COTA NT’s Seniors Month events and activities
27 Aug 2026
COTA NT began its Seniors Month activities in March, when we promoted the launch of Department of People, Sports and Culture’s Seniors Month grants to the community.
COTA staff and volunteers completed event planning and applied for Seniors Month grants. (Grant outcomes were later received on 29 May 2026.) Aside from event planning, COTA produced the Seniors Month Calendar for the 10th consecutive year. As part of this project, we
- Promoted key production dates for event organisers via email, social media and website news
- Updated our online calendar plug-in
- Accepted event listings online and via email including updates
- Managed content (over 250 event listings), design, production and distribution (digital and print – 8000 copies)
- Promoted the calendar via Seniors Voice, media release, website news, email and social media
- Promoted regional COTA and non-COTA activities on our place-based social media pages.
In addition to its regular activities, COTA NT’s events for Seniors Month included a Rural Historical Tour and Birthday Lunch both facilitated by COTA Berry Springs, a Healthy Socialising Day by COTA Coomalie, Seniors Expo and Trivia Lunch organised by COTA NT staff. We also hosted staff from the Public Guardian and Trustee twice weekly who offered sessions on advance personal plans and wills.
Sharon offered her newest Super Ageing Class, Easy Moves at no cost to anyone trying it for the first time.
Event notes
Berry Springs – Rural Historical Tour, 4 Aug
This tour took participants through historical landmarks and along scenic routes and included lunch. Read the event report from Paul and Kerryn here. Photos are also published to the COTA NT Berry Springs Facebook page. The tour was supported by a Northern Territory Seniors Month grant and Bendigo Community Bank.
Berry Springs – Birthday Luncheon, 18 Aug
The popular annual birthday luncheon is now in its 9th year (we think! Or is it 8?) and was held at the Berry Springs Tavern. Photos are on social media including those of guests, Kris Civitarese and Dheran Young MLA for Daly.
Huge congratulations to Paul and Kerryn and all the Berry Springs Seniors for organising such wonderful Seniors Month events, as well as the ongoing fortnightly meetings.
Coomalie – Healthy Socialising Day 6 Aug
This event was held at the Litchfield Outback Resort and included sitting or standing Tai Chi, a Grey Panters performance and a sudden death trivia challenge. The day was supported by a Northern Territory Seniors Month grant, the Grey Panthers and organised by Jan Jewell and committee. Many thanks to all for their hard work. Read the event report here.
Alice Springs – Seniors Expo, 12 August
This year’s Expo was held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre and supported by a Northern Territory Minor Community Events grant. Highlights included free entry and morning tea, pre-event walking group activity, BBQ, 44 stalls, free Qigong class, music from U3A Beaut Ukes group, free tai chi, free massage from the Plaza Wellbeing Centre. From exhibitors, take-home information, in-person advice and raffles, prizes and giveaways.
We had 41 event attendees tell us about their experience – on average, they scored the event 9.43 stars out of 10 and 93% said they’d be back next year. We had feedback from 14 exhibitors with only one saying their morning had been a bit quiet. The sound system was one item that needs a little improvement, but overall, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Attendees were incentivised to complete the surveys (needed for our grant acquittal) and we were very happy to give the accommodation and extras prize donated by the Crown Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters to Kathlyn McGargill (a COTA member) and website advertising (valued at $1800) to Volunteering NT. There are some wonderful photos of the day in our Photos collection.
Darwin – Rolling Back the Years – Glory Days Trivia Lunch, 25 August
Despite the odd technical hitch with our website ticketing plug-in (cookies and caching issues), tickets for this event were eagerly snapped up by 40 members and 30 non-Members. Quizmaster was Dan Hilliard (who was the roving MC for the Darwin Seniors Expo). This event was also supported by a Northern Territory Seniors Month grant.
Congratulations to Anna who navigated her first Seniors Month as our Activities Organiser with calm efficiency and professionalism.
Read the event report here.
Finally thanks to our staff and volunteers who help made our Seniors Month run smoothly: event planning, grant applications and acquittals, calendars and promotion, enquiries and bookings, event delivery and more — Many thanks to Sue, Anna, Ken, Cecilia, Kim, Lorna, Christina, Gail, Viviane, Janet Brown and Stephanie.