Year 5, 6 and 7 students undertook a great deal of planning and preparation to invite seniors to the gardening session and afternoon tea.

Most of the senior citizens who were invited to the event were former Calingiri residents who have had to leave as they have needed more services.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for them to reconnect with their community and the local families,” teacher Leesa Harrison said.

Ms Harrison was successful in obtaining a $1,200 Seniors Week Community grant to fund the new garden bed and afternoon tea thanks to Lotterywest, the Department for Communities and Council on the Ageing WA.

The Calingiri students made their individually invited seniors a gift of a decorated heat wheatbag each and were in charge of inviting their guests and arranging the place settings and afternoon tea.

“The students have gone to a great deal of effort to make this day the success that it was,” Ms Harrison said.

Agricultural Region MLC Mia Davies has congratulated communities throughout the region for celebrating Seniors Week and recognising the important role seniors play in the community.

Speaking at the Dowerin Seniors Luncheon, Ms Davies said seniors make a huge contribution to regional communities.

“Our seniors are absolutely central to families, community structures and recreational activities in regional centres, and this often goes unnoticed,” she said.

“Seniors are looking after their grandkids while Mum and Dad are at work, they are the ones running the canteen at sporting events, they are researching and promoting their town’s history.

“Most of this valuable work is not rewarded, so it’s great to see events this week dedicated to celebrating seniors.”

Ms Davies said seniors in regional areas face challenges in accessing transport and other services, and she encouraged them to apply for the Country Age Pension Fuel Card.

Other events to celebrate Seniors Week took place across the agricultural region last week, including an information and activities day in Goomalling on Friday and the official opening and planting of a permaculture Garden in Wyalkatchem on Saturday.