Life & Love - Issue 28 by Hall & Prior

Life&Lo e A HALL & PRIOR P U B L I C AT IO N H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P

ISSUE 28 | 2021

YOUR FREE COPY

y l i p p a after Hever

Meet the couples who prove home is where the heart is.

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Life&Love A HALL & PRIOR PU BL IC ATION H E A LT H & A G E D C A R E G R O U P

Life & Love Issue 28 | 2021 EDITORS Beverly Ligman bligman@hallprior.com.au Gabi Mills gmills@hallprior.com.au

From the Chief Executive Officer

Corporate News

Celebrating Our Stars

The Love Issue Special Feature

Looking forward, never back

Celebrating the Year of the Ox

In Our Homes

PHOTOGRAPHY Ryan Ammon

Meet the Staff

Liam Lim

In the Pipeline

My Favourite Things: Andy Yin

Teabreak: Puzzles

EDITOR'S LETTER Welcome to our first issue of Life & Love for 2021. COVID-19 continues to be part of our lives, and as we learn to live with it, it's clear to me that loving one another with patience and kindness is now more important than ever.

DESIGNER Jennifer Mattison jmattison@hallprior.com.au CONTRIBUTOR Jacki Downs jdowns@hallprior.com.au

COVER IMAGE Sirius Cove couple Joe and Joyce celebrate their love. Photo: Liam Lim Printed by VANGUARD PRESS, WA HOGAN PRINT, NSW All rights reserved. No material published in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written authority. Every endeavour is made to ensure information contained is correct at time of going to print. ©2021 Life & Love is published by Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group.

So this month we celebrate love and the happily ever after stories of the many beautiful couples living in our homes in WA & NSW. With WA coming out of a lockdown on February 14, we felt it was the perfect timing to ‘share the love’ around Valentine’s Day. We hope you enjoy this issue. With love . . .

Beverly

Visit hallprior.com.au facebook.com/ HallandPriorAgedCare

The Annual Director's Awards included saying goodbye to Belmont DON Sally Gutman (pictured above). See full story on page 10.

A WORD FROM THE

Chief Executive Officer

appy New Year and welcome to our first Life & Love for 2021.

I am very pleased to see that the Commonwealth Government has also pledged its continuing support.

Last year was a very challenging one in our sector and this year as we adjust to a “new normal” that includes lockdowns and life with COVID-19, I want to reassure you that we are prepared.

VICOP will inspire aged care providers and their employees across Australia to ‘raise the bar’ in the pursuit of excellence with the care provided to every senior Australian.

Infection prevention control and PPE training have always been a top priority at our homes and we remain vigilant against the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Since February 2020, Hall & Prior has had a Pandemic Management Plan in place and a Pandemic Taskforce which rallies into action in WA and NSW whenever the need arises. At present we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our homes and our staff and residents are safe and well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our residents’ families for their ongoing patience, understanding and continued vigilance at our homes; we could not do this without your support. On a positive note, in February Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, launched the new Aged Care Voluntary Industry Code of Practice (VICOP).

As Chief Executive Officer of Hall & Prior, I see it as my personal responsibility to sponsor this important body of work. We will be publishing our first voluntary report against VICOP in July 2021. Also in this issue, we talk about the importance of love. February is often called the ‘month of love’ due to St Valentine’s Day falling on February 14, which was also coincidentally the day our WA homes came out of lockdown. I am a big advocate of healthy intimacy in later life, which is why we have companion rooms available at many of our homes that couples can share together. I believe this is very important to the mental health and wellbeing of couples in our care and I am delighted to share with you some of their love stories in this issue. May this year be a much better year for us all and may love always win. Yours truly,

Hall & Prior was one of the first providers to sign up to VICOP in January this year. Hall & Prior is very proud to be part of VICOP and as a member of the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC) I can see first-hand the importance of the Council’s work.

GRAEME PRIOR Chief Executive Officer 5

CORPORATE NEWS

WA LOCKDOWN All stories compiled by Beverly Ligman. WHEN WESTERN AUSTRALIA had to enter a hard lockdown with only a few hours’ notice on Sunday, January 31 Hall & Prior’s Pandemic Management Taskforce leapt into action. Within hours of WA Premier Mark McGowan making the announcement, all of our Perth metropolitan homes were put into lockdown, as per the government directive. Because of the extensive experience the team has had with assisting our NSW Management team with visitor access restrictions in NSW and the ongoing management of COVID-19 in our sector, our teams were ready, robust and prepared.

“Our Directors of Nursing and Executive Managers were incredibly agile and flexible and along with the support of the team at Mayfair Street we worked in partnership to achieve a timely, effective and calm response. “It is vitally important that we keep our residents and staff safe and well and protect them as much as possible from the threat of COVID-19. “Unfortunately this pandemic is part of our lives now and preparedness plays a huge part in how we manage it going forward.”

Preparedness plays a huge part in keeping our residents and staff safe; Hall & Prior have had a Pandemic Management Plan in place since February 2020. “I was very pleased at how quickly our homes were able to quickly inform residents and their families about the compulsory lockdown, and in turn, how understanding our residents were,” General Manager Health & Care Services Jennifer Grieve said. 6

ENGAGED Our WA residents keeping busy in lockdown.

Jade makes her

MEDIA DEBUT We're incredibly proud of former Leighton Aged Care Home PCAP and new member of our Quality and Learning Development team Jade Murray, who appeared on ABC News on January 2 talking about aged care and the sector's resilience through COVID-19. Jade spoke to ABC reporter Claire Moody about her experience in the sector and why she decided to pursue a career in care 16 years ago after working in retail. The online article and the ABC News story focused on where to find work in 2021 after what was a ‘record year of unemployment’ in 2020 due to COVID-19. Jade told the ABC she would recommend the job to anyone who was kind-hearted, caring and a good listener.

MEDIA STAR Jade Murray working her magic on camera for ABC TV and online. Images: Claire Moody ABC

"It's a massively important job and we actually become part of our resident’s lives," Jade said. "Physically it's a very hard job and mentally it can also be demanding. "It's an industry where you are not going to get thanked all the time. But you know that you are making a difference every single day." Jade was also part of the team that flew to Victoria in September last year to offer assistance to stricken aged care homes as part of the National Aged Care Emergency Response.

Commission prepares to release

final report THE ROYAL COMMISSION into Aged Care Quality and Safety will release its final report at the end of this month. Hall & Prior has always welcomed the Royal Commission; and believes it will lead to long-term, sustainable improvements for the aged care sector.

In total, Hall & Prior provided five separate submissions to the Commission. To date, the Commission has received 10,144 submissions from aged care providers and the public. We eagerly await the final Royal Commission report and its findings. The Royal Commission’s final report will be released on 26 February, 2021. 7

CORPORATE NEWS

Hall & Prior endorses

AGED CARE VOLUNTARY INDUSTRY CODE OF PRACTICE

Leaders and experts from the aged care sector including our CEO Graeme Prior joined Minister Colbeck in a robust demonstration of their support. Hall & Prior was one of the first providers to sign up to the CODE in January this year. VICOP is a first for the industry – a single Code for all aged care organisations, workers and consumers. It is a compelling example of how industry and government can work together to drive meaningful change within the aged care sector.

