A SQUARE dancing bus driver and a refugee advocate are this year’s WA Seniors of the Year.
Greenwood man Phil Paddon picked up the Juniper Lifetime Achievement Award for the metropolitan area, while Lesley Balinski, of Katanning, scooped up the regional award at the WA Seniors Awards held during Seniors Week last month.
Phil was in the thick of a square dancing event in Bunbury when he received the call to head to Perth for the awards.
He parked his caravan outside Perth Zoo, where the ceremony was taking place, and was “blown away” when he was named a winner.
Phil has volunteered for more than 15 years, encouraging older people to remain active as they age.
The busy 80-year-old is vice president of the Seniors Recreation Council of WA, runs annual events for the Square Dancing Association of WA, stages country music concerts and is a volunteer bus driver.
“I feel this award is for all the seniors out there,” he said.
“There are so many looking after their grandkids and volunteering.
“I just go along and do what I do. I have always liked to be part of things and feel I was put here to serve.”
Phil organised a Christmas variety concert for seniors featuring country music artists. His concerts, in Morley, attract more than 300 people. “It is a great feeling mixing with young and old.”
His love of country music stems from listening to it on the ABC as a lad growing up in Southern Cross.
Phil is also a former president of his local over 55s walking club, and still liaises on the club’s behalf.
As a volunteer bus driver he takes older people on outings and spent four hours ferrying people around at the Have A Go Day event at Burswood Park.
Laughing at being referred to as a dynamo – “dinosaur more like!” – he urges fellow seniors to look after themselves, treat others as they want to be treated and to keep going.
“I take as my adage never begrudge old age, because there are so many of us who never get there,” he said.
Fellow achiever Lesley said she was humbled by her award. Since retiring to Katanning nine years ago she has immersed herself in community life.
She tutors English, helps new arrivals settle in the town, and advocates for them as part of the Katanning Multicultural District Health Advisory Council.
She also works with the town’s young people, organising events, drama workshops and teaching ballroom dancing.
“There are so many people out there doing good stuff so I feel lucky to have been nominated,” she said.
“I don’t volunteer for any recognition, but it is nice and heartwarming to get it.
“I work a lot with kids so it is good for them to see that getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop – you can keep doing things.
“It is good to give back to the community and I think volunteering is good for the soul. It stops you from becoming isolated and you become part of the bigger picture.”
Seniors Minister Mick Murray presented the awards, which recognise the contribution seniors make to the community.
“Phillip and Lesley ... are shining examples of the fact that age is no barrier to staying active,” he said.
“They have shown great commitment to bettering the lives of their fellow seniors as well as the community in general.”
