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Christadelphian Aged Care S U M M E R N E W S L E T T E R
MARANATHA Address: 1582 Anzac Avenue, Kallangur QLD 4503
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Phone: (07) 3482 5333
Email: admin@chomes.com.au
Manager’s Message
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Welcome to Maranatha It is hard to believe that 2015 is almost at a close! Like barely controlled juggernauts, the years hurtle past in a blur of activities, events, emotions, disasters and discoveries. At Maranatha we have discovered that it is possible to survive protracted renovations and even be happy with the resulting improvements! We have learned that ‘builder speak’ is a language all its own. One that does not share well established concepts of time that are common to other western European languages. In ‘builder speak’, “a few days” has a very flexible interpretation; it could be anything… a week, a month, a year… even never! Pondering the difficulties of mastering builder speak leads me to think that time is a peculiar concept. Each of us experiences it differently. When we are small children time seems to crawl by. It can be an eternity between those monumental occasions; birthdays, Christmas or holidays. As a small child, I clearly remember thinking with some frustration and anxiety, “When will I EVER be six ?!!”. Now of course I find myself thinking (with even more frustration and anxiety) “Oh no!! Not another birthday… surely my last birthday was only a month or two ago?!” Time certainly speeds up as we age. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your age and viewpoint) we have devised clocks, calendars, dates and diaries to track time for us. Time is such a subjective commodity that without an objective framework our complex and complicated world could not function. In some societies (Vanuatu for example) the experience of time remains largely the property of the individual. It has a fluid and flexible quality which has been all but lost in our constrained society. Pandemonium ensues when the time structured Western world clashes with this far more relaxed and unrestricted view point. The results are usually totally perplexing to both parties!
Manager’s Message continued Viewpoints aside, there is a commonality in time which impacts us all; it always moves forward, never stands still, and never moves back. Since the Almighty first wound the clock in the Garden of Eden, minute has followed minute, year has followed year and age has followed age. Liquid time slips through our fingers only ever leaving us with the droplets of moments that we can fleetingly grasp. Years come and go, Christmases roll around at a startling pace, life flies by and our futures are undiscovered and uncertain. We should make the most of each day before it slips away. Over time we age and our possessions eventually fall into disuse and decay but the most precious aspect of our lives – love - will not be affected, it will endure. In the blink of an eye we will be contemplating Christmas 2016 and whether we live by the clock or largely ignore the passage of time none of us can reclaim the past, it is only today that we briefly own. Over this Christmas season, let’s use each day to establish the habit of doing good. We should use each moment we can to invest in the ECEMBER treasure of love. Now is the time for kind words, acts of compassion, telling others how much we love them and cherishing our friends and 4th - December’s Birthday Party families. By doing this we protect ourselves against the possibility of & Concert: Theme: Red & Green feeling robbed by time. Rather we can enjoy each day as the precious 7th - Garden Club Break Up gift it is. Regards, Kathy Hallmark 11th - A Wing’s “Family
UPCOMING EVENTS D
DECEMBER 8 Delcia Cooke
JANUARY 2 Shirley Lee
8 Helen Llyod-Jones 2 Kevin Burns
FEBRUARY 1 Cec Wright 2 Beryl Malcomson
4 Elma Prince
5 Audrey Wigney
4 Nancy Stibbs
9 Jean Smith
6 Jeff Hermann
9 Martha Thomson
7 Richard Dwyer
16 Florence Askin
8 Heather Knox
17 Isobelle Bundesen
11 Joan Hamilton
20 Beris Barrett
15 Irene Heath 16 Val Lewis 17 Bob Collins 19 Maud Olsen 20 Betty Sawell 20 Susan Collins 24 Margaret Baker 27 Merle Deering