“Hall & Prior is very proud to be part of VICOP and as a member of the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council (ACWIC), I can see first-hand the importance of the Council’s work,” Mr Prior said. “I am very pleased to see that the Commonwealth Government has also pledged its continuing support.

“VICOP will inspire aged care providers and their employees across Australia to ‘raise the bar’ in the pursuit of excellence with the care provided to every senior Australian. “As Chief Executive Officer of Hall & Prior, I see it as my personal responsibility to sponsor this important body of work. We will be publishing our first voluntary report against VICOP in July 2021.”

“

As CEO of Hall & Prior, I see it as my personal responsibility to sponsor this important body of work.

“

n February 5, Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, launched the new Aged Care Voluntary Industry Code of Practice (VICOP) in Canberra.

The Code outlines seven principles for providers to follow that demonstrate they are committed, accountable and dedicated to improvement, focusing on: • ensuring older Australians, their families, carers and advocates are involved in all decisions about care; • allowing choice about where care is delivered - at their home, in the community or in a residential aged care facility; • providing holistic care that not only meets older Australians’ physical needs but their mental, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs as well;

ADOPTING VICOP CEO Graeme Prior with members of ACWIC.

The Council will consult with the sector – including consumer, workforce, provider organisations and their members – to develop the VICOP's governance and processes during the first half of 2021. Hall & Prior endorsed VICOP this month with a letter from CEO Graeme Prior to the Minister: you can read the full letter on our website: hallprior.com.au To find out more about VICOP please visit: acwic.com.au

• enabling, skilling, and valuing aged care workers to meet the needs of older Australians, and; • making certain the performance of all aged care services are transparent and accessible to workers and consumers.

CORPORATE NEWS

Celebrating

OUR STARS At the end of 2020, many of our staff in WA were honoured with awards, showcasing the incredible leadership, achievements and dedication members of the Hall & Prior team display every day. By Beverly Ligman. Photos by Ryan Ammon.

very year Hall & Prior’s Directors, Graeme Prior and Michael Hall honour exceptional staff in the business who have made an outstanding effort and a difference to our residents’ lives. Some of these are individual awards, others are teams or project-based. This year, there were many winners and because of COVID-19 and its effect on our sector, there were some special awards for those who have gone above and beyond to keep our residents and staff safe and well. “We are ‘compassionate people, dedicated to care’ and never has this been

more important than during a global pandemic,” CEO Graeme Prior said. “Our sector and our business was challenged in every way imaginable in 2020 and I thank you all for your commitment to the cause. “Our strength is our people and I’m very proud of the work that we do every day.” Congratulations to everyone who received an award. Your dedication, kindness and loyalty is greatly appreciated. We look forward to celebrating our NSW colleagues with an event later this year. NSW could not celebrate their annual awards in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

CORPORATE NEWS

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP

Brenda McKell - Rockingham

Elaine Loveridge - Agmaroy

Leovina Berana - Rockingham

Shelbey Morrissey - Mertome

Kellie Worthington - Rockingham

Charisse Joshi - Mosman Park

Chandrika Perera - St Lukes Karen Kie Moi Ding - St Lukes

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT Adam Tomasso - Mayfair Street Toni Neck - Mayfair Street

Patrick Nganga - Tuohy

RISING STAR

Ednalyn Contreras - Concorde

Christine Bennett - Belmont

Leilani Cullen - Windsor Park

Ray Hatton - Concorde Emer Barry - Hamersley

OUTSTANDING CARE & SERVICE

Roisin Colgan - Karingal Green

Janet Tido - Agmaroy

Aisling Ehlers - Karingal Green

Wendy Ki - Agmaroy

Rex Usman - Kensington Park

Daniel Carrol - Clarity Communications

Thelma Tambu - Leighton

Kate Fennessy - Clarity Communications

Merla Julve - Tuohy

Daniela Santiago - Concorde

Anna Luminarias - Windsor Park

Nicole Jameson - Dark Horse Agency Malia Taufaao - Fresh Fields Cedo Grabovac - Freshwater Bay Chandra Tamang - Freshwater Bay Nita Sanu - Hamersley Nok Khonwai - Kensington Park Anh Dinh - Kensington Park Asha Chakalayil - Kensington Park Chantell Clark - Leighton Grace Martino - Leighton Natasha Essler - Leighton Jaco Loftie-Eaton - Mayfair Street Beverly Ligman - Mayfair Street Dr Jenny Prentice - Mayfair Street Ayano Smythe - McDougall Park Linda Bowie - McDougall Park Hannah Tran - Mertome Corbin Mondy - Mertome Dorie Castanares - Mosman Park Cindy Lee - Mosman Park 12

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT Hall & Prior's stars shine at the annual Director's Awards.

SCHOLARSHIPS Anna Jessop - Windsor Park Emily Preece - Mayfair Street Madelyne Glover - Mayfair Street Kate Paul - Mayfair Street Kate Jubba - Mayfair Street Ben Carrick - Mayfair Street Svenja Birkener - Mayfair Street Phil Bedford - Fresh Fields Eric Frahemer - Fresh Fields Gareth Youlden - Fresh Fields Jessica Zilujko - Resource Team Melissa Trinca - Resource Team Amelyn Manalo - Resource Team Natasha Bamber - Resource Team Lori Crooks - Resource Team Kristi Holloway - Clarence Estate Suzanne Tillotson - Concorde Devi Subramanium - Freshwater Bay/ Mosman Park Terri Woolhouse - Hamersley Jesusa Silvero - Kensington Park Natasha Meredith - McDougall Park Laura Currie - Mertome

IPC SCHOLARSHIP

MERITORIUS SERVICE AWARDS

Daphne Paden - Agmaroy

Melbourne Team: Jade Murray, Nita Ale, Diana Tshidibi, Edrian Villano, Regina Crouch (Italian Aged Care), Vijay Krishnan (Italian Aged Care).

Marnelli Piano - Belmont Dominic Brennan - Clarence Estate Eddie Wong - Concorde Siji Mol Sebastian - Freshwater Bay Bianca Meek - Hamersley

NSW COVID-19 Taskforce: Kris Healy, Jennifer O'Connell, Breda McMenamin, Emily Preece, Fiona Prior, Daniel Hitchcock, Jenna Field.

Cecile Panido - Karingal Green

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Anthony Mark - Karingal Green

Financial Management and Control Team WA

Crystal Beninsig - Kensington Park Catherine Chibwe - Leighton

HOME OF THE YEAR

Natasha Meredith - McDougall Park

Rockingham Aged Care Home

Shelby Morrissey - Mertome Charisse Joshi - Mosman Park Yvonne Wales - Rockingham Sian Dougan - St Lukes Urvashi Halai - Tuohy Julie Warhurst - Windsor Park Louise O’Hare - Windsor Park

CONSUMER PROJECT OF THE YEAR Dementia Link Team/My Life Storybook Project at Tuohy Aged Care Home.

