CresFest founder a state Senior of The Year

JUDY Turner regards her receiving a Victorian Senior of The Year award as being an acknowledgment of the importance of music.

“It’s kind of a recognition of the importance of music in bringing people together,” said the founder and co-director of CresFest folk and roots music festival.

Turner, 72, was last week honoured at Victoria’s Government House, among a group of older volunteers making a significant positive difference in their own communities.

Ms Turner has been a musician, the arts are being recognised for their importance to community wellbeing.

“It was fabulous to be among such a dedicated bunch of older Victorians and to learn about the fantastic projects they are all implementing with the support of many thousands more volunteers,” said Turner who is now busy working toward CresFest 2026.

“It’s lovely to be honoured but most importantly it’s great that music is recognised as one of the things that really brings community together and creates positivity.

“The shire and the government see the value of music in community and it’s just as healthy for older people to get involved in music as it is for older people to get involved in sport. It’s such a joyful way of focusing your attention on something positive.”

The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards took place at Government House last Wednesday 22 October.

Victoria’s Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt, and Council on the Ageing president Robert Caulfield joined the Governor of Victoria Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC to present the awards.