A Hanover Park woman says it should be everyone’s responsibility to provide for the elderly as they have so much wisdom to offer.
Wareldia Julius, 57, started Hanover Roses in 2003 to do just that and today the seniors’ club has 35 members, aged from 50 to 94.
The group is made up of men and women, both abled-bodies and disabled. Some of them have very little other than the sense of togetherness they feel when they meet at their local community centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
They spend their time turning straws, old pegs, jars and other things people throw away into useful things – peg bags, candle holders, ornaments and dolls – they can sell to make a little money on the side. They also learn to sew, if they don’t know how already.
Hanover Roses also runs a daily soup kitchen for the needy, but with the ever-increasing cost of food its hard work keeping it going.
“We do get money from the department, but it is not enough,” Ms Julius said. “We need a freezer urgently to keep all our goods in.”
Ms Julius started the club after her mother died and she ended up looking after her mother’s friend who had no children.
“I realised how much help the elderly need and that they often don’t have anyone to support them or give them food. I also realised that many of them needed something to do such as a skills development programme,” she said.
In the earlier years of the project, Ms Julius and her team ran a feeding scheme for poor children from the community whose
parents could not afford creche fees.
“We would take them out to a nice open space and feed them and play games with them and teach them things that they need to know,” she said.
Hassiem Toffar, 75, from Rylands has been part of the group for about 13 years. He enjoys arts and crafts and one of his most prized possessions is the lampshade he made from sucker sticks last year.
It was important to get out of the house to socialise and keep active, he said.
“You can speak to each other about your problems, and it’s nice to make friends and do things.
“I’ve made a shopping bag and a vase as well. Sometimes the seniors just need to get away from the children and the grandchildren a bit.”