Chanelle Oldakre’s holiday in India inspired a Diwali celebration in Cooktown to close Seniors Month 2025. Photo: Supplied.
Cooktown seniors celebrated Diwali, India’s biggest holiday of the year, in captivating style – amid lights, saris and belly dancing.
Organised by Cooktown District Community Centre’s 60 and Better support worker Chanelle Oldakre, 50 guests closed Seniors Month 2025 with a slice of South Asian culture on 23 October.
An avid traveller, Ms Oldakre recently visited India and experienced the festival, a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil.
“It was the lights that intrigued me. I wanted to share with everybody a little bit of what I experienced of India,” she said.
“Seniors Month is to appreciate seniors, so I went and did something a bit special and a bit different.”
Under the beautiful light display at Ms Oldakre’s home, guests in colourful traditional wear enjoyed an evening filled with cultural food, music and dance with local belly dancers Hot Flushes.
The day prior, the group members also participated in a morning tea and workshop where they learned how to make Indian jewellery and crafts.
“Even though I run 60s and Better every week, it’s important to do something special during Seniors Month,” Ms Oldakre said.
“This month, we’ve not only had the Diwali night, we’ve also been on the Riverbend Cruises boat trip and [we had] grandparents day on the 31st.”
Cooktown resident Hazel Moore gets colourful and sparkly in appreciation of India’s festival of lights. Photo: Supplied.
