Courtlands, Westcourt and Northcourt Aged Care North Parramatta Autumn Newsletter 2017

Chr i s tadelph ian A ged C are

2017 AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

COURTLANDS, WESTCOURT & NORTHCOURT Address: 15 Gloucester Ave, North Parramatta Phone: (02) 9683 8000

Light breeze colourful leaves bare trees it must be Autumn nnn “God makes everything beautiful in its time” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Email: admin@chomes.com.au

Manager’s Message Welcome to Courtlands

Hello, I hope everyone had a lovely time with their loved ones during the holiday period.

Someone once said it is healthy to self-reflect and it takes a big person to self-reflect and admit to their wrongs. It is now more than six months after Courtlands and Northcourt have joined our Christadelphian Aged Care family, so I think it is a good time to reflect.

What have we done well?

We had a visit from the accreditation agency to ensure we deliver quality of care to our residents for both Courtlands and Northcourt and both went really well.

We had a food safety audit and it went well.

We commenced a renovation of Northcourt, and this has been well managed. We have new residents joining us who are happy, and staff are excited to strive to be the best.

We now have a physiotherapist across six days. We will be focusing on our exercise programs and rehabilitation as well.

We have managed other changes with very minimum disruption to our residents.

We have combined Courtlands and Northcourt into one team.

What could have been done better?

We recognise that we need to keep our residents, relatives and staff up to date with news related to renovation and other changes. We will note that this newsletter is a special edition - with a Renovation Update attached. We will also be generating a Renovation Newsletter to keep you posted. continued over page

Facility Manager’s Message continued What do we want to do well in the next few months?

We want our Homes to transition to CAC policies well. We also want the Terrace and the Vista renovation to be exciting with minimum disruption to our residents and relatives. We want to focus on our staff and create a fun working environment for them, so they are empowered to be the best carers they can be and the face of our organisation.

So there have been many positives over the past six months. I always find that it is daunting to self-reflect, but often the outcomes are so much better than you anticipate.

Once again, I thank our residents and relatives for choosing to be with us. Your feedback and guidance are so valuable. Without them we would never be able to be where we are. I look forward to continue working with you.

Warm Wishes, Wannapa Foytong - Facility Manager Courtlands and Northcourt Aged Care

Senior Village Manager’s Message A family of blue-capped wrens are flitting about catching little white moths outside my office window. He has a harem of three and they seem to have made a home in the two trees flanking the bench seat.

They are tiny little creatures with the skinniest of legs, seemingly fragile, but in fact they show great strength in their abilities to make a home and look after the tiny families they produce.

Each of us have times when we may appear fragile. It’s during these times that others show their strengths and assist us to get by.

When you are confident and able to use the strengths within you, it becomes your turn to help out.

I recently witnessed an occasion when a resident timidly reached out for help. Not only one person put their hand up, but four immediately offered assistance.

This is why communities such as ours are wonderful places to live. Each of us have roles to play in making a home not only for ourselves but for others within our community. It is an honour and a pleasure to work in our communities among people who think of others kindly.

If you have a suggestion or a concern, even a compliment, please complete a Feedback form and return it to: Kristen, at reception.

All feedback is looked upon positively. Sometimes it’s the smallest suggestion that can make the biggest improvement. These forms are located at reception.

Just ask if you cannot see one.

Kind Regards, Jane Burns - Senior Manager, Retirement Villages

UPCOMING EVENTS Aged Care

MARCH 17th - St Patricks Day 30th-31st - Autumn Festival

APRIL 14-17th - Easter Great-grandchild Easter egg hunt 24th - Anzac Services 25th - Anzac Day

MAY 14th - Mother’s Day Self Care

MARCH 15th - Zara’s Fashion 26th - Concert in Village

APRIL 5th - Easter Dinner 10th - Farmer’s Wife and Bag Sale 24th - Anzac Service

MAY 8th - Cancer Council Stall 21st - Harmonix Band

Happy Birthday!

