MEDIA ALERT
For immediate release Monday 4 October 2010
Are older people a burden on society and
undeserving of respect?
Find out what YOUNG and SENIOR Victorians think at a major
2010 Victorian Seniors Festival event this Friday 8 October:
What:
THE GREAT RESPECT DEBATE
Debate topic:
‘Seniors must earn respect’
When:
Friday 8 October, 10.00am – 11.30am (debating starts at 10.30am)
Where:
Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Speakers:
Master of Ceremonies: Pete Smith, Channel Nine personality
Adjudicator: Bernard Salt, bestselling author, social commentator and columnist
Senior Victorian debaters for the AFFIRMATIVE
1.
Dr Peter Hollingworth, former Governor General of Australia
2.
Mary Barry, CEO, Victorian State Emergency Service
3.
John Michael-Howson, 3AW personality and entertainer
Young Victorian debaters for the NEGATIVE
1.
Beatrice Paull, year 11 student from Lowther Hall Grammar
2.
Wesa Chau, Victoria's Young Australian of the Year 2010
3.
Bryce Ives, Young Citizen of the Year Ballarat 2002 and Producer of ABC’s Heywire
Join us as senior Victorians go head-to-head with young Victorians to debate the topic
'Seniors must earn respect.'
The Great Respect Debate follows a Deakin University and Benetas research paper launched in
March 2010 called Respect in an ageing society. It was the first study in Australia to investigate the
attitudes of society towards older people and what respect for older Australians means.
The research highlighted a vast difference of opinion between older and younger generations about the
value of older people in society today. Younger people told researchers that they think older people
need to earn respect and that they shouldn’t just receive respect automatically. Benetas and the Lord
Mayor's Charitable Foundation joined forces to bring the different generations together to debate this
topic at the Seniors Festival – that is, whether 'Seniors must earn respect.' It’s on for young AND old!
Media contact: Lisa Cowell on 0400 224 852 or Michelle Low on 0417 536 662
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