ST LUKES MEDALLION Chief Financial Officer Peter Wood

Michelle Stirling - Resource Team Julie Beaton - Resource Team Toni McHale - Resource Team

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Michelle Allsop - Education Team

All you need is

LOVE Hall & Prior homes welcome couples and for many, being able to share a companion room with their partner in later years is an important contribution to elder positive mental health and intimacy. To celebrate the month of love, we talk to some of our homes’ couples and find out what being together means to them. By Gabi Mills. Portraits (WA) Ryan Ammon (NSW) Liam Lim. 16

Sheila and Doug (Henry) Wickham CONCORDE AGED CARE HOME, WA

“We met at a dance which was held at the police hostel where Doug was living,” the pair recall. Sheila’s dad was a police officer as well so the young couple were given his seal of approval. The pair enjoyed going out in London in the late 1950s, just as the city began to ‘swing’ into the 60s. They moved to the suburbs and enjoyed sitting together and going for walks in Hyde Park, taking in a movie and going to dances together. “We were both good dancers and good at the Foxtrot,” says Sheila. On her wedding day, Sheila wore a dress made by one of her mother’s friends, based on a design she had seen worn by a film star at the time. She held a bouquet made of pink roses and with their combined families from Scotland and Yorkshire, it was a big wedding held in a church.

They had two sons, Neil and Ron, and then two grandchildren, Megan and Charlie, and as selfdescribed ‘homebodies’, both enjoyed spending time at home together. It’s something they continue to enjoy now at Concorde. “We enjoy it because there is no pressure – I like having everything done for me (my cups of tea and biscuits brought to me),” says Sheila. “After being so busy before when we lived in our own home, it’s lovely to relax together. We’re very happy living here.”

“

After being so busy before when we lived in our own home, it’s lovely to relax together. We’re very happy living here.

“

heila (85) married Doug (89) when she was 21 years old, and the pair have now been married for 64 years. They met in London where Doug, originally from Scotland, was just starting his career as a young policeman.

Doug, says Sheila, is a very steady and straightforward chap with a very honest character – “he would never tell a fib.” He helped with the gardening but was not exactly a dab hand at cooking or housework, she laughs. Sheila, meanwhile, is a very kind person, says Doug. “She did the cooking and my favourite meal was a roast dinner.” In their younger days, the pair loved to travel and holidayed in Spain and France as well as touring Europe. Despite their different interests, the pair always worked well together and were good at giving each other space, able to do their own thing, before coming home together. “My advice to others is to have patience and give the other partner space to do their own thing and interests,” says Sheila. Good advice indeed. 17

THE LOVE ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE

Shew Tuck Loh (Joe) Chin Yung Loh (Joyce) SIRIUS COVE AGED CARE HOME, NSW

oe (93) and Joyce (91) Loh have shared a remarkably long marriage – 70 years – and since they were young, have been inseparable.

They met in their early 20s and after just a few months, tied the knot. “We met at university in Shanghai where we were introduced to each other by some good friends,” they say. In the Chinese culture, marriage is seen as the union of two families as much as it is about the union of two people. A Chinese wedding must comprise of a number of symbolic traditions in celebration of this union, says Joe. “Our parents must first agree upon their chosen spouse and once both sets of parents come to an amicable agreement, they will arrange and organise the couple’s marriage and wedding celebrations,” he says. Joyce says that fathers are considered to be the leaders and decision makers of each family unit. Once Joyce’s father had met Joe and had decided that Joe was a very kind, understanding and honest man, then that was that; the decision was made that Joe and Joyce would marry. The bonds between the pair extended to their in-laws too; Joyce was particularly close to Joe’s mother, saying she was like a sister. For the marriage ceremony and wedding, Joyce wore a traditional red silk gown adorned with elaborate gold embroidery. Red is a sacred colour and is symbolic

of success, loyalty, honour, fertility and love whilst gold is symbolic of wealth and fortune. Joe wore a traditional silk robe, also coloured red with gold embroidery. In celebration of their marriage, Joe and Joyce had a banquet at Joyce’s family friend’s restaurant where they booked out various levels of the restaurant. Another wedding tradition that they spoke of was where the couple kneeled down to their older generations who presented them with red gift envelopes containing money in recognition of their marriage.

They also recall an interesting tradition known as ‘teasing games’ which takes place on the night of their wedding once the couple has returned to their honeymoon suite together. A group of guests from their wedding will come to the couple’s honeymoon suite to trick and test the couple, asking them questions and making them take part in silly games. This tradition stems from ancient China with the idea being that the games will help to ease any tension between the newlyweds, considering they have only just met after having their marriage decided upon by their parents.

“

As long as Joyce is here, my heart is here . . .

“

The union was blessed with three sons – Cha Tung, Cha Liang and Cha May – and subsequently six grandchildren too.

The pair owned and ran a Chinese restaurant together where Joyce would cook and Joe ran the business side of things. Their strong work ethic and Joyce’s willingness to learn new things mean they had a very happy working relationship as well as marriage. “Joyce has a wicked sense of humour,” says Joe. “She is a kitchen wizz and can cook all sorts of cuisines, not only Chinese.” Even when Joe had to move to England for five years to study, leaving Joyce back in China to raise the children, their relationship remained strong.

TOGETHER FOREVER Joe and Joyce Loh have shared 70 years of marriage and when they were younger, ran a restaurant together.

“Through 70 years of marriage, we have learned so much from each other – and we’re proud of the family we’ve raised together.” The pair joined Sirius Cove in December 2020, and have been very active participants in the social life of the home. “As long as Joyce is here, my heart is here,” says Joe. “As long as we are together we’ll be happy.”

DONALD AND VERONICA PARRY HAMERSLEY AGED CARE HOME, WA Donald (88) and Veronica (86) met at a soccer dance 71 years ago after Donald had played a match. “We got married at Wesley Church in the city of Perth in 1952 and have been married for 69 years.” Three boys – Keith, Bruce and Vern – and a daughter, Sandra, followed and many happy family memories were made spending holidays in the beach shacks at Hillary’s and raising the children together.

Ai Feng Lin and Sheng Chen CLOVER LEA AGED CARE HOME, NSW

t was in 1952 in Gutian, a town in the Fujian province, in China that Ai Feng Li and Sheng Chen met, introduced by a friend. Some 69 years later, and the pair have spent very happy and memorable years together as husband and wife.

Even after all those years, they still hold each other extremely dear. Ai Feng Lin is described by her husband as ‘an honest person’, while she in turn describes Sheng Chen as ‘a very kind and capable man’. Their most treasured memory remains their wedding day and although they may be living far from their home country these days, they are so happy to be able to stay together, to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in each other’s company. They have two children – a son and daughter, Zhong She and Xiao Qin.

“We are so happy to live together and although this is a new country we are surrounded by our family who visit us often,” they say. As in all the best long-lasting relationships, Ai and Sheng have some good advice for those who would like to emulate their successful marriage. “We believe everyone should respect and help each other through the good times, but especially through the difficult times,” they say. “We listen to each other, and we discuss everything. Sometimes we disagree but we almost always end up agreeing.”

THE LOVE ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE “Veronica was a great cook and a wonderful mum, while Donald was a hardworking but gentle and caring husband,” the couple says. Sharing a room together at Hamersley has been particularly poignant for the pair, not least because when Donald was an apprentice bricklayer, he helped build the home, brick by brick. “Donald knows this home intimately,” says Hamersley's Director of Nursing, Terri Woolhouse. These days, life may be at a slower pace but the pair’s bond is stronger than ever. “We are very lucky to be able to stay together,” says Donald. “I love being able to help look after Veronica.”

