General News
31 January, 2025
Managing the Twilight Years: what do you want to know
Managing the Twilight Years event will be on again in 2025.
Managing the Twilight Years event is on again and organisers are urging seniors to suggest topics they would like to hear about from experts so they can contact speakers for the event.
Horsham Church of Christ will again host the event on Thursday, May 15, from 9.30am to 3pm.
Morning tea and lunch are included in the $7 door entry.
Horsham Combined Probus Club attracted more than 180 people from across a wide area for the first Managing the Twilight Years seminar in 2023
The 2023 event was a resounding success with many professionals, including a retired lawyer, financial advisers, Centrelink senior staff, Grampians Health staff, an undertaker and a minister, discussing issues relevant to older people and organisers are hopeful of similar numbers again this year.
"We want to deal with the issues that are causing concern by having the right people on the speaking panel," organiser Faye Smith said.
"Older people face many issues, often suddenly, unexpected - and they are often overwhelming.
"These struggles might include financing the next stage of life, moving dwellings, legal issues, Centrelink's many programs, information needed after a death, manoeuvring financial arrangements, planning a funeral, setting up Powers of Attorney and many others."
Mrs Smith said Horsham Rural City Council had given $500 towards the event and Horsham Rotary Club had donated $300 to help cover costs.
"We're keeping the entry to $7 to attract as many people as possible, including morning tea and a light lunch."
It would also be a social occasion for people from across a wide area and an opportunity to showcase Wimmera organisations geared to older people.
The day will again be divided into 25-minute sessions, and speakers will be allotted 25 minutes for their sessions. Some speakers will also be available for personal interviews.
The seminars flow from a session run by Upper Class, a seniors' group at Horsham Church of Christ, in 2017 titled "How to Better Help Those Left Behind" with minister Simon Risson and undertaker Trevor Bysouth.
"People wanted more issues covered than could be handled in one-afternoon session, so that's how we started Managing the Twilight Years," Mrs Smith said.
People wanting to suggest topics please phone 0427 821 510 or email fayealisonsmith@gmail.com.