NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2020
From President Carmen
It is a pleasure to come into the Centre and see so many happy smiling faces at our activities.
We are back to the new normal, which will be the procedure for some time. Most activities have restarted. However, a few cannot return until, perhaps, after Christmas.
We certainly need the company of other people in our daily routine and, provided we keep our social distancing, we can all be safe and enjoy the Centre.
We managed the Centre reopening well, with Tai Chi, Yoga and Line Dancing resuming first, followed by Table Tennis, Housie, Indoor Bowls, then Craft, Exercise, and Walkers. Last week our Card Groups, Mah Jong, Choir and Variety Group joined us.
A new Chair Exercise group started last Friday in the Memorial Hall and was very successful.
The groups have done a wonderful job coping with the extra cleaning and requirements for the COVID-safe environment. The smiling faces make my day and members are enjoying each other’s company once again.
We are looking forward to Tours up and running in the new year, provided restrictions allow. This area of the Centre is truly missed by lots of the members including our dedicated Bus Drivers and Tours staff.
The staff in the Reception area will help with any queries you have with reference to activities, their times etc.
The Centre is run by volunteers and we are always looking for members to offer their valuable time in areas such as our Canteen and Reception area, as well as helping with activities, gardening and in general.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to run any functions in the Centre at present. This sadly includes our BBQs.
We hope we will be able to have some form of entertainment for Seniors Week next March – we will just have to wait and see what restrictions apply at the time. At least we can enjoy our Activities at present.
Please keep coming into our Centre. We hope to see you soon: until then please take care.
From Secretary Lyn
It seems many people are settling into a new COVID-safe normal and I have seen smiling faces of members enjoying activities, the Canteen and our nice clean, air-conditioned Centre.
As required by the NSW Health Department, procedures are in place for maintaining social distancing, keeping hard surfaces hygienic with cleaning undertaken after each activity, and ensuring we record all visitors for contact tracing if required.
Please continue to do the right thing to protect yourself and others and stay home if you are unwell, wash your hands often and well, and use hand sanitisers when you enter the building or after touching any shared surface.
We are very fortunate to have some wonderful volunteer workers who are striving to keep the Centre maintained, safe and operating well in these challenging times. Thank you all so much!
We really value each and every member and hope that you will be able to enjoy a happy and healthy year ahead with a full schedule of fun, fitness, craft, learning and/or tours in 2021.
Coming Up Soon
Membership Renewals
9 NOV 2020 – EARLY FEB 2021
Renewals will start in November and will be at the Tours desk to help maintain social distancing.
It is with some regret that membership fees will be increasing to $8 due to the loss of income through the year. This is the first-time membership fees have increased for many years and we hope that you will all appreciate that we have kept this increase to a minimum.
HSC exams in Memorial Hall
20 OCTOBER – 10 NOVEMBER 2020
The Gorokan High School students will attend the Memorial Hall in October to November to complete their HSC exams. We wish these students every success.
Some activities will be affected during this period so please contact your Convenor for information. Housie will not be held and other activities will be re-located.
From Treasurer Lynn
During the COVID lockdown, the Centre was obliged to continue paying for such services as electricity, telephone, lease on photocopy, maintenance and security. We also had an extremely large insurance bill to cover. This left a large hole in our finances.
As Secretary Lyn has reported, membership fees will be increased to $8.00 a year to help offset some of our losses.
I take this opportunity to thank Table Tennis, Yoga and Line Dancing who, from July 6 when we reopened, increased their Activity Fee to $5.00 to help recover the losses.
I also thank those kind members who have made generous donations to help the Centre keep its head above water.
Thanks again for supporting the Centre, and here’s to a better year ahead.
TOUKLEY 2263
(facing the Health Department building and Coles)
Phone: 02 4396 5075
Email: toukley50plus@outlook.com
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 3.00pm
