Police find their Zen at Seniors Festival
Hills police got some balance in their day when they joined local seniors and Tai Chi Master Yunian Wu for a special Tai Chi class as part of The Hills Shire Council’s Seniors Festival.
Vulnerable Persons Officer Mick Barnes was one of seven officers from The Hills Police Area Command who joined the a on Wednesday, March 12. He said it was a fantastic opportunity for police to engage with the community in a relaxed setting.
“We loved our workout,” he said. “Seniors Festival is a chance to recognise the valuable role of older residents in our community. The Hills PAC police are here to strengthen our relationship with seniors and show our support for their wellbeing.”
Local resident Michele Sunnucks attended the Seniors Week session and described it as a wonderful experience.
“It’s wonderful to see the community and the police get together in something like this. Especially for the seniors to be able to just have that cross-generational interaction in a fun way, and the police were certainly fully involved with the activities today,” she said.
“I love that Council has organised this initiative. It gets a lot of seniors together who didn’t know each other beforehand and allows us an opportunity to be able to make new friends.”
Hills Shire Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne said: “Seniors make up a significant part of The Hills Shire, with at least 19 per cent of our population aged 60 and over.
They also play a vital role in our community, with 77 per cent of our volunteers in this age group. We are incredibly grateful for their contributions and this event is a small way to give back to those who give so much.
“A big thank you to Hills LAC for joining the event, as well as Hills Chinese Association and Tai Chi Master Yunian Wu for their ongoing commitment to this fitness class. I look forward to seeing more people join in the future.”
The Hills Shire Council in partnership with Hills Chinese Association is running free weekly Tai Chi classes to foster social connections and support the health of older residents following trail sessions late last year.
The free classes are part of its community program for seniors, aimed at promoting health, well-being, and social connections and was developed in response to surveys, consultations, and feedback from local residents regarding the activities they would like to see in the Hills.
Recognising the well-documented physical and mental benefits of Tai Chi—such as improved balance, flexibility, relaxation, and overall mobility— Council has made these classes accessible by offering them free of charge. This ensures that all seniors, regardless of their circumstances, can participate.
Since their inception, the Tai Chi classes at Baulkham Hills Community Centre have garnered significant interest and continue to grow. The first class started with just 12 to 15 participants, but now they regularly have at least 25 attendees, with new locals joining and trying out the program.
