The Hepburn Shire Council has secured extra funding of $10,000 through the Victoria State Government’s 2024 Seniors Festival Active Living Fund to deliver Seniors Festival events this October.

The Victorian Seniors Festival runs from the 1st to 31st of October every year with events right across Victoria.

All of the state’s 79 local councils as well as community organisations, groups and club hold events.

The Hepburn Shire Council announced that it had been successful in securing the additional $10,000 via its social media last week. The added dollars that it has secured brings the council’s total funding for events this year to $13,000.

With the extra funding, the council says it is planning to host more events and encourage participation of one (or more) of the following priority groups:

Seniors with a disability

Veterans

Vulnerable men

Seniors from multicultural and/or multi faith backgrounds

First Nations Elders

LGBTIQA+ Seniors

The council’s team will be working closely with Central Highlands Rural Health, the Creswick Men’s Friendship Shed and John Curtin Aged Care to stage events locally as part of the festival.

Well known Daylesford identity Max Primmer features on the front cover of this year’s Victorian Seniors Festival booklet.

Words: Narelle Groenhout

Daylesford stalwart Max Primmer was recognised for his tireless work in the community at the recent Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.
Surrounded by his posse of friends, some who attend his weekly Ageing Disgracefully coffee group, Max was presented with the Ageing Well Award by Governor of Victoria Margaret Gardner and Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt.
In his usual manner, Max gracefully accepted the award and shimmied around the gardens of Government House to personally meet with all other award recipients and congratulate them.
“I feel very humbled to receive the award but I give back, volunteer, make sure people know they are loved and connected because that is who I am. I don’t do it for any other reason than to try and make a difference to people in their lives.”
In presenting the award, Governor Gardner said: “Max is a humble person known for his sense of humour and a strong advocate for human rights for all members of the community.
“He serves as an elders rights advocate, leads the Ageing Disgracefully Thursday group fostering connections among seniors, is actively involved in the ChillOut Festival, volunteers at Hepburn House’s aged care community, visits dialysis patients to provide support, motivation and encouragement while they undergo dialysis and is a dedicated speaker for the National Kidney Foundation.”
Much has been written about Max over the years. Locally and beyond his story has been shared far and wide. From his open-heart surgery prior to a kidney transplant, to his early life on a farm to the loungerooms of elderly locals where he simply offers friendship and his time, to donning his heels and sequins for his alter ego – Di Alysis, (although she’s recently retired) to his community radio work, his
committee work across Hepburn Shire, his housesitting and other side hustles, and his ability to have the stamina and energy of people half his age.
Max Primmer is certainly one in a million.