Lively

Meet our lovely Member Marlene and Helper Ann! They had such an amazing session together running errands and enjoying the sun!

We are excited to announce that MerriHealth have invited Lively to run some pop up tech help sessions down at Merri-bek’s town hall next Wed 12th June 9-12pm as part of the WEAAD event! (World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.) 💻📱

You can head to https://YourMoneyYourChoice.eventbrite.com.au to get tickets. 🎟️

We would love to give a massive shout out to Bunnings Warehouse for supporting us by donating amazing gardening equipment!
Thank you Bunnings! 😁

This is our Member Kate and Helper Yusra during a tech help session. 💗🫶🏻

We love our tech help sessions; whether it’s just browsing the internet or looking through photos in your gallery, we are here to help! 📱

Our April Helper Meet-Up was an amazing opportunity for our Helpers to reconnect with each other, sharing stories and challenges from our last two months of work. 🫂

During this meeting up, Lively HQ brought up topics such as our Community Tech Programs and Support systems for discussion. 💻✨

As usual we can't forget the fun icebreakers we all love. This time round bingo was involved and a good chatterbox session. 😄

With the upcoming referendum on The Voice to Parliament forefront in our minds and media, Lively supports people educating themselves so that they can make an informed decision.

A few of us at Lively are listening to the podcast, 'The Voice Referendum Explained' (https://abclisten.page.link/XThRdTwsaPqXBhwx8), with the ABC listen app. We encourage you to do the same!

Morning Helper/Member duo sessions sometimes call for a coffee to start off on the right foot! 😉☕️

This photo sent in by Helper Serena shows the gorgeous spread shared with Member Michelle last week at a French bistro in Fitzroy 🥐🍰

‘Personal projects’ is one of the services Lively offers - that means sessions sometimes start off with a walk around the block or coffee over hearty conversation 🚶‍♀️🤝

Our June Helper Meet-Up was a great opportunity to reconnect, sharing stories and challenges from our last two months of work 🗣️🫂

This time around, Lively HQ brought a proposal to us Helpers about transitioning to work in a team-based model 👏🧮

As always, we had some fun icebreakers, where several Lively pop music supergroups were developed - listen out for Tinned Peach Nostalgia and The Eras in the near future 👩‍🎤🧑‍🎤👨‍🎤

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We’re always looking for more amazing Helpers with diverse skills and passions to join our Lively community and work with our Members 👀👋

Last month, we were super excited to welcome Max and Emma (pictured left and centre, alongside Helper Coordinator Robin) to our brood 🤗🤝

If you cross paths with Max, be sure to ask him about his upcoming stand-up comedy shows 😆😲, while you can pick Emma's brains about all things Architecture and Design as she studies at uni 🏛️🤩

If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming a Lively Helper, please don’t hesitate to reach out the contact information displayed above!

Our first iteration of the Intergenerational Disco at SPAN Community House was great fun! 😊🪩

With Helpers, Members, HQ and Darebin Council staff had a ball groovin’ to the music and meeting new people! 🕺🤝

We’re planning to hold the next one in October, so stay tuned for more fun to come! 🗓️🙉

Lively Community Tech programs are firing on all cylinders at the moment! We have been working hard with our friends in the to deliver Connect Cafes across the city. 🧑‍💻☕️

One Lively Member, Mr Feng, detailed how "although we're old, we're still keen to learn how to use this digital stuff. Thank you for being here and helping us. I can learn something new every time I come here." 🤝 Meanwhile, Mrs Lew commented on how "you are always so patient and gentle. I don't dare to ask my children these questions as they're easy to get annoyed. Thank you so much." 🙏😊

At the moment, we have the Kathleen Syme Community Centre, Carlton (Photo 1); Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre, North Melbourne (Photo 2&3); South Yarra Senior Citizens Centre (Photo 4); and Kennsington Neighbourhood Centre running! 📸🥳

For more info, email them here →  [email protected] 📧

  

