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Christadelphian Aged Care S P R I N G N E W S L E T T E R
LAKEFRONT VILLAGE
Address: 1 Village Way, Canton Beach, NSW 2263
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Phone: (02) 4305 3650
Email: admin@chomes.com.au
Managers Message
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Welcome to Lakefront Village
Spring is in the air and I am sure it won’t be too long before the gardens start bursting into colour. Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" - Robin Williams Spring is the Birthday of the World 'Tis like the birthday of the world, When earth was born in bloom; The light is made of many dyes, The air is all perfume: There's crimson buds, and white and blue, The very rainbow showers Have turned to blossoms where they fell, And sown the earth with flowers. - Thomas Hood
The village grounds have again been entered in the Wyong Shire Garden Competition and judges will be visiting the village in the first week of September. My sincere thanks go to all the residents who enjoy pottering in the garden and who are helping to make the village such a beautiful place to live. Welcome to our newest residents: • • • •
Margaret Cowan SA 7 George Magee SA 22 June Kemp Unit 18 Dorothea Gee Unit 8
Raelene and Jo are providing a variety of activities in the coming months. The ice cream run has returned and is for anyone that might like a short drive around this beautiful area and a McDonald’s ice cream as well. Bingo seems to always be such a happy day with much chatter and laughter and of course the “night out” is always popular. Warmest Regards, Geraldine Mustchin
“For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” - Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Message from our CFO Can you remember a time when someone in your life showed you great kindness? In my personal experience, the acts of kindness that stand out most haven’t been ‘a matter of life or death’ - they have been the help and consideration shown by people who put me first when they saw I needed a boost – when times were sad or my health was below par. And it wasn’t just the kind action of itself; it was as much the thought of that help that counted – knowing that someone cared for me. So their actions and intentions came together – they lifted my spirits and boosted me. It felt like I wasn’t on my own in this burden, they were sharing my load. The kindness was uplifting and obvious to me. As Mark Twain once wrote, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see”. The kindness people have shown me, the kindness I hear of and see being shown to others around our troubled world, and the kindness that God shows me, motivates my life. Acts of kindness take the quality of our lives far above ‘survival of the fittest’. One of Christadelphian Aged Care’s eight values is about Kindness. We describe this as ‘operating as Jesus did with kindness, integrity and respect’. It doesn’t necessarily cost you anything to be kind. You can talk in a respectful way to each other, using the ‘golden rule’ to treat others as you would like to be treated. You can say thank you to someone who helps you. You can let someone through the door first. You can give someone a helping hand. Related to this, another of Christadelphian Aged Care’s eight values is about Support. We describe this as ‘assistance for those in particular in need of help’. You can show support by spending some extra time with someone who is lonely, who hasn’t had visitors for a while. At CAC we can show support by providing care, assistance and accommodation to a resident in genuine financial difficulty. And talking of Values: values are the things that people believe are important in the way they live and the way they work. Values direct our decisions, activities and behaviour as a group of people working together to provide care. We have focused on eight values in how we conduct ourselves which are summed up in the words: Kindness, Support, Excellence, Comfort, Atmosphere, Innovation, Compliance and Sustainable. Our goal and desire is that our residents, visitors and families ‘see’ and ‘feel’ our Mission and Values in action, in what we all do each day at CAC. We can be so thankful for the dedication of our staff and our volunteer supporters. It means everything. In being kind and supportive to each other we seek to enrich the quality of the lives of the people in our care by nurturing them through our compassion, service and comfortable living environment. On the news each day, we see the terrible troubles being experienced by millions of people around the world suffering in civil wars, terrorism and from diseases including Ebola. Yet sadly too many times those with the resources to act watch on helplessly from the sidelines. It’s a great worry. This makes me look forward in hope to a promised day coming soon when the Lord Jesus Christ will visibly return to the earth and bring peace and healing to all humanity. That’s the great change that this world desperately needs. In the meantime, I think the words of Charlie Chaplin sum things up. He said “We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.” God bless you, Andrew O’Toole
Upcoming Events & News UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY CENTRE
SA DINING ROOM
“The Harpiness Duo” (Harp and Vocals) includes afternoon tea “The Singlettes” plus BBQ Lunch
WEDNESDAY OUTINGS
Wollombi Tavern Memories Day (the home of Dr Jurds Jungle Juice) Share photos if you like or just “The King and I” chat over coffee and cake at the Opera House “Monarchs in the Hunter” (One of Australia’s largest private collections of British Royal Memorabilia)
LAKEFRONT LIBRARY BOOKS AND DVDS We are pleased to advise that our library now has a large selection of DVDs. Jayne has taken on the job of DVD librarian and has acquired a number of suitable adventure and western movies for the chaps in the village. Pam and Roz look after the books section. A special “Library Opening” will be held in the near future. We look forward to our residents sharing this special opening with us. Bring your specs!!
“Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. “ !
Activity Reviews JUNE We had a great day cruising the Brisbane Water and Hawkesbury River. The weather was a little cool but the day warmed up in the afternoon. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea was supplied. We also visited Harrigan’s Irish Pub in the Hunter Valley for lunch and then continued on to the Chocolate Factory at Pokolbin.
!JULY The Melbourne Ballet Company performed at the Laycock Street Theatre. It was a very modern ballet and not quite as we expected but an enjoyable night anyway. Our evening out for this month was “Lobster Night” at the Secret Café at Charmhaven. It was great value for money and we are looking forward to another visit. This year we celebrated Christmas in July at the Buttai Barn near Cessnock. It was terrific food, superb entertainment and great company.
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AUGUST In August we saw the landmark musical “The Lion King” at the Capitol Theatre. Set against the Serengeti Plains, this breathtaking production explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and unforgettable music. It was a long day but thoroughly enjoyable. We also went on another scenic drive to Murrays Beach Café for morning tea and on to Belmont 16ft Sailing Club for lunch. It is always a pleasant day.
Activity Review - High Tea The idea came about because of a conversation between Geraldine and some of the residents. One of those ‘tossing around ideas’ conversations which went something like this: Instead of Spring Fever why not have a High Tea? Yes, why not, that sounds great and it would be something different and a lot of fun. We could make it look like a quaint little tea room, with old style crockery, embroidered tablecloths, silver teapots and some lovely finger food, etc. etc. It all sounded great, until I discovered that this would be my job and I had no idea what it would entail. However, agree I did (I love a challenge!) and so the planning started. We catered for 40 residents. We were lucky enough to source our tablecloths from a friend, Pat, who was a bit of a collector and everything else we “OP” shopped for until we had everything we needed. We were also lucky enough to get the help of a chef (Kylie) who happens to be Pat’s daughter and who was a great source of information on the do’s and don’ts of preparing for a high tea. Kylie was able to tell me what works best, the time frame in which I had to work, the order in which I did my preparation, and some great recipes and short cuts to save time; having said that it was still daunting and challenging. I can say however that happily the feedback was very positive and so it made it all the more worthwhile.
Our High Tea was lovely way to enjoy an afternoon in the style that our residents would have been accustomed to in their earlier days. They loved the atmosphere and sipping tea from the fine crockery. A must do again activity!! - Jo
High Tea Menu • Ribbon sandwiches with a variety of fillings: • Savoury egg, ham and relish, beef and mustard, etc. • Selection of home made cakes: Zucchini Cake, Almond Cake • Mini savoury warm tarts – with a variety of fillings • Mini cheesecakes - chocolate and lime We selected two teas from T2 - Tuggerah • Aussie Breakfast – Black Tea. One of the world’s great black teas. Grown blended and packed in the rainforest surrounds of far north Queensland. • Good Afternoon Tea - Injects a bit of spark into a slow afternoon with this medium-bodies black tea treat.
