MP Rebekha Sharkie has released the Mayo Seniors Information Guide - a comprehensive guide to important local services and contacts for seniors.

“I created this guide because I wanted our senior residents to have a trusted source to turn to for relevant, local information, and while many older Australians are tech savvy, the feedback I have from my community is that they still prefer to have a written brochure,” Rebekha says.

She had planned to hold tea parties in her electorate on 27 March to officially launch the guide, but the COVID-19 pandemic has seen them cancelled.

“While I was certainly not expecting my morning tea at Balhannah and my afternoon tea at Port Elliot to attract more than 500 people, the recommended mass gathering threshold, these events did target our senior citizens who are the most vulnerable to this virus,” Rebekha says.

“Cancelling these non-essential events and holding a ‘soft launch’ for the guide is, I believe, a proportionate and sensible decision.

The booklet includes information about a wide range of topics including financial matters, health and aged care, community participation, employment and volunteering.

“Older Australians make a significant contribution to our community and it is a priority of mine to make sure they receive the care and services they deserve,” Rebekha says.

“Many of our charities and community organisations are heavily dependent on the hours of volunteering from our retired and semi-retired residents.

“Indeed, I believe one of the reasons why Mayo has such a high volunteering rate - standing at 29 per cent of the population compared with the state average of just over 21 per cent and the national average of 19 per cent – is because we are an older community with a heart for community service.

“At the 2016, Census residents aged 65 years and over made up more than 22 per cent of our population making Mayo the electorate with the oldest median age (46 years) in the state and the sixth oldest in Australia.

“In some areas such as Goolwa and Victor Harbor the median age is around 60 years and residents aged 65 years and over make up around 40 per cent of the population.

“Mayo has changed slightly since the 2019 election but servicing the needs of older Australians remains an important issue for our community.

The Mayo Seniors Information Guide will be available for collection at Rebekha’s electorate offices at 1/72 Gawler Street, Mount Barker; and 26 Hindmarsh Road, Victor Harbor after social distancing restrictions are relaxed.

For more information or to arrange distribution to other locations, please call the Mount Barker Electorate Office on 8398 5566.