LOTHAR VIRGINIA

NORBERGER HAMERSLEY AGED CARE HOME, WA Lothar (86) and Virginia (72) may not have been together as long as Donald and Veronica, but the strength of their love for each other is no less intense. Married for 30 years, and together a ‘little longer’, the pair met in Germany and married in Manilla, where they had a lovely wedding, surrounded by many friends. Lothar brought children from a previous relationship to create a new family – Lothar has two children, a son, Jaan and a daughter, Sabrina who both live in Perth and are very close to their Dad and supportive of Virginia. Meanwhile, Virginia is particularly close to her sisters.

The pair made a home in Ocean Reef before moving to Hamersley, and loved life living near the ocean for nearly 30 years. Lothar was a big fan of Virginia’s home country, the Philippines and in particular developed a taste for the food which his wife used to cook for him. “I love Virginia, she is special,” he says fondly. Meanwhile, Lothar has always been caring, very hard-working and a loving husband, says Virginia. “We feel blessed having each other every day in Hamersley, and being able to share each other’s company,” they say. “It’s a beautiful thing to have.” 21

THE LOVE ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE

Brian and Lorna Mayne WINDSOR PARK AGED CARE HOME, WA

rian and Lorna Mayne were married on March 4, 1961 at Swan Hill Methodist Church in Victoria. Lorna came from a big family – she was one of nine daughters – but nevertheless, her father did not scrimp when it came to arranging her wedding day.

“Despite having nine daughters, my father never thought all those daughters were a drawback but an opportunity to send them off into married life with a big wedding which he catered for himself,” says Lorna. Nevertheless, Lorna had a different vision for her big day – and it was a much smaller affair. Her father had other ideas however. “We had a farm and he said he wanted three months’ notice of a wedding to fatten a turkey and a pig for the feast. I wanted a small wedding and printed about 30 invitations. My father bought and filled in other invitations to make about 100 guests. We have a large family!” The couple met at the Swan Hill Methodist Church and after they were married, they had three children – Carolyn, Jeff and Lyndon. “They were very good children and we had no trouble with them as they grew up,” says Lorna. “We are delighted with our 10 grandchildren – three girls – Bethany, Miranda and Phoebe – and seven boys – Chris, Johno, Stuart, Robert, Campbell, Jeremy and Laughlan. We see a lot of them and before I became a resident here, they

FAMILY FIRST Above, Brian and Lorna with two of their three children.

used to push Brian home from Windsor Park in his wheelchair every Saturday and Sunday for four years, only missing one very hot summer’s day. “We wrapped him up in a raincoat on rainy days and delivered him back dry as a bone, and once we were drenched the staff gave us towels to dry off.”

Being able to live together once again and receive such excellent care, Sheila was also glad she could now ‘keep an eye on Brian’ and help anticipate and remedy any problems he might be experiencing.

While Brian started living in Windsor Park a few years before his wife, when Lorna’s health deteriorated a few years ago, she says she found it easy to enter residential care and figured that as Windsor Park and its friendly staff had looked after Brian so well, they would look after her too and, she says, “I haven’t been disappointed," she says.

The highlight of their lives however has always been the births of their children and in due course, their beloved grandchildren, who have given them both enormous pleasure.

“He wasn’t good at sharing how he felt,” she says.

Sadly Brian passed away shortly after this interview. Our sincere condolences to Lorna and Brian’s family and friends.

THE LOVE ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURE “Mum is very quiet and she just gets things done in the background,” he says. “She is a very good cook and she has made the Chinese New Year cake for years – they are very famous in Perth.” They were so good in fact that the Chinese grocery shop would hide her cakes and only sell to special customers as they were that sought-after. The pair were a formidable couple, and were happy to share housework chores, Noel remembers.

Hui Min (Elizabeth) Guan (Ambrose) Ong

CONCORDE AGED CARE HOME, WA IT’S A LONG WAY FROM MALAYASIA to South Perth, but for husband and wife Elizabeth (88) and Ambrose (88), it’s a journey which represents a lifetime of love together. The pair have been married for 55 years, and were together for at least 10 years before that, having met after playing basketball together. They attended the same school in Malaysia and chose to marry in Singapore. “It was cheaper to get married in Singapore rather than Kuching on mainland Malaysia,” they recall. It was a lovely, intimate day – an outdoor wedding with around 25 people in attendance made all the more special because Elizabeth made her own wedding dress – all white – and her own wedding cake, complete with an incredible five tiers. The couple were blessed with two sons – Gerald and Noel, and four grandchildren – Aiden, Megan, Sarah and Mercedes. Elizabeth says that her husband was very handsome when he was young. “He came from a rich family of gold miners,” she says. Ambrose meanwhile loved his wife’s cooking skills and her quiet, calm personality. Their son Noel agrees. 24

“Dad has always been on her side and whenever she is making cakes to sell, he would help her,” he says. “Dad is the person who irons clothes in the house, and when Sandra and I got married, he would iron her clothing too.” The pair would enjoy going out and having coffees and lunches together, as well as picnics, and bike rides. They have always been inseparable despite Ambrose’s friends’ best efforts to lure him away. “When Dad used to be courted to go out drinking by his business friends, he would make excuses and come home after dinner,” he laughs. “Dad used to go fishing and mum would clean the fish for him, they are one of those couples that do everything together.” Travel and being at the heart of their family has also been an important part of their lives together, says Noel. “Mum loves cooking and dad loves to eat – it’s the perfect combination,” he says. “They are like glue to each other and are very family-orientated.”

Companion care for couples Hall & Prior supports couples living in care together with a range of companion room options at our 27 homes in WA and NSW.

Michael and Robyn Kenny SHANGRI-LA AGED CARE HOME, NSW

t was Michael Kenny’s birthday on December 11 in 1977, and although he didn’t know it yet, he was about to meet the love of his life.

“I met Robyn at a workshop called Access Industry in St Peter’s on my birthday,” recalls Michael, 65. “Pretty soon afterwards we would go to the movies or the beach at Dolls Point or San Souci in Sydney. Our favourite place was the Hoyts Village cinema and we loved going to our favourite café at Broadway too.” Their wedding day was a memorable one, on June 30, 1979 at St Patrick’s Church in Kograh. “Our reception took place in Bexley and we had over 60 friends and family there to witness our wedding,” says Michael. A blissful honeymoon followed at Hayman Island.

For her part Robyn, 66, is in no doubt – “I was completely in love with Michael,” she says. “He was a hard worker and we had similar interests like reading the paper together, playing bingo and enjoying having meals and watching TV together.” It was no easy road to love for the pair however. “I had to fight for Robyn’s love to keep her for myself,” he says. “She was always flirtatious but she has been a good wife, loyal and the love of my life.” The pair bought a unit together and have always looked after each other during different times.

With a combination of single and double rooms with ensuites, these rooms allow couples to share space together like they would have at home. At many of our homes, couples can have a shared room with an ensuite, two single rooms with separate ensuites or share a bedroom and have a second room as a living room. Hall & Prior is one of the only aged care providers in Australia that designs and builds companion rooms for couples; a subject that’s very close to our CEO Graeme Prior’s heart. “It’s about love and intimacy and staying together at this crucial time of life,” Graeme said. “Having double rooms isn’t a popular choice in aged care, but we think it’s very important.”

