Time to celebrate nation's grandparents better

Isn’t time we recognised and celebrated the nation’s grandparents better?

National Grandparents Week: October 27 to November 2 - 2002

Statistics and projections tell us we have an increasing number of seniors in our community. Of these a very large percentage also carry the banner of being grandparents and with the pressures of modern society play a major part in the care and upbringing of their children’s children.

Yet we often take their extraordinary role in our lives for granted and ignore the amount of time and energy they expend for our benefit on a very regular basis. Sure we celebrate the seasonal events and birthdays and the odd milestone but for the most they are confined to playing second fiddle at mother’s or father’s days.

While preparing and planning for the upcoming Flora! Flora! Floral art and design competition and exhibition, the Worlds of Wellington Trust became aware of this anomaly and made a decision to poll a sample of groups and came to the conclusion that there was a great deal of support in creating and promoting a special period that celebrated our country’s grandparents.

The week will start on Sunday October 27 and run to Saturday November 2 this year and in subsequent years will continue to start on the Sunday of Labour Weekend. We hope that the newly established Flora! Flora! event will herald the start to the period and with floral art as it’s base is uniquely fitting for the occasion and also a way of acknowledging the period appropriately.

While the Worlds of Wellington Trust has been the promoter of the concept to date, we in no way have any ownership or branding right to the idea, and actively encourage all New Zealanders to adopt the idea and to contribute to it in their own way. By just thanking and appreciating the grandparents within your own family we will not only make their lifelong support and efforts rewarding but for the grand children it will in still a set of values that we hope will grow in years to come.

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