St John’s students reconnect with elderly neighbours

With COVID-19 now largely under control, students from St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School at Woy Woy have resumed their visits to Hillview House Aged Care as they continue to foster intergenerational relationships with their neighbours.

A school spokesperson said as people aged, their social networks generally became smaller.

“Celebrations, events, and story-sharing across generations bring people together,” the spokesperson said.

“It’s these cross-generational moments that have great benefit to everyone involved.

“For older generations, it provides an opportunity for continued engagement with the wider community.

“For our younger generations, it offers wisdom well beyond their own life experiences, and fosters stronger empathy and community connections.

“Year 4 students prepared and presented invention ideas to their older friends at Hillview House recently.

“These ideas included a machine that measures how funny jokes are and a walking aid with 4WD turbo wheels.

“Students absolutely loved this and communicated with residents with great respect.

“Our Year 6 students prepared questions to interview their wise and experienced friends.

“Tilly and Chloe chatted to 84-year-old Doreen and learned that she used to be a singer and an actress, and still plays the piano for a crowd of residents at Hillview.

“Harry, Felix and Max met Peggy, who is turning 100 in two months – she was in the

Air Force and once shook King George V’s hand.”

Principal Nicole Davies said the school was thrilled to reconnect with Hillview House after several years of uncertainty.

“Students of all ages will have the opportunity to visit our older friends throughout the

Helping older Coasties access support

Member for Robertson

Gordon Reid has welcomed the introduction of the Care Finder program, offering vulnerable older Australians one-on-one intensive support to help them access aged care as well as health, housing, and community services.

The Care Finder program was launched in January following a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care quality and Safety, which called on the Federal

Government to provide more support to older Australians.

“The Government is committed to improving the quality of life for older Australians,” Reid said.

“The Care Finder program will help vulnerable older Australians navigate aged care and the services available to them.

“It will especially help people from language backgrounds other than English, people who have no carer or support person, and find it difficult to understand information.

“As a society, we must ensure we look after our most vulnerable communities, and as the Federal Member for Robertson, my office is ready to assist older people in our community.”

Care Finders can assist in a range of areas including talking to My Aged Care, attending and providing support at the assessment, identifying and shortlisting aged care providers, completing forms and understanding aged care year, for discussions like this, special events, musical performances, handmade crafts, gifts, or cards,” she said.

A Hillview House spokesperson said residents loved having the local school children visit.

“It brightens their day and provides for meaningful and fun conversations and reflections in the days that follow,” the spokesperson said.

St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School in Dulkara Road, Woy Woy, will hold open days on March 23 and 24. Registrations can be made at www.sjbwwdbb.catholic.edu. au/enrol/opendays/.

Source: Media release, Mar 14 St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School service agreements and helping with other challenges.

On the Central Coast, Care Finders include Bungree Aboriginal Association Limited, HammondCare, and Wesley Community Service Limited.

To learn more about the Care Finder program, Care Finders, and eligibility, visit https:// www.myagedcare.gov.au/ help-care-finder.

Source: Media release, Mar 20 Member for Robertson Gordon Reid

It’s hard to believe that colder days are around the corner as summer seems to be having too much fun to leave us, but the seasons will change and to get the best out of your garden, planning and preparation are in order now.

Gardeners can’t ignore this unseasonal hot spell either and must attune planting plans as cold weather crops are not going to cope with these rolling autumn heatwaves.

You can either hold back getting heat sensitive crops in for a couple of weeks or provide additional protection by starting seeds off in cooler shaded positions.

Following are a big bunch of tips to get your garden and you ready for the chill that’s on its way.

Seed Collection

This is time of harvest but also of seed collection.

As summer flowering plants require dead heading, take the opportunity to save those seeds by leaving some on the plant to develop.

Other seeds can be removed from fruits and vegetables by soaking in water to remove the pulp for a few days.

Seeds should them be naturally dried and placed into paper envelops, in airtight containers and then best stored under refrigeration.

General Gardening

Spring annuals can also be direct sown along with perennial plants, trees and shrubs.

Buy your spring flowering bulbs now in preparation for April planting.

Popular and new varieties sell out quickly so don’t be slow about it! Perennial flowering plants like lavender and daisies and evergreen hedges such as viburnum should be pruned now, and clumping perennials including agapanthus and clivia, can be divided and replanted.

Prune those climbing and rambling roses now too.

Hibiscus should be in flower and a feed of a rose fertiliser will keep them blossoming for the next couple of months.

It’s a great time to transplant evergreen shrubs that have either outgrown their welcome or would do better in a different spot.

Vegetable Garden

The vegetable garden needs to be prepared for winter by clearing away old vegetation and digging over beds.

Summer crops need to be harvested and plants pulled up to make way for winter, but because the weather is unseasonably warm this year, take the time to really rest and rejuvenate hard-working veggie beds.

To kill off weeds in the soil,