Christmas Luncheon & Concert” 15th - Christmas Craft & Carol Day 18th - Annual Christmas Pudding Cook-off 22nd - Resident’s “Volunteer Christmas Morning Tea & Concert” 24th - Christmas Party 31st - New Years Eve Party
JANUARY Music with Wayne every Monday afternoon in A Wing Music with Wayne every Wednesday afternoon in the Main Hostel 5th - Morning Tea Party 26th - “Great Australian BBQ” & gumboot throwing competition 29th - January's Birthday Party & Concert - Steve Hyndman Choir will resume again at the end of January – dates TBA
FEBRUARY
Thursday Playgroups & North Pine Christian College 1st - Garden Club 16th - Brass Band Concert 26th - February’s Birthday Party & Concert 29th - Michelle K Fashion
Activity Reviews FATHER’S DAY Once a year, we honour fathers by celebrating Father’s Day. We celebrate paternal bonds and the influences of fathers within society, their love and their care. They may not always be perfect but we honour them for the role they have been given by our Heavenly Father. Maranatha celebrated its fathers with a special BBQ lunch on the 3rd September, together with family, friends, staff and volunteers. The morning commenced with morning tea, lovingly prepared by Marguerite and the kitchen staff – and the arrival of 11 beautiful vintage and classic cars (many thanks to the local care club). After viewing, discussing their merits, mechanical knowledge and in some cases lusting after the vehicles, a fantastic BBQ lunch was held in the out door café area - again, thanks to the efforts of Marguerite and Joe. “A Father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there – but a guiding light whose love shows us they way.”
INDEPENDENT UNITS MONTHLY OUTING – by Sue Collins Many of the ILU residents of Maranatha enjoy a monthly jaunt together for morning tea. In September, we decided to revisit an old favourite, Noela’s Gardens at Donnybrook. Firstly we sampled the delicious food – Noela gets up at 5am each morning to bake her famous scones and other tempting delights. Then we were free to wander around the 10 acres of beautiful grounds lovingly maintained by Noela and her husband. Spring had definitely sprung in here, and the range of rainforest, rose gardens and perennial gardens were a treat for the eyes - they also provide a stunning backdrop for weddings. The numerous awards they have won for their gardens are well earned!
Activity Reviews PORTOFINO FASHION SHOW Every 6 months, the lovely ladies of Portofino Fashion bring their wares for the residents of Maranatha to appreciate and to (finances permitting) purchase. It is a day which is looked forward to – so that one can purchase items for up and coming events, or just to freshen up their day to day wardrobes. The day is made every better by the residents, staff, volunteers and ILU residents that donate their time to model the clothes. We thank Alisa, Dorothy, Gayne and Kay for making the day extra special. Dorothy Nester and our wonderful Kerry from Admin —> Our wonderful ILU Resident Ailsa, looking radiant
Volunteer extraordinaire Gayna modelling ¾ pants and shirt set with a handy red carry purse
DELTA DOGS - Bringing the Residents of Maranatha Joy Over the Years Delta Therapy Dogs is a heart-warming program that brings the joys of animal companionship to those who need it most. Delta’s amazing and devoted volunteer Therapy Dog Teams brighten the lives of an estimated 20,000 Australians in hospitals and care facilities every week. For many years we have been bless with weekly visits from Shade (a lovely black Labrador) who brings with her, her owner Bernadette. Commencing in December, we have another canine wonder KD. He is a friendly 3 year old, Irish wolf hound with a smile that melts the heart of all around. He will be bring Angela with him on his fortnightly Saturday visits. We thank Shade and KD for bringing their owners with them and thank them for the joy they bring.
Pine Rivers Care has contacted us and asked for assistance with their Christmas Hamper. They are preparing baskets and bags with food and toys to distribute to struggling families and individuals within the Pine Rivers Area. This is the organisa?on that was so happy with the blankets kni@ed by our lovely residents – an open giB box will be located under the tree in the front recep?on for anyone wan?ng to contribute.