Our most recent Gazette Talking Point came from Lively HQer Sophia who happened to hear this interview (URL below) with clinical psychologist Melissa Levi on ABC RN Breakfast while driving into work 🎙️🚗

It left her ruminating in the car and so, she thought that it was worth sharing with the Lively community 👋💌

It discussed reframing how we talk about ageing and mortality 🤔✨ Check it out here → https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/we-need-to-talk-about-ageing/102441284

At Lively, we have a bimonthly ‘Helper Meet-Up’ where Helpers can connect at Our Community House, sharing the stories and challenges they have from their last two months of work. 👥👋

Moreover, our meet-ups are a great opportunity to receive further training in skills for the Helper position and which can be taken into future jobs and careers. That day, we focused on mental health - both our own and our Members’. It was very helpful and informative! 🧠🫂

Let us know in the comments what other topics we could potentially explore in our Helper Meet-Ups next. Check out the June/July Gazette for our most recent Helper Meet-Up focus! 💻📝

This funny pear photo was taken during a Lively session with Member Miranda and Helper Ann. 🍐

Describing the day, Ann shared how “I helped Miranda with weeding around the lemon tree base so we can sprinkle fertiliser on. I then turned the soil and weeded a section of the garden bed where Miranda would like to plant some broad beans. It started raining heavily so we came inside to have some coffee. I bought over a funny pear for a laugh as Miranda has been in a state of worry about all the people around her getting sick. It was great to catch up again & to see her smile!” 🤗😆😁

We find that the Lively Gazette is a great way to share with the broader community the general comings and goings of our Members, Helpers and partner organisations. 🏃‍♂️🙋‍♀️🗣️

However, we always like to finish our Gazettes with a Talking Point and Pearl of Wisdom to leave our beloved readers with something to think about as they continue on with their day - the cherry on top of the sunday as it were. 🍒💎

Our most recent Gazette featured an excerpt from Ke Huy Quan’s inspiring 2023 Oscar Acceptance Speech. What incredible words to live by! 🗽✨

Stay tuned for next Lively Gazette - out tomorrow! 💻💌

This week is NAIDOC week - an important opportunity for us all to stop and acknowledge, learn about and celebrate Australia's First Nations cultures and histories.

This year, the theme of NAIDOC week is 'For Our Elders' - a theme that highlights the deep and abiding respect that First Nations peoples hold for their older community members. As we go about our work at Lively to improve how older people are valued, connected and supported across Australian society at large, we're inspired to continue learning from the rich and positive example that our First Nations people already offer around what meaningful intergenerational respect and connection can look like - and why it matters.

We take this week as an opportunity to extend our respect to the Elders of Australia's traditional custodians, both past and present, and to all older people for their immense contributions to their families, workplaces and communities.

Looking for something to help shake off the midwinter blues? Shake on down to our inaugural 'Stayin' A-Lively' Intergenerational Disco!!

This all-ages event—and we mean ALL—will feature 70s glam and the finest disco beats for young and old alike to cut up the dance floor together. (And then plenty of places to retreat to if your limbs can't boogie for quite as long as they used to!)

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/w1hL9yQkJPNaReZV9

Just in case you haven’t yet seen or had a chance to read it, our May edition of the Lively Gazette is published and ready to be read 💌! This issue is jam packed with lots of fun Lively Tales from Helper/Member duos and Council Tech Help sessions alike so it’s bound to be a great read 👩‍💻🧑‍💻👨‍💻!

Please check your inbox 📥 or head to the “Blog” page of our website to access the Gazette 💻. We hope you enjoy and urge you to always reach out with your own Lively Tales if you finish feeling inspired! ✨💛

We were stoked to bring on six sparkling new Helpers this month! 🗓️

Together with our Helper Coordinator, Robin, this fabulous team of smart, caring, driven and creative young people have completed their Lively Training and can't wait to get working with our Members! 🏃

If you're a Member working with Greta, Aisha, Asher, Monique, Bella or Ruby (left to right), please make them feel extra welcome as they find their feet in the job. 👋

This week, we send off Lively Helper Michelle with our best wishes for her travel adventures and excitement to hear all about them! 🗺️🙋‍♀️✨

