Guest speaker – Vic Issell  – Manager Age Concern

Vic was introduced as the manager of Age Concern Albury Wodonga, but some of the other positions he holds are, Councillor of Indigo Shire Council, Director of Albury Wodonga health and Chair of Albury Wodonga Community Trust Foundation just to mention a few.  Vic has only held the position for 4 months and this was his first address to a community-based organisation on Age Concern. He gave some fact and figures from a National ageing report and went on to describe the work Aged concern does. This work is funded by Federal, Victorian and NSW Governments. Age Concern is a not for profit organisation that operates in the mostly Albury-Wodonga area, although some programs are available across the Riverina Murray Region. Essentially, Age Concern provides services and activities for frail older people or people with disabilities and their carers. Age Concern is a membership based association operated by a voluntary Committee of Management and employs 14 staff and engages the services of approximately 200 volunteers. It conducts more than 40 different programs and uses more than 10 different venues around Albury Wodonga. Vic described some of the work they do that includes Social support such as home visiting, Community support with companion animals, practical support with home modification and maintenance and the open age learning. The Activities Age Concern provides include computer training, music, art, crafts, book club, gentle exercise such as Yoga, Tai Chi and strength training. These are supervised by skilled tutors and are run on a fee for service basis. They operate during four eight-week terms throughout the year. Age Concern also supports community groups offering activities such as bushwalking, old time new vogue dancing, needlecraft, and walking for pleasure. He finished up talking about volunteering and their ongoing need for volunteers from cooks to drivers and even office helpers.