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

Self Care

Self Care

Self Care

Grove

Grove

Grove

3 Marie Mackenzie

7 Barbara Reeve 2 Audrey Kim

6 Rose Mangano 10 Jan Wilson 6 Beryl Pegler 10 Joy Smith 10 Wilma Riley 10 Ian Macindoe

14 Meryl Pullinger 14 Gwenyth Fairall 15 Laurence O'Donoghue 20 Joan Donnelley

11 Nance Roeth 20 Joyce Sellar 13 Fiona Perry 14 Mavis Merritt 19 Enid Mulcare

21 Malcolm Crapp 21 Judith Halmarick 24 Sandra McDougall

28 Nancy Butcher

22 Rennie Darmenia

12 Pat Pope

5 Marsha Robinson

25 Kevin McManus

5 Gwen Bourke

26 Elva Farr

7 Ingrid Odbert

Grange

Grange

8 Keith McDermott

1 Syliva Novello

11 Alice Fisher

21 Beth Murray

24 Emily Eggleton

30 Angus MacKenzie

29 Bert Bain

Westcourt

Westcourt

Grange

Westcourt 16 Elizabeth Patchett 21 Manual Frugone 28 Christine Frugone

22 Gwen Spencer

Northcourt

27 Marie Byrne

Northcourt

Northcourt

29 Elizabeth Lewis

17 Jamile Addo

13 Emily Helou

5 Peg Buttrey

30 Norma Gough

20 Marie Stanford

21 Manual Frugone

16 John Roberston

Vista

Vista

2 Doreen Scott

3 Heather Bell

3 Vanda LaCava

10 Marie Trost

7 Albert Cavanagh

23 Tessie Bonney 15 Eric Merritt

10 Genny Boltz

Vista 4 Chrissy Fletcher 5 Lloyd Williamson

Terrace 26 Pat Crane

Terrace

Terrace

5 Clare Ticehurst 7 Ruth Irwin 10 Reg Wilson

12 Dot Hayes

12 Lou Land

15 Lorna Worrall

17 Ted Plummer

19 Kathleen Bolin

19 Gladys Kent 27 Esma Stewart 28 Beryl Smith

Activity Reviews ACTIVITY ASSISTANTS It was such a pleasure to have our Activity Assistants here during their Summer holidays.

Their company, assistance and friendly faces was a ray of sunshine to our residents and staff.

A big thank you to Emilee, Zoe and Ben!

CHRISTMAS Christmas seems a distant memory. Courtlands knows how to party with five parties across the Village, all with great entertainment and some with new music. We celebrated with delicious food - thank you to Mary and all the catering team.

Residents were able to get up and dance around the Christmas tree or sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. There was a special visit from the ‘man in red’ with gifts for each resident. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Christmas period enjoyable and festive for all residents. See photo pages for specific area photos

Above: Terrace Christmas Photos

VISIT FROM MP We enjoyed a visit from the NSW Minister of Disability & Ageing (now a backbencher) and Local Member for Parramatta.

Keep updated with all the latest news and photos by “liking” us on Facebook! facebook.com/christadelphianagedcare

Grove Christmas Party Photos

Self Care Christmas Party Photos

Self Care Christmas Party Photos

Vista Christmas Party Photos

Grange Christmas Party Photos

Westcourt Christmas Party Photos

Resident Story - Charles St. John A man who is never at a loss for words, whether in jest or in the shape of a quiet caring friendship, the ready smile of Charles St. John is a daily fixture at the Terrace in Courtlands Village, North Parramatta.

A Sydney boy born and bred, Charles grew up in Auburn where, in his own words, he "used to play up a bit. If the wheels on a train went one way, I'd want to know why”.

School never really agreed with Charles and while in his early high school years in Homebush, he decided it was time he and school "parted company”. What happened next he would recall as the fondest years of his life. Charles wanted to work in the news business as a printer and upon being told that he would need a Certificate of Composting to enable him to do that, he promptly went and studied for his certificate at the Technical College, and gained work as an apprentice compositor with Shepherd Newman at the same time.

After five years with Shepherd Newman, a college friend recommended he apply to work for the Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Newspapers, as they were looking for compositors.

Charles would spend the rest of his career with the Herald in various positions, retiring at the age of 58, having reached the role of Production Administrator. Charles spent the early portion of his career with both Shepherd Newman and the Herald on night shift, working from 9pm to 4am and going for a swim at Bondi Beach after work before going home to sleep.

It was at this point he would meet his future wife, Enid. Charles belonged to the Anglican Church and Enid was a member of the Rainbows (young women of the Masonic Lodge).

Their groups would get together on occasions, which is how Charles and Enid met. Charles remembers that at the beginning of their courtship, a night outing was organised by the two church groups. When it was time to go, pews were tied onto the back of a truck and away they went. That went as well as can be expected. Charles and Enid were sitting on the end and as they went around a corner they slid off the pews, over the back of the truck, and with some astonishment, neatly into a pile of council sand on the side of the road. As Charles wryly notes, "they stopped the truck and we got back on. We decided to have a bit of a cuddle and ended up in a sand pit! It took five years to get over that and get married”.