Pam & Jean’s Trip - Alice Springs
With the arrival of July, Pam and Jean were off to Alice Springs on the Ghan, flying to Adelaide for two days with friends beforehand. Boarding the train on Sunday, we had a cosy cabin with comfortable sitting space with large windows in the daytime, and its own ensuite. The journey was long but not boring, with interesting people and good wine and food. At bedtime the bunk beds were opened up for us. The next day we arrived at Alice Springs in the early afternoon, and settled into our hotel room. The town of Alice was sunny and clean, with Aboriginal culture evident in many art and craft shops/galleries and people. Our first outing was to the Desert Park, which was amazing. The colours of the desert and the wildflowers and trees after recent rains were so different from what we see down south; it was beautiful. Jean had lived and worked in Alice for 15 years in the 1970-1980’s, in Aboriginal bilingual education, so the place was special for her, and for me to share. Next day it was off to Uluru to visit the Rock, a 6-7 hour coach trip with comfortable seats and a very informative driver. What has not been said of the beautiful Rock!? Little more for me to say apart from it was awesome, as were the gorges and hand paintings of the rock. It is hard to imagine that it has existed for thousands of years, but the Uluru Cultural Centre gives a wonderful insight into the people and culture of this amazing place. We stayed one night in a luxurious hotel at the nearby Yulara Tourist Village, then back on the coach to Alice in time for dinner in a restaurant that served bush tucker, very interesting and tasty. Next morning, a local friend with a car took us to the Araluen Arts Centre where Jean showed us some of the work of her Aboriginal colleagues, and then to Emily Gap, an important Aboriginal women’s place. We could have stayed there all day it was so peaceful and beautiful. Our last stop was the Telegraph Station where the first telegraph lines were put in place for communication across the continent. The story is that they wanted to name the small (at the time) township after the Telegraphist, Charles Todd, and he asked if it could be named after his wife Alice. In this arid zone, water had an important part in where the station was to be built. While walking the dry creek bed of the Todd River, they found a small pool of water lying just under a large granite boulder, and thought it was an underground spring; but in fact it was just a pool of water left over from the last time the river flowed. So the township became known as Alice Springs after a spring that doesn’t exist and a woman who never visited Alice Springs.
Great North Walk
It has been a pleasure to be able to complete the Great North Walk again this year. In fact, it is actually the 8th time I have done this… My love of bushwalking all started about 14 years ago after my mother passed away. She was my soul mate. Mum was extremely independent and an absolute joy to be around. She was one of the first female tellers working for the Commonwealth Bank during the war years and was employed again after she married. (This was not done in the 50’s.) My Dad was injured in the war and was unable to work. I grew up at Wamberal, on the Central Coast NSW and in those days ours was the only house in the street and we were surrounded by farms and orange orchards. There were no pre-schools, we didn’t have a car or a phone and weekends were spent in the garden or at the beach. Today Wamberal is full of grand homes (McMansions), and I doubt there is any land left. When I started kindergarten, we all caught the same bus. My brother and I would get off at Terrigal for school and Mum would continue on to Gosford for work. I remember crying as I got off the bus. I hated to be separated from her. My mother was so much a part of my life that when she passed away I had a difficult time getting on with my life. A friend suggested that I might like bushwalking and for the first 12 months or so I spent my weekends walking many of the Central Coast tracks with the National Parks and Wildlife group and listening to fellow walkers talking about “The Great North Walk “ (a walk from Sydney to Newcastle) I remember wondering if I would be fit enough to do this walk because from the stories they told you had to be pretty tough, enduring all sorts of weather, steep hills, leeches and of course the 290 kilometre walk. In 2001, I completed my first” Great North Walk” and loved it. Walking gave me more to think about as I had to watch every step and concentrate. It helped me through my grief. This year I have been able to take Thursdays off as annual leave to complete the walk again. It has once again been a great experience. Great company, spectacular lunch spots overlooking valleys and farm land. The lyrebirds through the Watagan Forest this year were a highlight, calling out to us along the way. The weather was wonderful except for only one wet day walking from Hornsby to Berowra Waters. I had one “not so good’ day this year when I lost my concentration, rolled down a steep hill and then not long after fell head first in to a clump of lantana. A few scratches and a sore knee as a result. A journal is kept of each days walk and I received a special mention that day. I have many walks on my “bucket list”, one being the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain and perhaps another Great North Walk. The plan is to keep walking and keep fit enough to fulfill my dreams. - Geraldine Mustchin