“We have worked together ever since we met and are so thankful that we have been able to survive life’s trials and tribulations.” 25

G N I K LOO

D R A FORW K C A B R E V E N

Jean Bunn celebrated her 100th birthday recently at Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco, surrounded by family and friends. Her life story, which she wrote aged 68, reveals that like so many of her generation, hard times were balanced with many happy memories. By Gabi Mills.

f Charles Page from Bedfordshire in England had not decided to frequent a hotel in Mundaring in 1914, he would never have met Jane Simpson, and Jean Bunn (nee Page) would never have been born. The chances of those two young Brits meeting were extraordinary, even by modern day standards. Jane’s family had made the long trip from the remote Scottish Shetland Islands, arriving in Fremantle in 1912, two years before Charles and his family travelled from Flitwick in the south of England to the West Australian port city. They met in 1914 at the Sawyers Valley hotel where Jane was working as a waitress, marrying a year later at Jean’s grandparents’ house in Fremantle, before Charles joined the 16th Battalion and headed overseas to fight with the Allies. After sustaining grave injuries and convalescing in England, he returned four years later to Fremantle, to meet his son Alex (born in 1916) for the first time. Jean followed on January 8, 1921, and finally another son, Arthur, in 1924. A butcher by trade as well as an accomplished bookkeeper, Charles did his best to keep

in their skins in the fire coals and enjoying a picnic with our parents, uncle, aunt and cousins.” The family briefly lived in a tent on Jean’s grandfather’s farm in Eastbrook, before heading back to Fremantle. These were the years of the Great Depression, and everybody was struggling to make ends meet.

OUT AND ABOUT Above, Jean in Perth in 1948. Opposite, Jean and her family celebrate her 100 th birthday at Hamersley. Top right, Jean and Jack on their wedding day, 1940.

his young family afloat, taking work wherever he could. Jean recalls her early years being hard, as the family moved around the state, following work as a butcher or freelance slaughter-man. It may have been hard, but it was also a happy time, writes Jean. “It was a good life. We got our schooling by correspondence and would often fish for marron in the Warren River which was very close to our house in Pemberton, light a fire and boil the marron in a kerosene tin bucket, cooking potatoes

“Soup kitchens were started and hot soup was brought to the schools,” writes Jean. Each child could get a bowl of soup and a slice of bread at lunchtime if they wanted it.” Good times were sometimes overtaken by bad luck, the threat of destitution perhaps never far away. A fire destroyed all of Charles’ butchering tools and once again the family seemed to be facing very hard times. Never one to give up, Charles applied for a farm through the group settlement scheme, moving the family to Springfield near Pemberton in the mid-1930s. “Grandfather gave us a couple of cows, a horse and some implements,” writes Jean. Without this help, says Jean, she suspects they wouldn’t have been able to make a go of things.

Moving to Springfield was an important moment in Jean’s life because it meant she started attending Springfield School – and there, aged 11 and a half, she met Jack Bunn. The school was so small that all age groups shared one classroom, meaning she sat near Jack, some two years her elder. During these years, Jean helped the family business by riding a bike to deliver meat butchered and prepared by her father to some of the farms. One family in particular was a favourite, she writes – the Grahams. “On one occasion when I called, Mrs Graham was busy as usual, knitting a pair of socks for Jack Bunn. She reached out and took a strand of my hair and said “I’ll knit this into Jack’s sock for good luck.” We laughed about it but I often wondered if Jack appreciated the gesture.” The family farming adventure ended after three years, and the Pages headed back to Pemberton, Perth and Fremantle, and by the time Jean was 15, she was working in a shop in Freo. Her parents continued to struggle to make ends meet as her father’s health declined and for much of the time, he was unable to earn any money. Her mother would take any work she could, washing, ironing and cleaning for meagre rewards. Jean’s salary – 12 shillings and sixpence ($1.25) stretched to cover a week’s board and clothing.

SWEETHEARTS FOR 70 YEARS Above, Jean and Jack celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary, and would be married almost 69 years before Jack died. Below, surrounded by their nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

“A shop in Fremantle used to advertise ‘nothing over two and sixpence’ (25c), and I could buy a blouse, skirt or even a frock for that price,” she writes. The family decided to move back to their still vacant farm and Jean and brother Alex tried to make a go of things on their father’s behalf. Unfortunately, a bush fire tore through the property destroying everything except the house. The family once again relocated back to Fremantle and at the age of 19, Jean and Jack became engaged, marrying on August 31, 1940. Early married life sounded idyllic for Jean, as the couple lived in a cottage on the Bunn family’s hop farm in Springfield. Just a year after their marriage however, Jean found herself farewelling brother Alex as he left with the Army for the Middle East, and then on July 23, her father died, at just 47 years of age. Most of Jean’s married life would revolve around Jack’s career in the prison service, moving from Barton’s Mill to Fremantle, Geraldton, Pardelup (Mount Barker), Albany and finally back to Fremantle. Jack, hardworking and dedicated, moved up the ranks of the service, before retiring as Superintendent of Establishments Western Australia.

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After a life-time of mending and making do, it's no surprise that Jean loved sewing and lace work...

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Jean played no small part in this success, raising four children – Lorraine, Lyndon, Kevin and Neil – and also helping out as a matron and as a female escort for the transport of prisoners. Jack retired on his 60 th birthday in 1979, and died a month before the couple celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. Before moving to Hamersley, her youngest son Neil and wife Christine came to live with Jean.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU Jean was surrounded by her friends and family when she celebrated her 100 th birthday recently.

When asked what she liked to have for dinner she said “an egg and sherry with water,” recalls daughter Lorraine. Jack and Jean’s four children went on to produce nine grandchildren and then 16 great-grandchildren – and Jean is extremely well-loved by them all. After a life-time of mending and making do, it’s no surprise that Jean loved sewing and lace work, creating many jumpers, crochet pieces and bobbin lace dollies. She was a talented artist too and derived much joy from poetry. One of her poems she wrote in 1994 provides perhaps a fitting tribute to this inspiring lady’s life, well-lived: Don’t be sad, as the long day closes. Think of the good times we have known, The happy days surpass the sad ones. Old age is but a gathering of wisdom From the crop of experience and mistakes. Let’s rejoice in what we’ve reaped throughout the years, And in the twilight, count our blessing and shed no tears. 29

FOOD AND DRINK

STRONG as an OX The Year of the Ox began on February 12 in 2021, and for the Chinese community, it’s an auspicious time of year which hopefully will herald 12 months of honesty, positivity and hard work.

s the second of all the Chinese zodiac animals, the Ox was only beaten to the first position by the wily rat. As the myth goes, the Jade Emperor decreed the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived at his party. The Ox was about to be the first to arrive, until Rat tricked him into giving him a ride. Just as they arrived, Rat jumped down ahead of the Ox – thereby leaving the beast of burden forever in second position on the zodiac. Every 12 years, the year of the Ox will occur, so those born in 1925, 1937, 1949 and so forth until 2021 are born under the Ox. Characteristics include honesty and earnestness; they are low key and don’t enjoy being the centre of attention, which

is somewhat at odds when you consider George Clooney, Margaret Thatcher and President Obama are all Oxen. However, thanks to their inherent drive to work hard and ability to keep their cool, they often make great leaders, so perhaps there’s a grain of truth to this ancient system after all. For Oxen in 2021, there may be unexpected challenges ahead but as with all Ox, there’s an inherent ability within to overcome and navigate difficulties by cultivating close relationships. It’s a great year to develop your skills and add to your talents. You’re advised to avoid luxury purchases and keep thrifty to avoid any financial pitfalls. Save for a rainy day, stay calm and be patient with yourself - and you’ll be one happy Ox.

