CTM Seniors

About 80 financial members of Casey Tamil Manram are seniors of over 65 years. Most of them reside within either the Casey or the Greater Dandenong council area while the rest reside within either the Monash or the Knox council area. Most of them migrated to Australia within the last fifteen years.

The majority of them are not fluent in English and face difficulties in adapting to the new social environment and lifestyle and hence becoming socially isolated, and often feeling neglected and depressed. Having recognized this, the Casey Tamil Manram initiated a social integration program in 2011 to help them to settle down and have a healthy and more meaningful life. The program was well accepted by the senior members and their membership has increased from about 15 in 2011 to 80 in 2023

To meet their special social and cultural needs, CTM is implementing a number of programs for their benefit. The major program is the senior’s monthly get-together held at the Berwick Senior Citizens Hall, usually on the fourth Saturday of the month, from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. This program was initiated in 2011 and has been conducted successfully ever since. CTM arranges transport for those members who are unable to travel on their own to Berwick hall.

On that day, a number of activities are organised such as light exercise and Yoga, singing and dancing, information sharing on health and social issues faced by seniors, discourses on subjects of common interest, celebrating traditional festivals such as the Tamil New Year and Deepavali and members birthdays. The Christmas/New Year party is conducted as a family event where other members of CTM and their families also participate. Morning tea and subsidized lunch is served at these meetings. Also, partly self-funded day trips are being organised to visit places of interest in Victoria

In October, the group conducts a “Kalai Vizha” to celebrate the Ageing Positively Festival organised by the City of Casey. This is an open event and members of the wider community are invited to attend.

During the Corona pandemic period, all these events were conducted online with more participants as many non-members too joined the online events,

CTM conducts special online digital technology classes for seniors to enhance their skills in digital technology. This has become very popular among the seniors and many non-members too have participated.

An online Yoga class is being conducted on Thursdays from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, especially for the seniors and all are welcome to join. For more details contact the Yoga instructor Meenakshi on 0469 801 624

CTM encourages all seniors, whether they are members or not, to participate in these activities. Those interested to join should feel free to contact us for more information.