Australian of the Year

When Christine Warren posted a simple Facebook invitation for anyone aged over 70 to join her for coffee and conversation, she started something far larger than she could ever have imagined. Christine’s small gesture was the genesis of the community group, Sassy Seniors. 

As the number of participants grew, Christine realised how many people in Canberra had lost their social networks and needed a place to connect. A newly refurbished cafe in Kambah hosted the first gathering of around 30 people in May 2024.  

What began as a weekly morning tea has grown into a thriving community built on kindness, friendship and genuine care. Christine hasn’t just brought people together; she has given them the priceless gift of knowing they matter, they belong, and they are missed when they’re absent.  

Sassy Seniors is now a community where newcomers are embraced, strangers become friends and no one faces life’s challenges alone.