Doina - Groups - The Seniors' Group

History

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Over 11 years ago, Andu Iordache and Edi Popescu founded the Senior Club with the goal of providing connection opportunities for Romanian seniors in New Zealand’s local community. The main aim was to enable seniors to interact with other community members and explore various places in New Zealand together. Numerous studies suggest that maintaining an active lifestyle in older age can play a key role in delaying the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Incorporating regular physical activity, social engagement, mental stimulation, and a balanced diet can help support long-term brain health. Social activities, such as joining clubs or engaging in community environments, foster social connections and stimulate the brain through interaction and communication.

Each year, the club organizes several trips to new destinations where seniors share memories, jokes, music, and traditional Romanian dishes. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, for 10 years, the club hosted an annual party open to the entire Romanian community. Seniors would cook and raise funds for the next year’s activities. These trips and gatherings have been generously supported by the Doina Association and Romanian community members over time.

We understand that not all seniors drive or have easy access to public transportation. We aim to ensure this is not a barrier to participation. Please contact the Doina Association by email, and we will do our best to assist with transportation.

After Edi Popescu moved to Australia, Cristina Lapușan and Nina Tecucianu joined Andu Iordache in the coordinator team. Mrs. Irina Adamovics manages activities on behalf of the seniors.

The group’s most recent gathering took place in Takapuna on July 29, 2023. The weather was beautiful, and the atmosphere was full of joy.

Special thanks to the guides Andu, Nina, and Cristina for their help in organizing the trip.

If you wish to get in touch, you can visit the Auckland Seniors Facebook Group at the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/176771366011877

By Mrs. Marcela Ciulinaru

We are all grandparents here,
But life we all hold dear,
Still feeling young and spry,
Among our children and those nearby.

Let us look back with peace inside,
Knowing our purpose was our guide.
Our mission fulfilled in all we’ve done,
As we cherish the setting sun.

Our hearts still call us to the days of youth,
To dreams that held such lovely truth,
To paths we walked with hope’s embrace,
To joys that time cannot erase.

Like a fleeting dream of night,
Life moves on, swift in flight.
Memories linger, warm and bright,
Leading us back to the morning light.

As a thought or fleeting view,
Our years in flight so quickly flew.
We leave the past behind its door,
And eagerly run toward the future once more.

Travelers along life’s winding way,
No time to pause, no time to stay.
Sometimes slow, sometimes in haste,
On this journey, there’s no time to waste.

Life is no joke; we take it seriously,
Or it turns chaotic, and all goes precariously.
But every now and then, it’s good,
To laugh at troubles, as we should.

Songs, laughter, and a jest,
Give us strength to face life’s test.
For this, I say, to every guest,
“Welcome here, you’re among the best!”

Let us leave this place, all smiles,
Optimists walking life’s many miles.
For life’s a stage where we persist,
And we, the seniors, are the artists.

The Seniors' Group

History

Coordinators