Ararat Senior Citizens Centre reopened on Thursday, allowing some of the region's seniors to gather and enjoy afternoon tea as well as each other's company.
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The centre was closed for more than 10 months due to COVID-19.
While some of its usual events are still unable to run because of the pandemic, Ararat Senior Citizens Club secretary Janet Murphy said there will still be plenty for members to enjoy in the coming weeks.
"Next week it will be the same as this week except we'll have live entertainment Ricky Klauss and Jasmine Chalmers," she said.
"Our Senior Citizens Indoor Bowls is starting back tomorrow (Friday, January 22), and on the first Monday of February we're starting our Learn to Dance classes."
Ms Murphy said the priority was simply keeping people connected.
"We didn't expect this many at the afternoon tea, but they're all just enjoying being back together again. That's what it is all about," she said.
Ms Murphy said while the centre had been closed, committee members had worked with council to prevent other members from becoming too isolated.
"We've been very lucky," she said.
"The Ararat (Rural) City Council has been great. They've organised home visits to our members who were in the community when we were in the worst of the lockdown. So they were just keeping an eye on them for us."
While there were plenty of attendees at the afternoon tea, Ms Murphy said the club was still eager for new members to join.
"As long as they're over 55 years old they can become a member," she said.
"If they can't drive that's no hassle. The council supplies us with a bus service: they pick them up and deliver them home, and there's always a carer of some type on the bus to keep them safe.
"It's a great community and a fantastic committee."
People interested in becoming a member of Ararat Senior Citizens Club can phone Ms Murphy on 5352 4246.
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