Staff Appreciation YES, LIFE CAN BE FULL OF SURPRISES - By Marjorie Booth On my recent birthday morning, I received a lovely birthday card from all at Maranatha (always a welcome surprise). However, I was also presented with a delightful mini-carry bag beautifully decorated and containing some ‘goodies’ to brighten my day. Surprise, surprise! How many of us realise that one of our caring kitchen ladies makes these gestures to all when celebrating their birthdays. Yes, surprise again and a special “thank you” to our talented Carman of the kitchen, what a great bunch of helpers they all are.
Around Spain in 3 weeks - with Chris Recently, Maranatha was a little more quiet than usual with the absence of our receptionist Chris. And while we missed her smiling face, her cheerful banter and her amazing administration abilities – it would appear that she missed us very little ☺ Just so we know that she had a good reason – in fact a really good reason for leaving us – she has shared with us some of her wonderful photos of Spain – just so we feel that we have visited too. Seville - amazing architecture, the best patisseries and hundreds of bars with these mouth watering selection of tapas.
Chris and her friend Heather on their recent holiday - historical town of Ronda in southern Spain.
Farewell with Love Sunshine Group on a Thursday afternoon and Olly Dawson - the two go hand in hand. It was with much sadness that we said farewell and thanks to Olly. Our Thursday afternoons will miss your ready smile, laugh and beautiful voice. Olly truly was the personification of the following quote – “Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful” Hazrat Inavat Khan
In Loving Memory
Norma Barnett
3/10/1928 – 24/10/2015
Daphne Eunice Rose Henriksen 9/6/1918 – 30/9/2015
Winifred Maude Burgin 17/6/1920 – 11/11/2015
Poem - My Rememberer
My forgetter's getting better But my rememberer is broke To you that may seem funny But, to me, that is no joke. For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering If I really should be 'there' And, when I try to think it through, I haven't got a prayer! Often times I walk into a room, Say "what am I here for?" I wrack my brain, but all in vain A zero, is my score.
At times I put something away Where it is safe, but, Gee! The person it is safest from Is, generally, me! When shopping I may see someone, Say "Hi" and have a chat, Then, when the person walks away I ask myself, "who was that?" Yes, my forgetter's getting better While my rememberer is broke, And it's driving me plumb crazy And that isn't any joke.
Resident Service Officers When friends talk to you about the frailty of their parents or grandparents, uncles or aunts, neighbours or other loved ones, you might like to share this newsle@er with them, recommending Christadelphian Homes as a “home away from home”. Kerry Kennedy, RSO, would love to hear from you and have a chat about the various individualised needs Maranatha Aged Care can offer your loved one. Call 1800 246 637 or email admin@chomes.com.au
Resident Story - Kenneth (Ken)Roginson Gardening has always been a part of my life. My father was a keen gardener and he worked at a sawmill and therefore had access to timber, so he turned our family backyard into what looked like a Garden Nursery. Water was pumped up from the creek that ran at the back of our place. As a young boy I was always happy to help out in the family veggie garden. It was a good feeling being able to help grow and pick food for the family dinner table. A very satisfying feeling – in more ways than one! Being able to eat what I had grown. I only attended Primary School – this was in the Yarraman district. I was the ‘chief gardener’ in this country school. As I was the only boy in the class, I think the thought I would look out of place and therefore he sent me out to do the gardening! I had no High School education bur I did work for awhile on my uncle’s dairy farm – I loved being outdoors. My first job was working in the garage at the Sawmill, which was 6 miles out of town. I rode my bike to and from work, six days a week and was paid a pound a week! But I still kept looking after the gardens at home. When I married, I started a garden by gathering up the old bush turkey nests and leaf mould from the bush and dug these into the clay soil. We grew some rather large beetroot and lettuces! We left Yarraman in 1970 and moved to Brighton, a suburb of Brisbane. One day, I visited an old mate at Bribie Island. I was rather taken by all the Hibiscus bushes which he had all around his property. I thought to myself “I’m going to have a go at this”. So I bought plants form the Nursery, also books and attended Shows to learn more about these flowers, which I had become excited