CHINESE GOLD INGOT (YUAN BAO) DUMPLING These delicious little dumplings bear a resemblance to the currency used in Imperial China and as such are believed to bring good fortune and good luck. 30

INGREDIENTS Dumpling wrappers: 300g plain flour 160g pumpkin Dumpling filling: 240g pork mince 100g prawn/shrimp 1 egg 1 stalk spring onion Seasoning: Salt & pepper to taste 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp sesame oil

FAST FACTS - THE YEAR OF THE OX

YEAR OF THE OX COOKIES

• Important hours of the day for those born in the year of the Ox are between 1 and 3am.

These little Ox cookies are the perfect way to celebrate with a sweet treat.

• Lucky colours – blue, yellow and green. • If you’re a male Ox – you are reliable, trustworthy and displaying great responsibility to their family. They are also rather inflexible and hold their children to high standards – even if this is sometimes unrealistic. • If you’re a female Ox – you’re calm, gentle and sometimes stubborn. Once they’ve chosen a path, they will keep on this road to the end, but also are able to think and react quickly to new situations. • Ox are most compatible with Rat, Snake and Rooster, and least compatible with Goat, Horse and Dog. • Ideal jobs – doctors, lawyers, business people and teachers, all appealing to an Ox’s sense of responsibility and hard work to achieve qualifications. To celebrate the Year of the Ox, many Chinese families will gather to feast together, particularly on dumplings. Everybody pitches in to help make these delicious delicacies, and they’re shaped to look like gold nuggets which symbolise prosperity. Here are a couple of Chinese New Year recipes from Wei Ping Lam, a specialist dietician who supports our Asian residents at our Concorde Aged Care Home – we wish you all Gong Xi Fa Cai!

INGREDIENTS 40g icing sugar 125g potato starch 80g low protein flour Pink food colouring Brown food colouring Black sesame seeds Almond flakes 125g butter (room temperature)

METHOD Preheat the oven to 150° Celsius. Cream the butter and icing sugar until fluffy and light then fold in the sieved potato starch and flour. Mix well to form a biscuit dough. Remove one to two tablespoons of the dough to mix in pink food colouring (a couple of dots from a toothpick works well). Remove another one to two tablespoons to mix in some brown colouring. To make the face, weigh 8g for each ball from the plain dough, arrange them on the baking paper. The pink dough is to make the snout (two holes), while the brown dough for the Ox’s spot and horn, sesame seeds as eyes, and almond flake as ears. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

METHOD Cut the pumpkin into cubes, then steam until soft. Smash the pumpkin into a paste, mix the pumpkin paste into the plain flour. Dust both hands with flour and start kneading to form dough, (adding some water if needed). The dough will be quite tough and should easily be able to be lifted from the bowl without sticking to the bottom. Transfer the dough to the working surface and continue

to knead it until surface becomes smooth, about 10 minutes. Transfer the dough into a large bowl, cover the bowl with the damp dish towel, let the dough rest for two hours. Prepare the dumpling filling: blend the pork mince, prawn, egg, spring onion, salt and pepper, soy sauce, sesame oil in a food processer. Roll the dough into a long stick,

cut the dough in to 16 small dough balls. Take these press into round discs. Roll it with a rolling pin into round sheet, try to roll it so the edge is thinner than the centre, about 1mm thick. Scoop about 1 tablespoon (or less, so you can easily fold the dumpling), fold in half, start sealing the edge, press to seal well. Join the two pointy ends, press to join. Steam for 10 minutes and enjoy with dipping sauce. 31

IN OUR HOMES

Budding florists AT BEXLEY

lowers make everyone happy so we put together a special activity recently to make everyone smile at our Bexley Aged Care Home in NSW.

Focusing on Australian flowers, our residents enjoyed arranging bunches of gorgeous, fresh blooms for their dining tables to enjoy over a meal. The flowers were handpicked from various homes of our staff members. Floral arranging wasn’t just for our lovely ladies - our male residents also got involved, showing some real flair! This will be a regular event so residents can enjoy seeing fresh flowers on the table each week.

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ Hamersley Aged Care Home in Subiaco, WA kicked off 2021 with a gorgeous Great Gatsby party recently. Staff, residents and families all got into the spirit of the 1920s, having a simply splendid time dancing, singing and enjoying a glass of fizz. Residents and their families were entertained by Adam Penn from Top Hat Enterprises, and Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse said it was the first of many parties planned for Hamersley this year. “It was a great party with many family and friends coming along to join in, dressed in the Gatsby theme,” Terri said. “It was a great hit! We had champagne, decorations and everyone had a great time. “The idea behind these parties is to help Hamersley residents feel like they are part of a community, it brings them together with our staff who all join in and have a great time. We love to invite the families too and enjoy it as one big happy family.”

A CENTURY PLUS FOUR FOR NESSIE In February, the staff of Sirius Cove put together a very special celebration for a resident who reached her 104th birthday.

here can’t be many among us who have 104 candles to blow out on our birthday cake, but for Sirius Cove resident Nessie Ferguson, this remarkable achievement was marked with a special party for the occasion. Dressed up especially for her birthday, Nessie was presented with presents and cards as well as a large birthday cake. Nessie’s niece, Barbara attended the celebration and was happy to tell Nessie’s story which began back in 1917 in Seven Kings, Essex, England. She came from a surprisingly long line of centenarians: Nessie’s mother lived to 107 years old. Nessie was particularly passionate about music – especially opera and musical theatre, says Barbara. “Nessie held the position of secretary of The Gallery Club for many years,” she says. “She formed many lifelong friendships with fellow patrons of the arts during this time, and accumulated an impressive knowledge of musicians and composers.” Her knowledge was so comprehensive that Barbara says you could ask Nessie at any time to recite a song from Gilbert & Sullivan’s shows such as The Mikado, and she would do so with ease.

She has lived through so many momentous historical events and many other everyday changes which we now take for granted. To highlight these changes, young Nessie, who wrote a poem at the age of six, described these new-fangled developments during her era. 'I like gaslight,’ I’ve heard folks say And electricity is the thing today But I don’t care ‘Cause I’ve got it in my head That I like candle best When I go to bed. These days you can find Nessie tackling crossword puzzles (even the most cryptic ones), reading from her Kindle and iPad and welcoming many visitors to her room. A keen sports woman throughout her life, she enjoyed tennis, golf and sailing and so it’s no surprise the television is always tuned to the sports channels. After the birthday celebrations, Nessie relaxed with her favourite drink – a glass of scotch – and, ever the perfect hostess, she gave a speech to her party guests, warmly thanking them for being with her on such a special day. “You’re all so kind and so patient, and I can never, ever thank you for how wonderful you all are. And I mean that honestly.”