When they were eventually married (Charles at 22, Enid at 21) and had two girls, Charles was able to join the day shift at the Herald as they lived in the bush (at Sefton in Bankstown, which was at the time considered bush) and Enid didn't like Charles leaving her alone at night. They were married for more than 50 years. Although Charles recalls that he "loved every minute" he worked for Fairfax Newspapers, he also says that "when you work for a top newspaper, your life is never your own”. Calls at 3am to work weren't unusual.

As a result, when he retired, Charles and Enid spent their retirement travelling all over the world on cruise ships, going on 34 cruises in total throughout Europe, South-East Asia and the Americas. The Panama Canal and stopovers in the Canadian Rockies and Russia are recalled as being particularly enjoyable.

As a long-time resident of Courtlands, Charles is very grateful for the care provided by the staff, saying that it "goes above and beyond what is expected”. He has no regrets and considers himself to be "a Happy Chappie", in fact he would quite like to live his life over again in the same way, that's how good it's been. Because, as he declares, "anybody who doesn't like life is a nutter!”

Staff Profile - Jan Murray When Pastoral Carer Jan Murray walks into a room and the resident’s face lights up, she knows her role is making a difference.

Jan has worked as a Pastoral Carer at Courtlands Village in North Parramatta since Christadelphian Aged Care purchased the Home in May last year.

“My main role as I see it is to support residents and their families in any way I can, be that spiritual, emotional, physical or any other way,” she said. “You’ve got to be a good listener, because some of the residents really like to talk, but others just like to hold your hand and know you are there.”

Jan previously worked at Mt Druitt Palliative Care Hospital, and elsewhere assisting people with intellectual disabilities. She has completed a 12 month pastoral care course, and has been interested in the area for around 10 years.

Courtlands Village never had Pastoral Care in the Home before, so naturally some residents and families were sceptical about what the program entailed. But in only a few months she has built up trust and formed strong relationships.

“I think it’s made an impact already. Pastoral care is about support, care and compassion, and it can be as spiritual as you want or not want it to be,” Jan said. “I’m very happy if a family member wants me to read the Bible, but by the same token if there’s someone who was non-religious I would never bring religion up.”

Jan works mostly with residents with high needs in The Vista, The Grove and The Grange within the Village.

“Most residents here are very fortunate to have a lot family involved, but there are a few who don’t have visitors very often at all. These are the people I concentrate on and spend the most time with,” she said. “A lot of people like to talk about their lives and their past, and mostly reflect on good memories they have of their family.”

Jan also supports palliative care residents to help make their final time peaceful and dignified.

“It’s like walking on their final journey with them, and that’s a privilege,” she said.

Jan forms strong bonds with the residents, and always feels so fulfilled when she knows her presence brings comfort and is appreciated by residents and families. She remembers one resident in particular who had a great sense of humour no matter how she was feeling.

"She made me laugh every time I saw her. She would hold my hand and say 'I’m so thankful you're here. You have no idea how much I look forward to you walking through that door everyday'," Jan said.

"It's just words like that, and words from family members. You don't expect pats on the back, but the look on their face when you walk into the room is enough."

"I'm so privileged to work here."

love

1 John 3:18

Pastoral Care

Let us not with word or speech but with actions and in truth

DEPRESSION AND DEMENTIA Depression and dementia are both very daunting terms. Each can seem overwhelming and leave us all at a loss as to how to help. There are difficulties to face, but thankfully there are also some things that we can do to bring some comfort. Depression can also be linked with dementia, with feelings of frustration and loss being a natural result of the effect of dementia on a person’s abilities. Studies indicate that in 30% of cases, those diagnosed with dementia will also suffer from depression.

Group activities such as art, music, exercise and religious services can all help to lift a person’s mood by focusing on ability and memories while creating situations for social interaction. Tapping into activities enjoyed during childhood can bring a renewed sense of self, alleviating feelings of depression. Simple personalised things such as hand holding and singing can also be very effective.

The happiness felt, or the relief of depression, may only last a short time. Carers should take comfort from knowing they were able to help for that period of time. Much of caring for a person with depression may be simply making the most of each moment, of being present with them. As Elijah had to learn – God is in the small voice, and this is often the most effective. A friend or family member visiting when they are able can lift the mood for a little while and obtain that small smile that accompanies relief.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Reminders of God’s creation help to stimulate all our senses, and give us an opportunity to appreciate what is around us.

