Wow, what a great day we had. Is the first thing that comes to mind when I reflect on our first Village Day Event held last Tuesday at McKay Studium, Whangarei.

I’m Ann-Marie Lambly the Community Strength and Balance Coordinator and alongside my colleague Natalie Wilcock, Play Lead at Sport Northland we decided to bring play and Strength and Balance together by hosting a Retirement Village Challenge Event for our older people to take part in.

We launched the first day of the Silver Fest week on Tuesday 17 September. Silver Fest was created by WDC to highlight our older people and provide them with events and activities that show case what’s available in the communities for them.

This event provided a fantastic outing for people from all over the district in retirement villages to connect with others in a safe and accessible space. It helped to increase social interactions, encouraging residents to participate in fun active games, some of which they probably had never done before and overall was great for their wellbeing.

Eight teams, approximately 50 participants from Jane Mander, The Anchorage, Bupa and Summer Set Retirement Villages attended the day. Competing in many activities and games for points. The points were collected over the day and those with the highest number of points were awarded with the title and bragging rights as the top village.

The event created a strong partnership between Retirement Village Coordinators as the event progressed. The Bupa Village were so keen, they kindly donated the trophy which is now known as the ‘The Bupa Cup Village Day Event trophy’. This will stay in circulation for future events. Another Coordinator sent a message the evening after the event to also say “Thank you for an awesome day of fun and laughter! The Ressie’s loved it and it’s the talk of the village, already putting their hands up for next year”.

Other relationships and collaboration that took place to make this event possible with Northland Parafed, Touch NZ, North Golf NZ, and volunteers and staff from Te Whatu Ora and Sport Northland who facilitated activity stations over the day.

There were nine rounds of competitive games specially designed with older adults in mind. Some using different balls and equipment or having a bit of a fun twist to them. Like Athletics field events using paper straws for javelin instead of a pole. Noughts and Crosses where you threw a hacky sack into a hoop, so this required skill and luck. Other games included Volleyball, Soccer, Touch, Boccia, Golf, Strength and Balance and the last round was a walking relay which was very competitive and a great watch.  The day was a great reminder that play is for everyone, and nobody is ever too old to play. One participant commented ‘I can’t wait to tell my grand children what I did today’.

Touch NZ and Hato Hone St John were very generous and donated spot prizes as well as Hato Hone St John had staff members attend as First Aid Responders. Pak’ n Save Whangarei supplied the participants with fruit and cookies which complimented their cuppa supplied to them over the day.

The day concluded with prize giving, where the Bupa Cup Village Day Event was won by team A1 at The Anchorage Village from One Tree Point. All participants were awarded with certificates and a medal. To see the delight on the faces of the residents as they competed in the various games was great but to see them beaming from ear to ear with their medal was priceless. 

Pictured is Second Place Bupa, Winners The Anchorage and Third Place Summerset Village

Article written by Ann-Marie Lambly, Community Strength and Balance Coordinator