Encouraged to wear their traditional attire, participants were treated to an array of entertainment, including talks, bagpipes playing, old English poetry recitals and Aboriginal, Hawaiian and Indian dancing as well as a free morning tea and international lunch. Seniors’ Week organising committee member Claire Hartley said the highlight of the day for her was hearing Juanita Doody sing in Hebrew before leading the group in a rendition of the popular patriotic anthem, We Are Australian.

“It was really wonderful,” she said of the event, which attracted about 60 people.

“The seniors came from so many groups and cultures.”

The gathering was initiated in conjunction with the Country Women’s Association a few years ago in response to the noticeable absence of multiculturalism at scheduled seniors’ events.

“We become aware about four years ago that a lot of people from different nationalities were not joining in mainstream activities,” Ms Hartley said, citing language barriers as a possible cause.

“It proved so popular we just continued it and we are now seeing more and more seniors joining into the event.”