about. At one stage, I had 10 metres of soil deliver and dropped on my driveway. My neighbour was very good and he helped me spread the soil on the gardens. I ended up with 60 different named bushes. I loved attending to my Hibiscus bushes. They took a far amount of my time as both the flowers and the leaves do get attached by many pests. They needed to be pruned correctly so that they would flower properly. I never saw this as a chore. My wife Merle and I decided to hybridise a Hibiscus. This took a couple of years and a great deal of patience. We were ‘over the moon’ when the first bud of Kenmer Rhapsody (that is the what we called our Hibiscus) unfurled its apricot petals. The flower measures 9 inches or into today’s reckoning, 24cms. The name KENMER RHAPSODY was then registered with the Australian Hibiscus Society on the 12th May, 1993. Merle and I then decided to set up the Queensland Hibiscus Society we were joint Secretaries for a good ten years. I worked in a large hospital as an orderly and as an act of love I would take in Hibiscus flowers to ‘decorate’ the counters and rooms. This brought much joy to many people. My Hibiscus flowers have given me much pleasure over the years. If I ever got uptight, I would just go out and sit, contemplating their beauty. Even today, being a resident of Maranatha, I am able to go to one of the gardens and tend to a bush of my Hibiscus (Kenmer Rhapsody). Picking the flowers brings back loving memories of my dear wife Merle. The flowers also bring admiration and much pleasure to visitors, residents and their families when they are displayed at Reception. In my room I have a photo of our Hibiscus, and many prize certificates, as well as a trophy I was awarded. Thank you Ken for sharing your story with us all
love
1 John 3:18
Pastoral Care
Let us not with word or speech but with actions and in truth
THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS It's that time of year again. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas? For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some. Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child. Luke 2: 4-19 says: "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.� When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us. Without Jesus, we would all die in our sins. Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole.
Bereavements
Our deepest sympathies have gone out to the families who have lost their loved ones over the Spring period.
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong." I John 1:9 We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a "Merry Christmas." The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met. - By Martha Noebel
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Read, Rest & Relax!
Laughter is the best medicine
An elderly man was having hearing problems and went to see a specialist. The doctor fitted him with some hearing aids that brought his hearing back to full strength. After a few weeks the man came back to make sure the new equipment was working properly, which it was. The hearing specialist said, “It all seems perfect. Your family should be delighted you can hear everything now.” “Oh no,” the man responded. “I haven’t told any of them. I just sit quietly, listening carefully. I’ve changed my will four times.”
Christmas Trifle
• 4 x 85g packets strawberry jelly crystals • 2 1/2 cups boiling water • 1/2 x 800g light fruit cake, cut into 3cm cubes • 2 tablespoons brandy (optional) • 2 cups Pauls Double Thick Vanilla custard • 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries • 125g fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced • 300ml thickened cream • 1 teaspoon icing sugar mixture, sifted • 50g white chocolate, grated fresh raspberries and hulled, quartered strawberries, to decorate Serves 6 Tips: You could use leftover fruit cake or pudding in this trifle and replace brandy with orange juice
1. Place jelly crystals in a heatproof bowl. Add boiling water. Stir to dissolve crystals. Stir in 400ml cold water. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until just starting to set (it should have a thick, syrupy consistency).
2. Arrange cake in a 13 cup-capacity serving bowl. Drizzle with brandy, if using. Spoon half the jelly over top. Top with custard. Sprinkle with raspberries and strawberries. Spoon remaining jelly over top. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat cream and sugar in a bowl until soft peaks form. Fold through chocolate. Spoon mixture over trifle. Top with raspberries and strawberry quarters and grated chocolate. Serve.
Disclaimer: All photos and stories have been published with consent of relatives and residents involved. Thank you for your submissions.