From Michelle herself: “This Monday, I will hoist my backpack on and trek overseas with a one-way ticket in hand, so it's been an emotional week of goodbyes. Is it weird to say that I think I will carry a bit of Lively with me in my heart? But truly. I have cherished all the rich experiences I have had as a Helper and company secretary. I'm thankful for my time with the Lively team, board and of course with my dear Members.” ✈️🩵👋

This sweet teddy bear was a gift from Lively Member Norma to her newborn great-granddaughter. If you look closely, you will see the signature of our amazing Lively Helper, Xinran, as a witness of the bear's ‘birth’. 🧸👶

As Norma and Xinran prepared the gift together, Norma’s grandson visited at the end of their session with the baby and Xinran learnt that Norma and her great-granddaughter share a birthday! What a celebratory day! 🎈🎁

Lively Helper Kay is shown here sawing at a clivia root in her Member, Anastasia’s front garden. 🌺🍃

In conjunction with this photo, Kay described how “we've spent the last two months slowly digging them out so that Anastasia could plant basil and other herbs and seedlings. We have since adopted the name "spaghetti monsters" due to their root systems. We always admire our "girl power" when we successfully remove one!” 🍝💪

Congratulations to you both and happy digging! 👩‍🌾

Today we send out our love and appreciation for all the amazing mothers in our community! Whether Member or HQer, grandmother or guardian, thank you to mothers of all kinds for your constant dedication and love, supporting us in everything we do! 💖🌸

Happy Mother's Day to every incredible mum out there! We hope you had a great day! 💐✨

We love the chance to hear what Lively Members and Helpers get up to together in their sessions.

Last month, Member John and Helper Hannah had a lovely little outing in Northcote. Together they drove to Palace Westgarth, then they went to watch a French film and out for dinner at a nearby pizza restaurant. 🍿🍕🚘

It sounded like so much fun and we can’t wait to hear what they get up to next! 🗓️👋

The artwork pictured to the right was created by Lively Member Mick Cairns. Titled A Slice of Sydney, it was recently selected for The Bundoora Homestead Art Gallery’s Art Salon Exhibition! 🏆😯

Mick’s Lively Helper, Ann, is pictured beside him in the top left corner and tells us how she helps Mick photograph his artworks and how fun it is “playing with composition, cropping and rotation”. 🤳📐

We currently have a cohort of willing and capable Lively Helpers with capacity and excitement to provide practical and social support to older people in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. 👋☺️📍

At the moment, there are mass staff shortages for home care packages across the aged care sector. See our service mix on our website to see if we can help you fill a gap for your family or clients! 👩‍💻🧑‍💻👨‍💻 In particular our ‘help around the home’ service (https://www.lively.org.au/in-home) may fit your bill!

As our time at the Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre finishes up for the moment, these lovely photos sent in by Lively Helper Xinran help set the scene of some of the delights our Helpers get up to at our Tech Sessions. 👋✨

To the left, a Lively Member’s book of photographs who shared with Xinran how excited he was to now take more on his phone as well. 📸🤳 To the right, City of Melbourne Farhad sharing some tasty looking figs. 😋🙏

The talents of our Members never cease to amaze us. This amazing artwork was painted by the incredible Janna to the right of it. 🎨✨

Lively Helper Hannah sent in this gorgeous photo and the corresponding message that “She has shown me some of her other art as well and, I must say, she is an incredibly talented artist!” 🖼️ Wow!

Happy Monday friends of our dear Lively community! Nothing screams a great start to the week quite like a funky sock and shoe combo! 🧦🌈

Our personal favourite this month was Lively Member Coral’s shoes ☀️ and socks 🐘 with some impressive colour schemes to boot!

We hope you get a chance to pull on your funky socks or accessories sometime this week 🤗✨

Today we wish a Happy Easter to all those who celebrate it and extend our warmest wishes of a happy long weekend period to all those who don’t! We hope the break gave you time to reflect and start your new week afreshed and renewed 🐣🪺✝️.