Gardens, Citrus Circle and Vegetable Garden We have now planted some citrus trees behind the raised vegetable bins. A lemon and lime have been transplanted from Pam and Jean’s garden. Many thanks to Kathy for donating the mandarin tree. The raised garden beds are working well and a system is in place to rest the beds and to rejuvenate the soil. The rotating compost bin is also providing great nutrient for the soil. A few years ago we started propagating our own plants and as a result have created borders of “nandina” throughout the grounds. (This is a hardy little plant that changes colour in spring.) We managed to strike about 400 plants. If anyone would like to be involved, please let me know,Great to see that transplanted azaleas from Peg’s garden have survived and getting ready to burst in to flower. Thanks to Bob and Barry who have made this possible.
Lakefront Walkers Congratulations to the Lakefront Walkers for still braving the cold winter mornings. Well done!
Lakefront Birds
Our Lakefront bush surrounds create a haven for local birdlife. Recently we have had Ibis grazing with the resident Plovers on the lawn outside the Community Centre. Around the grounds there are always, Kookaburras, Rosellas, Magpies, Currawongs, Rainbow Lorikeets and Pink Galahs to name a few. The Brush Turkeys (or Bush Turkey) are often seen strutting around the grounds and of course the ducks seem to like the swimming pool, much to Barry and Bob’s despair.
Share Your Photos We have a digital photo frame at the reception desk and would like to invite residents to share any photos of the area or the village so that others can enjoy. If you are unable to email photos I am happy to scan and then transfer to photo disc. - Geraldine
Pastoral Care ENCOURAGING OTHERS There's no doubt that people need encouragement. Just ask any counsellor or pastoral carer who deals with people, and you'll get the same answer. There are many hurt people who have nowhere to turn, or no friend to talk to. What about those who carry inside themselves hurt feelings or guilt or fears that they don't share with others? There are many like that who keep those feelings to themselves and don't want to talk about them. All around us there are people who are crushed by life and have nowhere to turn. Their marriage is falling apart or their financial affairs are in a mess and they're worried about their kids. Maybe their health is in jeopardy with some bad news from their doctor. Maybe they are lonely, grieving the loss of a loved one, or in the depths of depression, or unable to find a job. The tough experiences in life are on going. That's why it's so important to be an encourager and lend a hand. God made us to mix with others. You were made for this connection, and there is a universal need to belong somewhere. From the moment we're born, we long for the warmth of love and acceptance from others. In the Bible we read Proverbs 17:22 which says "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength�. Maybe that's how you feel today, and you're very discouraged, unable to smile about life. That's the time you need someone to come alongside and bring encouragement, and that's when the church is so important. Church is different to other organisations, because you can be yourself and find encouragement from like minded people. A lot of people don't understand what Christianity is all about. It's about relationships with God and with other people. Jesus said "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment". A second is equally important, "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mat. 22:37-39). You may well ask "How do I encourage people?� The Bible has the answer to that. In verse 24 of Hebrews 10 it says "Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds". Maybe you have a gift of encouragement and find it easy. That's really good, because God has given you that gift. Use it creatively. Others may find it a bit more difficult, and it won't happen unless we plan ahead. What's wrong with dropping a short note in the post or email someone with a brief message saying you're thinking about them? You'll be amazed at the result. Or use the phone to speak for a few minutes with that lonely friend you know who can't get out of the house. Sometimes the best way to encourage isn't through words at all it's through listening. It's by trying to understand the other person. Did you know that understanding is better than giving advice? Howard Hendricks made a wonderful statement once that went like this "You can Our deepest sympathies have impress people at a distance; you can only impact them up close. The gone out to the families who general principal here is this: the closer the personal relationship, the have lost their loved ones over greater the potential for impact", the idea of getting close to people and the Winter period. sharing with them. You can't do that from a distance. In fact, Scripture says we should do something special everyday. Hebrews 3:13 "