If possible, walking in gardens or being taken outside to sit in the sunshine gives a great change of scene and can help lift depression. The different outdoor sounds also help to stimulate our minds and can lift people’s spirit – both those of the affected and those of their carers. If, in the later stages of dementia or at a time when depression is so great that they refuse to go outside, then a bunch of flowers can be a similar trigger to stimulate the senses.

Finally, remember as a carer to take care of yourself also.

Those looking after people with depression have an increased chance of developing it themselves, and all carers need to maintain an awareness of their own health as they meet the needs of others nearby.

By Nerida O’Neill, Pastoral Care Coordinator, Ashburn House

Bereavements Our deepest sympathies have gone out to the families who have lost their loved ones over the Summer period.

Volunteer Corner This year is an exciting year of growth for our volunteer program here at Courtlands and Northcourt. Over the past few months, we have had five new volunteers sign up to join our program. So please make them feel welcome as they make their way around the Village.

Kings School boys have returned for the year for their community outreach program and will be visiting with many of our residents and participating in an All Area ‘Men’s Club’. The boys are here most Monday afternoons and will be spending a whole week with us in April much to our residents' delight.

Current available volunteer positions are: Ice-cream trolley Volunteer - someone who would like to be involved in taking an ice-cream trolley around to our residents.

Outdoor Walking Companion - someone who would like to assist our physiotherapist with talking residents for walks around our beautiful gardens.

Newspaper Assistant – someone who would like to assist residents with low eyesight reading the newspaper.

If you are interested in these positions or there is something else you would like to be involved in, please contact me.

Sherene Noble on 0433 622 573 or snoble@chomes.com.au Leisure & Lifestyle and Volunteer & Pastoral Care Coordinator

SPOTLIGHT ON A VOLUNTEER - Robyn Nallletamby After retiring some eighteen months ago, I quickly realised I had plenty more to give and a burning desire to help others. I began to actively search for volunteer opportunities and responded to a request for volunteers in the Courtlands Newsletter.

As I enjoy communicating with and assisting people, I thought this would be an ideal role for me to undertake. It has certainly lived up to my expectations. I gain an enormous amount of satisfaction in accompanying the Lifestyle staff on shopping trips and bus outings or assisting with exercise or group program activities.

Prior to my retirement, I worked for ten years on the personal staff of the Minister for Transport and Lands, then thirty six years for the Department of Health at Baulkham Hills Community Health Centre and Cumberland Hospital.

I am married to Jean-Claude whom was born in Mauritius, a beautiful island on the South East coast of Africa. We enjoy travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Courtlands had been home for my father Alwyn for ten years along with my mother, Dorothy, who continues to live there and now resides in the Terrace.

I am looking forward to a long association with Courtlands in my role as a Volunteer in The Terrace.

RENOVATION Special During the renovations, activities will continue as per the calendar. Some of these activities will be held in alternative locations, these are as follows: Gentle Exercises – will be held in the Terrace in Level 1, Dining Room away from noise.

Access in lift to level 1 and down the corridor on the left; or through the bottom outside door of the Terrace, opposite the maintenance office, turn left then on the right.

Bingo: In the main Terrace dining room on Level 4, just around the corner from Village Lounge where the coffee machine is Activities: Terrace Happy Hour: Level 1 Kitchenette NEW All morning Terrace activities: in the Level 1 Kitchenette LOCATIONS Terrace Resident Meeting: in the Main Terrace Dining Room All other activities as per normal Access to the hair dresser, meeting room, arts and craft room is through the outside door on Level 2 near the library or the outdoor recreation room doors or the stairs near Joanna’s desk.

Terrace:

SUMMARY OF RESIDENT & RELATIVE MEETING REGARDING TERRACE AND VISTA (FEB 1, 2017) RENOVATIONS

Why renovate?

The renovations at The Terrace will result in modern and elegantly decorated rooms and common areas for our residents, and will allow them to remain in place as their care needs change.

In 2014 the Federal Government changed legislation to focus more on High Care services, and removed Low Care classification. To comply with this legislation we need to make The Terrace safe for High Care services.

The renovations will include: • Reflooring and repainting • New light fittings and furniture • Recabling and new nurse calls and access control systems • Enclosing the stairways and installing swipe access Rooms • All new furniture and cupboards • Bathrooms completely renovated • Kitchenette removed and balcony extended into a sunroom Common areas • Extension of lounge area with new floor coverings, paint and furniture • Removal of kitchen and balcony enclosed with sun louvers installed The construction will be conducted in four stages, with Level 2 the first to undergo renovations.