IN OUR HOMES

Celebrating

AUSTRALIA and INDIA

n Tuesday, January 26 many of our homes celebrated Australia Day, stopping to appreciate what a wonderful country we live in.

Tuohy Aged Care Home also celebrated India’s Republic Day on the same day. In NSW at our Fairfield Aged Care Home, staff and residents got in some early celebrations. Residents enjoyed a multitude of ‘Australiana’ props while the staff wore either a green and gold t-shirt or a special blue ‘Aussie’ shirt. Residents also enjoyed a BBQ lunch and some quality time together.

IN OUR HOMES

KARINGAL GREEN'S

Spring Festival

e know it’s summer now, but we couldn’t not share these gorgeous images from Karingal Green’s Spring Festival in November.

Residents, staff and families all came together to celebrate the season, enjoying flowers, cakes, tea and quality time together.

ELF ON THE SHELF

fun

hristmas seems like a long time ago now, but McDougall Park, one of our homes in WA, had a great time before Christmas with its ‘Elf on the Shelf’ hiding the cheeky elf in all sorts of fun scenarios all over the home for residents and staff to find. Here he is helping out with the roster, manning the reception desk, gardening and generally entertaining our residents!

s l l e b g n Weddi DUE TO A SERIOUS ILLNESS, our Caroline Chisholm resident Bernie was unable to travel to his son Mark’s wedding recently in NSW. So Mark and his beautiful bride Latoya visited Bernie instead to have a photo in the home’s garden. It was a touching moment and a happy occasion for Director of Nursing Anne to be able to capture this moment for them. Congratulations to Mark and Latoya!

MEET TONY, MASTER OF THE JIGSAWS

etting his mind to new challenges, a resident at Fairfield took the COVID-19 lockdown as an opportunity to create new challenges for himself – with jigsaw puzzles. Many of us have embraced jigsaw puzzles during the pandemic, and Tony took this challenge very seriously indeed. The staff at Fairfield even went so far as to create ‘Tony’s Wall of Fame’ in the home to showcase all of his completed puzzles, which Tony is rightly very proud of. Never one to take the easy route, Tony has tackled 1,000-piece puzzles which would baffle even the most puzzle-minded among us. But Tony takes them all in his stride, methodically working out where each new piece should sit in the overall pictoral masterpiece.

NEW DON STEPS UP AT VAUCLUSE FOLLOWING THE RETIREMENT of Joy Bigelow from her position as Director of Nursing at Vaucluse in late 2020, the Sydney home's former Deputy Director of Nursing - Manezheh Jafari - has taken on the challenging role. Congratulations to Manezheh from the Hall & Prior team. 38

Starting out with puzzles of 250 pieces, Tony has built up his jigsaw puzzle muscle with each new attempt and now the team order special puzzles so he can continue to challenge himself. The puzzles can take a while to complete – but in some instances, he has been known to complete a puzzle in just five hours. Tony says the secret to his success is ‘to be aware of each piece’s shape and colour, so that I can pinpoint the section of puzzle it would potentially fit into’. By grouping pieces together Tony finds that it helps with remembering what you have available for each section of the puzzle. Tony particularly likes to make puzzles of old-fashioned settings that include classic cottages with muted colour tones. You will often find Tony happily sitting in his room after lunch and dinner, concentrating on finishing new puzzles.

IN OUR HOMES

Celebrating our cover

STAR

OUR REMEMBRANCE DAY cover star Raymond Bartholomew, who lives with us at Rockingham celebrated his 97th birthday recently. To congratulate Raymond, our CEO Graeme Prior paid him a special visit on the day. Raymond fought in WWII as part of the British Navy. Happy birthday Raymond!

ENJOYING THE

cafe

LIFE

etting out and about and being part of the community is a big part of our residents’ wellbeing at Hall & Prior’s homes.

So in January, some of our Hamersley Aged Care residents enjoyed a coffee and chat at the lovely Café Melograno in Subiaco, WA. “It is so wonderful to have the Subiaco café strip so close to our home,” says Director of Nursing Terri Woolhouse. As summer is in full swing, residents of our homes can expect more outings together to local cafés and picnic spots.

IN OUR HOMES

EVA MAKES A DIFFERENCE

airfield's Director of Nursing, Eva Ballai recently completed frontline duties for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during ‘Operation COVID-19 Assist’ as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Aged Care Rapid Response Task Force. Last month, Eva was featured in the Afford newsletter to share this information with her colleagues and friends. Afford is the Australian Foundation for Disability, which is trusted by thousands of people to provide disability support that inspires and enriches lives every day. It is one of Australia's longest serving disability service providers, dedicated to helping people with disabilities live an empowered life. Eva shares her knowledge with Afford as an active board member and has even been turned into an emoji in the newsletter. Well done, Eva – we're inspired by your big heart and dedication to helping all Australians.

Sri Lankan hospital receives ex-Hall & Prior equipment

n a remote village in Sri Lanka, equipment donated by Hall & Prior is helping bring improved health care facilities to the local community.

“We had an excess of beds from converting and reducing some of our four bedrooms into two bedrooms,” says Phil.

Rupaha, 200km from Colombo, was in dire need of equipment for its three-storey hospital. Hall & Prior, along with other aged care providers in Perth, bandied together to send over some hospital beds and wheelchairs to the facility – and in early January, the consignment was received with gratitude by the health professionals working in the region.

The Group identified Rupaha hospital as a facility which could make good use of the second-hand beds, hoists and wheelchairs, resulting in delivery at the end of 2020.

Phil Bedford, Environmental Services Manager for Hall & Prior, co-ordinated the delivery.

“You are remembered with deep gratitude for every life cared for, rescued and cured.”

“The villagers are eternally grateful to everyone who contributed with funds and other donations,” reads the letter of thanks.

Hall & Prior donated six beds and five wheelchairs assessed by the Group’s lifestyle team to be no longer economically viable to repair.

Did you know Hall & Prior is a registered NDIS Provider? As a registered NDIS service provider Hall & Prior offers a range of NDIS opportunities to facilitate early discharge from hospital. Approved services include Plan Management, Core Support including the capacity to provide 1:1 community visits for residents and Assistive Technology prescribing and supply services. Many of our current NDIS participants identify as ATSI and our Aboriginal Health workforce can cater for trauma-informed, culturally-safe care services. To find out more please contact: Janelle (WA) on 0491 051 497 or JMcFarlane@hallprior.com.au Chris (NSW) on (02) 9427 8978 or CGrady@hallprior.com.au

A Q +

with Lily Rarkoti Karki, Assistant in Nursing and Lifestyle Officer at Shangri-La Aged Care Home, NSW.