! Bereavements
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness". Unless we do it each day, we can forget. Hidden opportunities for encouragement will surface only as we are sensitive to other people, and look out for those opportunities. In Proverbs 12:25. It says "Worry weighs a person down. An encouraging word cheers a person up". Can you think of friends that have said the right word at the right time? It was as if God sent them to you, as an encourager.. - By Chris Witts
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Physio Corner WHY IS PHYSICAL EXERCISE SO IMPORTANT? Exercise is important at any age, but as you grow older, it is even more important to engage in regular activity. Regular exercise can improve your health, help prevent conditions that typically develop with age and some research suggests even extend your life expectancy! When you become older your muscles can shorten and bones can become more brittle, and elderly people can quickly lose the balance and co-ordination that they once had. Staying active helps keep the body be flexible, and routines such as stretching will lengthen muscles and help prevent shortening and deterioration. Exercise can even reduce incidents of arthritis and osteoporosis by increasing bone density and range of motion. Regular exercise also helps keep the heart muscle in shape. Exercising at even a light intensity will raise the heart rate and improve overall fitness. Light exercise can even help fight off common illness such as colds and flu by increasing respiratory intake. Exercising also helps the heart by lowering blood cholesterol which can block arteries and reduce blood flow to vital organs. It doesn’t just stop there, because exercise is good for your brain and can even increase your mental focus and cognition! If all the physical benefits of exercise aren’t enough, why not just exercise to feel good! Exercise is a natural mood enhancer. When you work out, the body releases endorphins that make you feel capable. If you are fighting the psychological effects of ageing, exercise may be the key to giving you your energy and drive back. Even a short walk can lift your spirits and help you soar through the day. So why not come and join us for some of our great group exercises. Lakefront offers morning walks at 8.00am leaving from the community centre Monday to Friday. The Senior Citizens Club at Toukley also offers a variety of physical activities including Ballroom & Line Dancing, Yoga, Keep Fit, Table Tennis, Zumba and Tai Chi. Is anyone interested in cycling? Please contact Geraldine for more information. Note: Please remember that it is always advisable to have the doctor assess you prior to any new exercise activity.
Read, Rest & Relax! With Age comes skills. It’s called Multi-tasking. I can LAUGH, COUGH, SNEEZE AND PEE all at the same time!
Hummingbird Cake
• 3/4 cup plain flour
• 3/4 cup self-raising flour • 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar • 450g can crushed pineapple in juice, drained, reserving 1/3 cup juice • 1/2 cup desiccated coconut • 1 cup mashed banana • 2 eggs, lightly beaten • 1/2 cup extra light olive oil • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped CREAM CHEESE FROSTING • 125g cream cheese, softened • 1 1/2 cups icing sugar Serves 12
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1.Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease 23cm square cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.
2.Sift flours, soda, cinnamon and sugar into a large bowl. Stir in pineapple, reserved juice, coconut, banana, egg, oil and 1/4 cup cold water. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
4. Make cream cheese frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually add icing sugar. Beat until smooth. Spread frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with walnuts. Serve.
Spot the Differences There are 10 differences between the two images in the French scene below. Circle what is missing from the right hand picture. Can you find all 10?
Artist in Paris
Disclaimer: All photos and stories have been published with consent of relatives and residents involved. Thank you for your submissions.