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Queensland grandparents get their special day in November

Grandparents across Queensland will now be honoured with their very own special day just like mothers and fathers.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today announced the state would lead the nation and hold its very first Grandparents Day on November 7.

Speaking in Parliament during Seniors Week, Ms Bligh said Grandparents Day was a chance for grandchildren, children and the community to thank Grandparents for their love and support.

"Mothers have Mothers Day, fathers have Fathers Day and we thought grandparents should have Grandparents Day," Ms Bligh said.

"Many Queenslanders will have very fond memories of spending time with their own grandparents as a child and I know many parents rely on grandfathers and grandmothers to provide care and guidance in their family.

"I encourage all grandchildren to get involved this Grandparents Day and say thanks to their grandfather or grandmother."

The idea of Grandparents Day was raised by the c ommunity during extensive consultation as the Bligh Government formed the Positively Ageless Seniors Strategy.

Ms Bligh said many grandparents were the primary carers for their grandchildren and were a source of support and guidance to mothers and fathers on parenting issues.

"There are around 14,000 families in Australia who have a grandparent or grandparents as the main carer," she said.

"I also know grandparents are a great source of knowledge for new parents to tap in to as they learn about raising children.

"There's no doubt that Queensland benefits from the generosity of our grandmothers and grandfathers and they deserve a special day to say thanks."

The actual date was decided after further consultation with the Queensland community following the release of Positively Ageless.

Other initiatives in the first of five two-year-action plans in the strategy include:

* Creating opportunities for timeout for grand parents raising grandchildren
* Commonwealth and State funding to provide nutritional information for frail older people and service providers
* A campaign to address elder abuse launched in June
* Promotion of the Seniors Enquiry Line run by Lifeline
* Assisting the University of the Third Age to provide online learning opportunities for seniors in regional Queensland
* Expansion of the Granfriends program to use the experience of seniors in schools

Positively Ageless - Queensland Seniors Strategy 2010-20 is available at www.seniors.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 13 04.

Joint Statement:
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women
The Honourable Karen Struthers
17/08/2010

Permanent Link: Queensland grandparents get their special day in November
Publish Date: 17 Aug 10

Article Contact Details

Queensland Government, Premier and Minister for Reconstruction :
PO Box 15185, City East QLD 4002, Brisbane
Phone: 07 3224 2111
Fax: 07 3229 2900

Comments / Have your say

My Grandma has 57 Grandkids and 74 Great Grandkids! Go Grandma

Maria of Maryborough

2 of 218th August 2010, 6.57pm
Fathers have their own special day, Mothers have their own special day, giving Grandparents their own special day is overdue. But Grandparents are not the only group in society who provide parental & child protection care to many thousands of children in Queensland. In addition to Grandparents these other groups include Kinship Carers (Uncle's & Auntie's) and Foster Carers who provide an alternative family of parental care, love and protection for the child placed under their guidance for whatever reason. Whilst not all these groups can be given a special day, the Queensland Parliament should pass a special Act, eg Non-Natural Parents (Providing Parental & Child Protection Care) Recognition Act to recognise the valuable contribution that these groups contibute to the necessary parental & child protection care of so many Queensland children. Just like Grandparents, these groups also perform an important role for child safety which tends to be taken for granted.

Paul Barry of Brisbane

1 of 218th August 2010, 2.34pm
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