It’s time that many of our elderly now receiving the COVID vaccine start looking at getting back into life, Pat Downey believes.

COVID-19 knocked the socks-off groups for the elderly like Orange Senior Citizens who are only now starting to recover.

The group is looking to recruit new members and is aiming for a post-lockdown boom for the elderly who want some good fun and fine company.

It’s a hard-slog though, Orange President Pat Downey admits, with many of our most mature even now reluctant to return to their lives pre-pandemic.

Yet groups like Orange Senior Citizens should become more important as our society ages and people live so much longer.

“COVID has really quietened it down, we’ve lost perhaps 50 per cent of our members since the first lockdown,” Pat says.

Few cases nationwide of the coronavirus and the introduction of an effective vaccine though hasn’t seen a return to the good old days as yet, she said.

“We’re definitely looking for a post-COVID boost, anyone who wants to come in, we make them welcome,” she said.

“But a lot of our people have grown children, who’ve said, ‘you’re safer at home, you’re not going out’.”

Pat believes that this is exactly the wrong message to send: “I keep in contact by phone with many of these elderly people and some are not doing anything,” she said.

Orange Senior Citizens Assocation is one of our longest-established groups for the elderly and is based at 77 Kite St.

“We’re here as a support group for aged 50-plus seniors,” Pat explained. “Social contact is a big thing for our members, a lot are all on their own and they like to come down and congregate and mix with others,” she added.

One of the most active groups is their art group run by accomplished painter Wanda Driscoll which has brought-out the Rembrandt in many members.

“A lot of the members here who started and couldn’t paint are now exhibiting and selling paintings,” Pat said proudly.

A hot meal is also provided at a nominal cost ($7) each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays with a game’s morning each Wednesday.

Thursday mornings are likely to see a new initiative also offered following a recent grant to the group.

While most seniors’ groups have suffered inordinately during the pandemic, Pat believes they are also increasingly vital to our ageing populations.

With a flat annual membership fee of only $10 per annum and Council-run community bus to pick-up and drop-off passengers, there’s no reason not to be a member, she believes.

“All aged groups have suffered a collapse in numbers after COVID, but, in another way they’re definitely more important than ever for the elderly in our society.”

The success of the vaccine and the lack of local cases means that our honoured elderly should start to take back their lives, she says.

“It’s time to start getting back into life and put some faith in the vaccine, I’ve already had one shot,” she said. “It’s time to open the curtains,” she concluded.

Anyone interested in joining Orange Senior Citizens can call Pat on 0448 229 125 or go their Facebook page on: https://www.facebook.com/orangeseniors/