2024 Senior of the Year Finalists and Winners

• WA Seniors Awards celebrates contributions of seniors, businesses and local governments
• Suresh Rajan, Aunty Irene Davey, Christine Zambonetti recognised for long-time advocacy work; Switched on Seniors and City of Bayswater also acknowledged

A social justice advocate, a Bardi Jawi Elder from the Kimberley and a volunteer paramedic from Albany are among the winners of the 2024 Western Australian Seniors Awards.

Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch has congratulated the winners and finalists at the annual awards ceremony this morning, which celebrates and recognises the valued contributions of seniors, businesses and local governments in our community.

The WA Senior of the Year: Metropolitan Award goes to Suresh Rajan, who was recognised for his four-decade commitment to advocacy, leadership and dedication to multicultural communities and culturally and linguistically diverse Western Australians.

Aunty Irene Davey is the recipient of the WA Senior of the Year: Regional Award. A much-loved senior Bardi Jawi cultural Elder from the Ardyaloon community in the Kimberley, Aunty Irene has dedicated her life to preserving her culture and language.

She has championed cultural education, teaching Bardi Jawi language at One Arm Point Community School and advising on cultural protocols. Her biography, A Lifetime of Truth-telling, will be released in 2025.

The WA Seniors Advocate of the Year is Christine Zambonetti, from Albany. Christine balances her advocacy work on behalf of vulnerable seniors, particularly those with dementia or impacted by elder abuse, with volunteer paramedic duties for St John WA.

The WA Age Friendly Business Award goes to Switched on Seniors, which has been bridging the digital divide for older Australians for 12 years by teaching them how to use mobile devices confidently. Supporting more than 60 seniors every week, this initiative emphasises continuous learning within a social and supportive setting.

The City of Bayswater is the recipient of the WA Age Friendly Local Government Award, recognised for its continued dedication to creating an age-friendly community.

Key community hubs, such as the Bayswater and Morley Community Centres, facilitate social engagement through initiatives like the ‘Chatty Café’, which helps combat loneliness among seniors.

The 2024 WA Seniors Awards were presented by the Council on the Ageing (WA), supported by the Department of Communities and Lotterywest.

The winners and finalists are:

WA Senior of the Year – Metropolitan:

• Suresh Rajan, Stirling (Winner)
• Wendy Harman, Peel Community Legal Services (Finalist)
• Robyn Forshaw, Umbrella (Finalist)

WA Senior of the Year – Regional:

• Irene Davey, Aunty Irene, Dampier Peninsula WA (Winner)
• Bob Symons, Yakamia WA (Finalist)
• Michael Pemberton, Albany WA (Finalist)

WA Age Friendly Business of the Year:

• Switched on Seniors (Winner)
• Have a Go News (Finalist)
• Wheelchairs For Kids Australia (Finalist)

WA Age Friendly Local Government of the Year:

• City of Bayswater (Winner)
• City of Rockingham (Finalist)
• City of Fremantle (Finalist)

WA Seniors Advocate of the Year:

• Christine Zambonetti, Advocare (Winner)
• Stephen Edmonds, RSL WA (Finalist)
• Anna Harrison, Umbrella (Finalist)

Comments attributed to Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch:

“Congratulations to all the outstanding individuals, local governments and businesses who contribute to an age-friendly Western Australia.

“In the organisational categories, Switched On Seniors was recognised for the important work they do in helping seniors navigate the digital world.

“The City of Baywater shows just how important local government can be in enabling seniors to live their best lives.

“Recognising and celebrating the great value older people bring to community life is so important and the WA Seniors Awards are a great way to celebrate older people’s contributions to the WA community.”