Seniors making new friends
A RAPIDLY growing group is helping end loneliness and forge happy friendships among the Far North’s senior community.
Chirpy Plus is a national friendship group for 50-plus year olds and locally, the Cairns Group has just over 100 active members.
Cairns Group host Robyn Hooper helped launch local catchups in October 2019 with a morning tea and since then, she has seen lives transformed and new friendships made.
“There are so many people that are isolated for a number of different reasons and don’t have anyone to turn to,” she said.
“It’s amazing to see those people now walking out the door and eager to get to our catch-ups and events.”
The group usually meets once a week for a coffee and every alternative week plans a group activity with 20-30 people attending on average.
“Just recently we had our Christmas in July fundraiser in Malanda with about 22 members and we all dressed up in our ugly jumpers which was the theme,” Ms Hooper said. “Townsville have recently made a group and in October we’re looking to meet up with them in Cardwell.
“We get people from all walks of life, retired professionals, your normal grandmas and some are working full-time.
“Our goal is to create new friendships and end loneliness and it can start with just a coffee.”
Ms Hooper said a Tablelands Chirpy Plus group had recently formed and she was looking to appoint a local person into a cohost role.
She said the Cairns Group was also welcoming new members, who could meet with just Ms Hooper and attend one event before purchasing a membership.
Chirpy Plus director Shaun Mahoney said the catching up helped the older generation which was vulnerable and at risk of loneliness.
“Finding new hobbies and new friends fills the void of what they had 10-20 years ago,” he said.
For more information, visit chirpyplus.com.au.