‘Wondering what to do’: Seniors group homeless after 15 years at Mareeba PCYC

A women’s group for seniors who would catch up every Tuesday for the last 15 years have felt at a “bit of a loose end” after they were displaced from their regular meeting hall with nowhere to go.

A women’s group for seniors who would catch up every Tuesday for the past 15 years have felt at a “bit of a loose end” after they were displaced from their regular meeting hall with nowhere to go.

Norm Carey, who identifies as non-binary, said the ladies group would catch up weekly to have a cuppa, play games and have a chat at Mareeba PCYC.

“That went on for years and then Covid-19 came along and everything shut down and after that it seems as though we weren’t welcome to come back,” they said.

“We had a nice thing going there.

“It was quite enjoyable but when it closed down on us, we were all left wondering what to do.”

A ladies group in Mareeba have been forced out of their usual hall and are unable to find another spot.

Norm said since the group was left homeless they had not been able to find another place to gather - but not from a lack of trying.

They said the ladies group was a space for women to catch up.

“We found a place at the Country Women’s Association and that went on for a couple of weeks but they ended up asking us to get public liability insurance. If you look into that it is damn expensive,” they said.

“The only option we have had was to try to go to the heritage centre for a morning coffee, that only happened once a month because it’s pretty expensive.

Norm said the group looked forward to their weekly catch-up.

“Most of them are widowed, it felt like most days we’d be sitting out a window looking out wondering what to do with ourselves,” they said.
“It was real special going out on a Tuesday.

“You lose contact with your friends. Oldies aren’t exactly technologically advanced, they like to see a face rather than talk on the phone or do Facebook.”

Norm Carey, who identifies as non-binary, said the ladies group was something the group looked forward to. Picture: Facebook.

Jill Bish, of Mareeba, said she had been apart of the group for some time and was disappointed when the catch-ups stopped.

“It was just great seeing people, it went for a long time. We were with the PCYC for 15 years or so,” she said.

“When it all closed down, everyone was at a bit of a loose end. We were used to meeting these old friends.

“We used to play games that were suitable and everyone got a bit of a laugh out of that and it was just a really nice get-together.”

Ms Bish said the group was really looking for a nearby solution.

“The Mareeba Community Centre which is pretty close to downtown is opening an information centre ... and they want to open a seniors group,” Norm said.

However, they were concerned about flexibility.

“We can take care of our own business, we just need a place to do it in.”

Originally published as ‘Wondering what to do’: Seniors group homeless after 15 years at Mareeba PCYC