The Purple Road made by the Mundijong Arts and Crafts group was taken to Kings Park as part of the Purple Road event to raise awareness for elder abuse.
Members of the group, Kay McBroom and Jan Johnson, took the Purple Road by car, train and bus on Monday June 14 to Fraser’s in Kings Park where they gathered with many other groups from the north and south of Perth.
“The roads were laid out next to each other in the function room, looking more like a highway, as the weather didn’t allow us to lay them in a long single road outside,” Mrs Johnson said.
“Thousands of flowers filled the roads, each flower representing an older person in our communities.”
The roads and flowers touched each other, to symbolise older people interacting with each other from the different communities.
On Tuesday, June 15, various prominent places in Perth were lit up with purple to recognise World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Places such as Optus Stadium, Yagan Square and Matagarup Bridge were covered in purple.
Last year the Australian Human Rights Commission launched an elder abuse awareness campaign in October for the International Day of Older Persons.
The issue of elder abuse is prominent, but frequently older people who are abused don’t always understand or know it is happening to them.
Alder abuse can include financial, physical and psychological abuse.
“The event will be held again next year, but Purple Roads will also be included in Seniors Week in November this year to continue to raise awareness of the cause,” Mrs Johnson said.
“At the moment, our Purple Road is on display at the Mundijong Public Library with our ‘Thank You’ certificate from the day.”
