Making sure people feel welcome is a key ingredient to a successful senior citizens club according to Wanneroo resident Marcia Dinnie.
For 23 years, Marcia has been president of the Wanneroo Senior Citizens Club – one of the largest clubs in the State, with more than 300 members.
She stumbled on the group 28 years’ ago when her husband fell ill and she retired from work to care for him.
Marcia said she enjoyed learning pottery, ceramics and china painting, but especially loved the social aspect of the club.
“It’s really friendly, there’s always something going on, you can come and have a cup of coffee and a chat,” she said.
“Everybody is welcome and everyone here has their own little story.”
Marcia, along with vice president Lorraine Havelin, has grown the club to offer ballroom dancing, table tennis, a friendship group, china painting, line dancing, fitness, darts, bingo, tai chi, bowls and even a monthly Friday evening dance.
She said she was particularly proud of the club’s annual three-day exhibition where they showed and sold artistic offerings including china painting, art and quilting.
Marcia said “every day is different” and that running the popular club kept her on her toes.
“I love the community, I love the people – I feel like it’s my way of giving back to the community, part of my community service,” she said.
The Wanneroo Senior Citizens Club is available to people aged 50 and older and has been running for more than 50 years.