The next level to undergo renovations is still to be determined. Management and staff are working with residents to minimise any inconvenience caused by the renovations.

During Stage 1 Level 2 will be completely sealed off and access to the library, activity rooms, the chapel and the hair salon is through the downstairs recreation room only.

QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS AND RELATIVES :

(answered by CEO Ross Peden unless stated otherwise) What is your time frame for this transition period?

Each floor will take six months; so 24 months in total.

So what happened to the low care residential living?

The July 1, 2014 legislation “Living Longer, Living Better” came in and did away with low care.

So is anyone forcing you to do this?

We have to do it because we can’t bring new high care residents into the Terrace as it is.

Are there going to be extra charges to current Residents?

No, there will be no additional charges to current Residents. Whatever your current agreement is in in relation to costs will remain the same. There will be no changes in what you pay, other than government legislation.

Will the removal of the kitchen and balcony impact their quality of life?

We appreciate there are residents in that stage now and we will offer them the opportunity to stay in the un-renovated rooms that still have those facilities.

So is there somewhere the residents who want to have access to kitchen facilities can go?

They will have access to tea and coffee making, but you won’t be able to cook a meal.

How do you maintain access for someone who wants that option? If just making breakfast in the morning is the last part of your independence?

Wannapa: This is something we will definitely be looking into, as Ross has indicated. I, as facility manager, will work with you and the residents, to look at options such as a buffet breakfast or the ability to make their own breakfast in the dining room. I have done this quite successfully elsewhere.

What about the residents that like to bring in their own food?

Wannapa: They can continue to do that. It is not encouraged in the legislation.

Will they have a fridge?

No, there will not be fridges in the rooms. Central communal kitchen facilities will be available for residents and relatives will have access to including a fridge. In 2-2.5 years there will no longer be kitchen facilities in resident rooms.

Why can’t the residents keep their fridges?

It is our policy and the policy of many other facilities that the rooms do not have fridges. The problem with fridges is that it is our responsibility towards our residents to ensure that the fridge temperatures are checked regularly and we don’t have the staff to check all individual fridges.

Wannapa: Can I just add from an operational point of view, we would have to assign duty to the staff to go around and check all the fridge temperatures which we cannot do as we don’t have the staff to do this.

Why don’t they check the fridge temperatures now?

Because the building is under the old zoning as we renovate the building that zoning will change.

The certification will change as we renovate, the building will be re-certified as high care. The current rooms are certified as hostel accommodation.

Will Residents still have any access to a fridge?

Yes, absolutely there will be communal fridges in each dining rooms.

QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS AND RELATIVES :

(answered by CEO Ross Peden unless stated otherwise) Will there be a kitchenette in the new building, for the residents that don’t go to the dining room?

When the renovation is complete there will be four dining rooms one on each level. The whole dining room /lounge areas will be much larger than they are now, and the balconies closed in.

If the residents are going to be eating in separate dining rooms on each level, won’t this affect the time they get to socialise with the other residents from other floors?

Yes, I appreciate that, that is something Sherene will be working on to make sure they are getting out to activities and having time to socialise other than at meal times. The area near the lift on level two will be extended out and the current dining room will be reconfigured to an activity space.

A lot of the residents bring in their own food so they have access to different flavours and foods, how can this be facilitated?

We will be redesigning the menu and all of the meals will be changing, with a greater variety and quality.

Can we get a vending machine with snacks and things like that?

We can look into that, what we do at some of our other sites is we have a ‘lolly trolley’ which goes to Residents room so they can purchase things like that.

Will the rooms have Foxtel?

Yes there will be the ability to connect Foxtel in all of the rooms. Foxtel requires high speed cable so all of that will go in as we renovate.

What sort of air-conditioning?

The air-conditioning will be a split system ducted system; and each resident will be able to control their own room temperature.

Will the residents be able to keep their own furniture in their rooms?

The existing residents will have the option of having their new room furnished. If they prefer to keep their own furniture this will be assessed on a case by case basis as long as the furniture does not created a safety risk to the resident or staff.

What furniture will be provided in the fully furnished rooms?

Wardrobe, bedside tables, chairs, table, wall dresser, TVs, draws and lifters will be in the ceilings so there will be no need for mobile lifters.

Can we have plants in our rooms?

Yes. Building sites are very dusty and dirty, how’s is that going to work with the residents?

