Senior of Year recognised for devotion

An 85-year-old retiree who spends up to 60 hours a week preventing older people from becoming victims of crime and deterring children from turning to crime has been named Western Australia’s Senior of the Year.

Seniors Minister Sue Ellery said Hans Heystraten, who was honoured at the WA Seniors Awards recently, embodied the valuable contribution older people make to their local communities.

“Hans has worked tirelessly and passionately for safer neighbourhoods in the Forrestfield area for the past 13 years,” she said.

“Hans regularly visits seniors in retirement villages, shopping centres and their own homes to discuss how to take responsibility for personal safety.”

Minister Ellery said Mr Heystraten was also responsible for producing the first junior Neighbourhood Watch newsletter in Forrestfield that contains age-appropriate stories about the consequences of crime in an effort to stop children becoming involved in criminal behaviour.

 “At a time in his life when Hans could deservedly lean on the support of others in his community, he is dedicating his time to making the community a safer place for everybody else,” she said.

Mr Heystraten was chosen from a field of outstanding people throughout the State who were nominated for the WA Seniors Awards.

He said he always believed that Neighbourhood Watch was an important initiative.

“Over the years, with the exception of just one officer, I have always been given great help by the officers at all of the stations I have dealt with,” he said.