After a year of strict COVID-19 conditions on live entertainment, a Woy Woy duo brought joy and dancing to seniors with a concert at Bluewave Living on Friday, April 9.
Local entertainers, Julie and Darren Hogarth-Williams, brought their ‘Seniors Channel’ to life, swapping screens for the stage in a dancing display at the Woy Woy aged care centre.
The program is a digital on-demand entertainment service aimed at alleviating the effects of loneliness and isolation experienced by residents living in aged care.
The Channel, which aims to get people up and moving with tailored exercises and activities, was launched after COVID-19 impacted the ability to perform live to audiences.
Julie said the pandemic presented many new challenges to the business.
“We’d thought about this idea for a while, even before COVID-19, but we were so busy with work that we weren’t able to commit time to develop it,” Julie said.
“When COVID-19 struck all concerts were cancelled and we knew this service was needed now more than ever in aged care homes.”
“While in person concerts will hopefully be the norm again the on-demand service provides something never available before, with instant access to activities.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, who was in attendance, said she was delighted to see two locals fill a gap in the market with an ‘incredible mission’.
“I am absolutely humbled and proud that two Woy Woy locals with big hearts and huge ideas have initiated such a worthwhile and meaningful project,” Tesch said.
“It was absolutely brilliant to get my dancing shoes back on again with the seniors and enjoy a wonderful performance and celebrate a return to normality.
“The happiness and connection to fond memories was beautiful to see and it was heart-warming to see the residents having fun with their friends and the staff also enjoying the show.”
Maisy Rae