The builders we are using are the same as we have used at a number of our other sites. They are very good and experienced with these sort of projects, and are very conscious that there are residents living nearby. There will be noise mainly during the demolition stage which will go on for two weeks. What we have done in the past is, if there is going to be any jackhammering for an extended period during the day we will organise to take the residents out for the day. We will be keeping you informed as best we can.

Will you be putting in another lift?

At this stage, no, there is nowhere to put another lift. But we will be looking at putting in an external lift further down the track.

Will there still be a laundry that the Residents can use?

There will be one laundry in the building with access control, if Wannapa deems it safe for the resident to do their own laundry, then they will be given access.

How will this impact be on the roads and parking around the Village?

Phil: We are currently working on the building management plan, and we will keep you up to date. We won’t have very large trucks coming in, and the builders will be parking on the street.

QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS AND RELATIVES :

(answered by CEO Ross Peden unless stated otherwise) Will Residents who are still independent be able to go for walks and that sort of thing?

All residents will be accessed and given security access (pass) if they are not at risk of harm and it is safe for them to do that.

During renovations and when they've finished what will be the changes for the families visiting their relatives?

They will be provided with access cards.

Will there be some sort of awning to protect them from the weather?

Phil: We are still looking into that.

Will the rooms be carpeted?

Yes, the Terrace will be carpeted throughout with a very durable carpet which will be regularly cleaned and replace about every two years.

How will you go about communicating going forward, will there be a regular Newsletter or something?

We have a regular newsletter at all of our sites, we will put the plans up for people to see, they are fairly small however.

Vista Renovations: Why renovate?

The Vista will undergo renovations in 2017 to update the ageing decor, fix leaking bathrooms, and improve the office accommodation. There will be a staged renovation with four to six rooms updated at a time. The renovations will require the temporary relocation of some residents for a day or so. There will be minimal disruptions to movements around The Vista while the central areas are refloored and repainted.

Scope of work • Rooms and common areas repainted and refloored • New light fittings and some new furniture in lounge and dining rooms • Entrance and front offices will be updated and modified • Bathroom leaks repaired

QUESTIONS How long is the Vista going to take?

The common areas like the lounge rooms will be done in about three weeks, the rooms will take a bit longer. The same number of beds was done at our Home at Casa Mia in about three months.

When will it start?

We are not sure at this stage, we are waiting on the flooring to arrive from Germany, once that has arrived we can start.

Will the rooms in the Vista be carpeted?

No, the rooms will have very nice vinyl.

Will there be any changes to the outside areas?

We haven’t looked at that yet.

Will the people return to the same room once it’s been renovated?

Yes, they will hopefully be only out for one night.

Read, Rest & Relax!

INTERESTING EASTER FACTS 1. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion.

2. Eggs have been seen as ancient symbol of fertility. Christians consider Easter eggs to symbolise joy and celebration, new life and resurrection.

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3. The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka.

4. Egg dyes were once made out of natural items such as onion peels, tree bark, flower petals, and juices.

5. The name Easter owes its origin from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolises hare and egg.

6. The first story of a rabbit (later named the “Easter Bunny”) hiding eggs in a garden was published in 1680.

7. Easter is celebrated at different times

by Eastern and Western Christians.

That’s because the dates for Easter in Eastern Christianity are based on the Julian Calendar.

Hot Cross Bun Pudding • 1/4 cup white choc bits • 1 1/2 cups milk • 1 1/2 cups thin cream • 1/2 cup caster sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/4 cup dark choc bits • 2 tablespoon slivered almonds • 6 hot-cross buns • 6 eggs Serves 8 1. Grease a 22cm cake tin and line base with non-stick baking paper. Cut each hot cross bun into four slices.

Line base of tin with half the slices, fitting snugly. Sprinkle with white choc bits.

2. Whisk milk, cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla together in a large jug. Pour half the mixture over buns.

3. Top with remaining slices, pour rest of mixture over. Stand 30 mins to soak up liquid. Preheat oven to 160C or 140C fan-forced. Top with dark choc bits and almonds.

4. Stand cake tin in a baking dish and pour in boiling water to come halfway up the side.

Bake for 1 hr until set and browned (it will rise when cooked, but sink on cooling).

5. Remove tin from dish and cool completely Run a knife around edge of pudding, turn onto a plate.

Remove paper and invert pudding onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges to serve.

Word Scramble The Easter Bunny decorated some of his eggs with words, but when he delivered them, they got a little scrambled.

Can you unscramble the words and find the answer to his favourite riddle?

Disclaimer: All photos and stories have been published with consent of relatives and residents involved. Thank you for your submissions.