undertaken by the Rotary Club, including ShelterBox, which is an international aid initiative, as well as local efforts such as the Diamond Creek Rotary Tram Café and the Rotary Diamond Creek Pantry.
Date to be confirmed - Diamond Creek Bowling Club, Diamond Creek Recreation Reserve, corner of Main Hurstbridge Road and Elizabeth Street, Diamond Creek

Yarrambat Historical Society

Yarrambat Heritage Museum Annual Open Day | $500
The Annual Open Day features an operational gold-mine battery and gold prospecting, the 'Len Young Woolshed' display with sheep shearing, wool spinners, a display of the historic first Yarrambat Primary School classroom, and presentations by Grade 6 students from Yarrambat Primary School.
Sunday 12 October - Yarrambat Heritage Museum, Yan Yean Road, Yarrambat

2024 Celebrating Over 55s - Seniors Festival Grant Recipients

Diamond Creek Men's Shed

Open Day and Doc-Shred 24 | $500
Men's Shed Open Day to show the community what they do at the Shed, including displays of activities, as well as a morning tea and free BBQ lunch for visitors. This Open Day is in conjunction with Council's Shred Day which takes place next door to the Shed. Members are on hand to help older members of the public with the task of shredding and promote Open Day.

Kangaroo Ground Adult Riding Club

Horse Appreciation Day for Over 55's | $500
A morning tea for over 55's. Invitees include current riders, those Nillumbik residents who have hung up their boots, and those who have made the difficult decision to be cared for in a retirement home (Estia Health in Diamond Creek). Oldest guests to award ribbons for Most Appreciated Horse.

Open Minds Nillumbik Dementia Friendly Alliance

Open Day at Open Minds Dementia Friendly Alliance | $500
An Open Day at the Memory Cafe, which provides care and supervision to those with dementia, while their carers get together for respite. Providing afternoon tea and featuring a guest speaker, whilst promoting services and providing information on the various resources available to those effected by dementia in the Shire of Nillumbik.

Panton Hill Tennis Club

Celebration of Healthy Ageing through connecting the Panton Hill Community | $500
This project aims to recognise and celebrate people aged 55+ by bringing together various groups and individuals around Panton Hill by holding a lunchtime friendly BBQ gathering at the Panton Hill Tennis Club during the Seniors Festival in October.

Rotary Club of Diamond Creek

Devonshire Delights - A Morning Tea with Diamond Creek Rotary | $500
While indulging in a delectable morning tea of scones with jam and cream, guests will learn about some of the community and international projects undertaken by Diamond Creek Rotary, and all who attend will receive a gift bag.

St Andrews Community Centre

St Andrews Seniors' High Tea | $500
The Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre is hosting a High Tea to celebrate and recognise residents aged over 55 in the Shire of Nillumbik. The event features performances by the local primary school choir and fosters intergenerational connections through students preparing and serving treats, promoting community engagement and healthy ageing.

Walking Football 4 Health Victoria

Senior Citizens Festival | $500
A free session on Friday 4 October followed by a free morning tea. Walking Football is fantastic at improving physical and mental health and wellbeing. All Friday sessions will be free throughout October.

Yarrambat Historical Society

Yarrambat Heritage Museum Annual Community Open Day | $500
Everyone is invited to an Open Day at the Yarrambat Heritage Museum. Free activities include running the historic Yarrambat Goldmine Battery, shearing of sheep in the Len Young Woolshed, spinning and weaving displays, displays in the first Yarrambat Primary School classroom, visiting car display, plus many additional activities.

2023 Celebrating Over 55s - Seniors Festival Grant Recipients

Arthur's Creek Community Centre

My School Days | $500
Bringing together members of the ACCC History Huddle with senior students (Grades 4, 5 and 6) of adjacent primary schools, engaging in a fun morning of activities sharing their respective experiences of schooling, now and then.

Copperline Inc

Come and Learn | $500
A morning tea to discuss CopperLine local newspaper and invite contributions from our local aged residents, providing an opportunity to network with many in the over 55s community who volunteer in other organisations and an opportunity for some cross-promotion of local organisations.

Dina Smirnova

Advance Care Planning Resource | $500
An on-demand webinar facilitated by end-of-life doula and meditation teacher Dina Smirnova, presented in October as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival. ACPR is designed to be an accessible, informational resource. It provides access for individuals to learn about their options when it comes to death care and advance planning.

Eltham Men's Shed

Father and Son Connection | $500
Public event of the Inner Workshop, which provides a forum whereby men openly discuss joyful, or adverse and difficult interpersonal experiences, that affect them and their relationships with family and friends. Through the discussions, mutual consideration and respect, members have grown in maturity and wisdom, improved relationships and learned to better cope with life's challenges.

Eltham Parkinson's Peer Support Group

Celebrating Parkinson's: an Evening with the Eltham Parkinson's Peer Support Group | $400
An evening to showcase how the group enables community connection, peer support and social activities for people living with Parkinson's in Nillumbik, demonstrating a range of supports that are available from Fight Parkinson's and some activities such as specific physiotherapy exercises and singing that are beneficial to those living with Parkinson's.

Eltham Senior Citizens Centre (Chinese Group)

Double Ninth Festival, Seniors' Day (Chong Yang Festival) | $500
Picnic outing with group activities to get everyone participating, socialising, and connecting with old and new friends. Includes a cooking demonstration and hands-on dumpling wrapping.

Kangaroo Ground Adult Riding Club

Staying Active With Horses | $500
Public event with Kangaroo Ground Adult Riding Club, with adult riding instructor Tori Mitton and fitness expert Jane Kilkenny. Learn new skills, watch demonstrations, have great conversations, make new connections and enjoy a delicious morning tea.

North of the Yarra Quilting Guild

October Morning Tea | $500
Catered morning tea for all members of the Guild to enjoy the social side of the morning and to engage with visitors from the community and to chat with them about the Guild and what they do. There will be a display of our community quilts, and discussion about who makes them and where they go.

Northern Ladies Badminton Association

Senior Come & Try Days | $500
Over two days, a professional badminton coach will provide an introduction to the sport, playing in short games followed by light refreshments.

Open Minds Nillumbik - Dementia Friendly Alliance

Navigating the Aged Care System/Banksia Palliative Care’s Services | $500
Refreshments for participants to encourage them to stay after the talks and question and answer sessions, allowing for individuals to meet with service providers and other community members who may be able to assist them.

Strathewen Public Hall Inc - Arts and Crafts Group

Arts and Crafts for the over 55's - come and try | $500
A guest artist will be at the Strathewen Hall, providing a workshop of their particular craft that participants can learn, followed by a morning tea.

Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre

St Andrews Community High Tea | $500
A high tea for anyone over 55 in the St Andrews and surrounding suburbs of Nillumbik. Students from the local primary school will assist in the preparation of food and serve food and tea on the day. Attendees will enjoy a performance from a local school choir.

2022 Celebrating Over 55s - Seniors Festival Grant Recipients

A Fitting Connection

Blossoming Senior Tree - Community Artwork | $500
Senior community members are invited to take part in creating the community artwork piece 'Blossoming Senior Tree' created from textile waste.

Dina Smirnova

How to Talk about Death & Dying | $500
A facilitated 60-minute light-hearted, interactive conversation that unveils the stigma of talking about “death and dying”. Providing access for individuals to learn about their options when it comes to deathcare and advance planning within a death-positive context.

Yarrambat Historical Society & Yarrambat Heritage Museum

Yarrambat Heritage Museum Open Day | $500
Yarrambat Heritage Museum 2022 Community Open Day.