General News
5 February, 2025
Call for topics for 2025 Twilight Years event
Organisers of Horsham’s second Managing the Twilight Years event are urging seniors to suggest topics they want to hear about from the experts.
Horsham Church of Christ will again be the venue for 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.
Organiser Faye Smith said the day was a resounding success and people had urged a second
event while also suggesting topics they wanted included.
The last event heard from many professionals including a retired lawyer, financial advisers,
Centrelink senior staff, Grampians Health staff, an undertaker and a minister. All dealt with
issues relevant to older people.
“We want to deal with the issues that are causing concern by having the right people on the
speaking panel,” Mrs Smith said.
“Older people face many issues, often suddenly, unexpected - and 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 and Horsham Rotary Club $300
to help cover costs.
“We’re keeping the entry to $7 to attract as many people as possible and that includes
morning tea and a light lunch.”
It would also be a social occasion for people from across a wide area and also allow
opportunity to showcase Wimmera organisations geared to older people.
The day will again be broken into 25-minute sessions and speakers allotted 25 minutes for
their session. Some speakers would also be available for personal interviews.
The seminars flows 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.
She asks people wanting to suggest topics to phone 0427 821 510 or email fayealisonsmith@gmail.com.