Parramatta OWN

Our group was founded in June 2003 following a public meeting at the Harris Park Community Centre. Seventy-five women attended the meeting, with a considerable number indicating an interest in having an OWN group in Parramatta.

We were fortunate in having the enthusiastic support in the early days of Joanne Battersby, the Community Development Worker in Aged and Disabilities at Parramatta Council. With Joanne's help we applied for and received a small Council grant in 2003 to assist us to establish our group and offer activities and workshops to alleviate social isolation and promote older women's health and wellbeing.

We have continued to meet at the Harris Park Centre. It is newly and extensively renovated and although our meeting room only holds around 20, which at times means it's very crowded, we find it is a warm and friendly environment in which we can get to know and offer support to each other.

In August 2004, our first AGM was attended by 34 members and guests, including Ross Cameron (then Federal member for Parramatta), and politicians from Labor and the Democrats.

Some of the issues of interest to our members include HACC services, health, housing, transport and education. Our activities vary from friendly social get-togethers to guest speakers and discussion groups on topics of particular interest to us.

We welcome any older woman from the area who is happy to define herself as an older woman, so come and join us!

For more information, please contact OWN NSW (02) 9247 7046 or email info@ownnsw.org.au

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