A woman’s efforts to improve the lives of older Aboriginal people in the State’s far north have secured her WA’s premier seniors award.
Leading aged care and community service provider Juniper congratulated Ms Maureen Angus (62) who won the Juniper 2014 WA Seniors Champion Award on 8 November.
Maureen was elevated from a strong field of several category winners who in this year’s WA Seniors Awards were acknowledged for their service to older people.
From personal experience receiving at-home care Ms Angus knew others in her town could benefit from help, so she established a local community care service at Ardyaloon, a community of about 300 people located 2,446km from Perth on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula.
Juniper Chief Executive Vaughan Harding said Maureen’s work to establish the Ardyaloon Community Care Service was a significant achievement that was helping older Aboriginal people.
“The Juniper 2014 WA Seniors Champion Award celebrates outstanding service among older people and Ms Angus’ efforts are testament to her passion and commitment to her community,” he said.
“Older people in remote communities face many challenges and the experiences in Aboriginal communities is more acute where many people are in great need of local support.”
Vaughan said Juniper continues to deliver a strong response in the regions, including accommodation, care and support services to communities in the Kimberley, Mid West, South West and Great Southern.
This year Juniper entered a new era of care when it assumed operations for services supporting older people in the Kimberley comprising residential care facilities and community home care services in Kununurra, Wyndham and Derby.
The 2014 Seniors Awards are a partnership between the Department of Local Government and Communities and Council on the Ageing WA. For more information visit juniper.org.au.
Juniper is an agency of the Uniting Church in WA.