Geraldton artist Jim Evans celebrates 25 years of being involved in Seniors Week

Jim Evans has an extra special reason to celebrate Seniors Week this year.

This week’s events will mark 25 years of him teaching art at the QEII Centre during Seniors Week.

Known as Jimcent the Artist, Evans has volunteered his time for the past quarter of a century to bring out the creativity and spark the imagination of the community’s senior citizens.

Evans started volunteering his time at the QEII Centre after the expansion of his original program that he conducted for youth at the local PCYC.

He said he loved helping people feel a sense of achievement once they have created something. Evans added the social element and camaraderie was what kept people coming back to the centre week after week.

“We laugh and cry together,” he said.

There are several days left of events and activities in the Geraldton Senior’s Week 2024 program, including a foreshore walk and breakfast, having a go at pole walking, riding an e-bike, playing croquet, pickleball and lawn bowls on Wednesday as well as a morning tea with Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton, bingo and Zumba workshop on Thursday.

On Friday, seniors can take part in Evans’ art workshop — where they will try to paint “two little ducklings swimming in a pond” — and enjoy the 2024 Seniors Week lunch.

City of Greater Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune said “Reach Beyond” was the theme of this year’s Seniors Week, and encouraged people to challenge themselves and try something new.

“Our fantastic committee have prepared a diverse events calendar that allows you to embrace the theme — whether that be learning about different cultures, dusting off your dancing shoes for a Zumba lesson or experiencing a cycle atop an e-bike,” he said.

Weekend activities, including a dance demonstration by the Batavia Rockers on Saturday and a Chapman Valley Heritage Centre lunch on Sunday, will wrap up Seniors Week for another year in Geraldton.