Are you interested in joining a dynamic group of people helping Clarence City Council to improve the life of older people in the City?  The Clarence Positive Ageing Advisory Committee (CPAAC) currently has four vacant positions available for community members.

CPAAC is made up of older residents from all areas of Clarence and representatives from key service organisations.  Its purpose is to assist Council to implement the actions of the Positive Ageing Plan.

The Committee meets once every three months at different locations around the City.  Meetings run for two hours and lunch is provided.  Members can claim travel reimbursement for their attendance at meetings.

CPAAC has met formally eight times in the last two years, and in between had countless small group meetings to work on a number of projects to assist seniors in Clarence in practical and accessible ways. 

At the centre of these projects is Seniors Week, which has now become an annual event and a cornerstone of CPAAC's work to promote positive ageing activities and raise awareness about ageing issues.

The Positive Ageing Celebration Calender and Get Going Guide are two successful guides created by the Committee to assist older residents to access social and recreational activities.

Projects such as the Planting Ahead Gardening Program and the Men's Health Roadshow are two key projects the Committee has undertaken to assist senior residents in practical ways.

Planting Ahead began in conjunction with the Clarence Community Volunteer Service (CCVS) and created two gardens demonstrating easy care low maintenance gardening. 

Council has now funded the Planting Ahead Program to assist CCVS clients transform high maintenance gardens to easy care gardens.  It has also joined forces with the Warrane Mornington Neighbourhood Centre to set up a community garden to educate people on easy care gardening principles.

The Men's Health Roadshow Project was launched in Clarence by cricketing identity Merv Hughes to promote awareness of older men's health issues.  The project works with groups and organisations to bring resources and the interactive Pit Stop health check program to local communities across Clarence.

By joining the Clarence Positive Ageing Advisory Committee, you can be involved in making these and many more projects happen including issues such as transport and community safety.  CPAAC also works closely with other Council Committees such as the Disability Access Advisory Committee.

Why not join in?  To find out more or receive a nomination form, please call Clarence City Council's Community Development Officer, Julie Andersson on 6245 8780 or email jandersson@ccc.tas.gov.au.

Nominations to join the committee close on Tuesday 8 December 2009 and new Committee members can expect to commence in early 2010.