Lily Karki is the definition of a great care worker empathetic, hard-working and a true team player. L&L: What made you want to become a care worker? LK: Ever since I was at school I have always wanted to become a nurse because I love caring for people. I always wanted to make a difference to their lives through my love, care and support. L&L: What does the World Health Organisation's International Year of Health and Care Workers mean to you? LK: I believe it gives a focus on what we do and provides lots of education opportunities and information for what we need to perform our roles successfully. L&L: How long have you worked in aged care and at Hall & Prior? LK: I have worked in aged care and Hall & Prior for more than five years. The care, attachment and love towards elderly people drew me to do this job. L&L: What does an average day look like for you? LK: Each day can be different but there is always something to be busy with and I am always challenged in new ways. L&L: Tell us one part of your job that makes you feel really rewarded and connected to those you care for? LK: I particularly love it when our residents appreciate our work, and when we see the smile on their faces it makes me feel rewarded and connected. 42

MEET THE STAFF

L&L: What is the best piece of advice you ever got about caring from others and from who?

2021 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF HEALTH AND CARE WORKERS

LK: The best piece of advice I received from my manager was that we should always make our residents the first priority, and to manage our time wisely while working. We should also be aware of our limitations. L&L: What is the best thing about working at your aged care home?

L&L: How would others describe you, do you think?

LK: For me, the best thing is making it feel like home for us and our residents. The other part is the teamwork through which we are able to give the best quality of care to our residents.

LK: I would hope everybody thinks that I am dedicated to my work and a good co-worker.

L&L: What have you learned about yourself and those you care for while you’ve worked for Hall & Prior?

LK: I would say some important qualities are being dedicated, honest, hardworking, caring and able to show love and respect.

LK: I’ve learned that I can bring a change and make a difference to our residents’ lives through my work and ideas.

L&L: What are five words you live by?

L&L: What qualities are required to make a great care worker?

LK: Honest, humble, funny, beautiful, empathetic. 43

A Q +

2021 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF HEALTH AND CARE WORKERS

with Merla Julve, PCAP at Tuohy Aged Care Home, WA.

Ever since she was a child, Merla Julve has wanted to care for others - and she has got her wish, providing compassionate assistance at Tuohy Aged Care Home. L&L: What made you want to become a care worker? MJ: Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to take care of the elderly. It started when I was seven years old and my father had an accident. He was in hospital for more than a year and when I was visiting him, I saw the other patients that nobody visited at all, and since then, I wanted to look after the elderly. L&L: What does the World Health Organisation's International Year of Health and Care Workers mean to you? MJ: It means a lot, being appreciated and honouring the effect of health care workers and the job we do every day. Also it’s a way of changing the narrative of what it means to work in this industry, which is more important than ever. L&L: How long have you worked in aged care and when did you join Hall & Prior? MJ: I’ve been working in aged care since 2008. I started as a cleaner in aged care for a different company. This year I decided to study and get a certificate as a personal care assistant. I joined the Group as a trainee from health training Australia (HTA). In 2012, right after my training I joined the team as a regular

employee, and then became a personal care assistant. I am lucky enough to be chosen to undergo training as a personal carer advance practice (PCAP). L&L: What does an average day look like for you? MJ: I would say challenging and fun. Every day is different and dealing with different behaviours. On a normal day as a carer it starts by handing over with the nurses, then following through on what we need to prioritise that day as a PCAP. I receive my handover from the nurse on duty, greet the residents, give medication and assist nurses on other work that needs to be done. L&L: Tell us one part of your job that makes you feel really rewarded and connected to those you care for? MJ: When the resident appreciates you because of what you’ve done for them, even when some of them cannot say it in words, but express it in actions, it is truly rewarding knowing that you can make them feel that they are loved. Seeing them with a smile on their face, and knowing that you have made a difference in their lives is the ultimate achievement for me.

MEET THE STAFF L&L: What have you learned about yourself and those you care for while you’ve worked for Hall & Prior? MJ: I learned that working in aged care can be the most challenging and unpredictable job. We never know what will happen during the day, but it’s very rewarding and gives me satisfaction. I have also learned that working with other staff from different cultures is great, as long as you respect each other and work as one. L&L: How would others describe you? MJ: I always have a smile on my face, I am a happy person, because I believe that in life, we don’t know what another person is going through, and so I try to make them smile whenever I can. A smile is the only thing that is free, so why not give it to everyone? L&L: What qualities are required to make a great care worker?

L&L: What is the best piece of advice you ever got about caring from others and from who? MJ: My favourite quote is from Steve Jobs and I try to apply it in everything I do: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do." L&L: What is the best thing about working at your aged care home? MJ: Working at Tuohy - I consider it as my second home, where I have not only a team but a family. The staff are always happy, we support and help each other so most of the time you do not really need to ask for help. The managers are very supportive, not only at work, but also in your personal life; you can always count on them. At Tuohy, you won’t hear the words ‘we can’t’. Instead we say, ‘we try and we can’. We always try to find a solution to every situation. I am very proud that I am one of the team and I call our home “the happy place and the place to be, Tuohy.”

MJ: Be respectful about what you do. Be ready to listen, understand and respect a resident’s wishes and point of view. It is important as well to place yourself in a resident’s shoes - ask yourself how would you feel in their situation. A great carer also has a desire to learn, treating every day as a learning experience, which can improve your knowledge and skills. Lastly, I would say teamwork is important and essential in order to accomplish a good and positive result on what we are doing.

FAST FACTS If I wasn't a care worker I would still be in this kind of environment, since I was a little girl, my only dream was to become a nurse. My favourite movie - Fast & Furious. When I’m not at work, you’ll often find me - sorting out things in the house while video calling my family back home, colouring and painting my garden pots and enjoying family time.

IN THE PIPELINE

GEORGES ESTATE PROJECT UPDATE

ork is continuing as scheduled on Georges Estate, Hall & Prior’s first purpose built home in NSW. Georges Estate is located in the southern Sydney suburb of Penshurst and the 111-bed home will not disappoint.

of furniture, and fixings and equipment being installed. Gardening works have also progressed to make sure the home's lobbies and courtyards are as green as possible to welcome new residents when it opens mid-year.

The home will have a strong focus on health and wellness and provide an innovative and care-focused approach to aged care.

Commissioning and marketing has also begun, with the marketing program expected to ramp up in the next few months to highlight the home to the Sydney market.

Final stages of building works are now underway; the focus will then shift to interior fitouts, the commissioning

If you would like to register your interest for Georges Estate or find out more please visit georgesestate.com.au

Did you know that all Hall & Prior homes have Registered Nurses on duty 24/7? This includes a wound care specialist, nurse practitioner and infection prevention control specialist. We also have Allied Health teams on staff with dietitians, speech pathologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, plus extensive lifestyle programs for our residents. If you'd like to find out more about accommodation available at any of our homes please contact: info@hallprior.com.au

M Y FAVOURITE THINGS

Andy Yin Andy Yin is Hall & Prior’s ICT Solutions Architect Innovation Lead, based in Perth. It’s a vital role which helps ensure all the technology systems for the Group run smoothly. As you’ll see, his eclectic tastes, from trying new cuisines to embracing emerging technologies inspire Andy in his day-to-day role as well as when he’s away from the computer monitor at home.

BASKETBALL I grew up watching the games of NBA legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. I am inspired by what those great players did on and off the court and their work ethics.

MUSIC If food is the fuel of my body, then music is the fuel of my mind. I listen to a variety of styles – from classic music to rock and from the 60s to the 21st Century. Music is the gas pedal of my mind, which helps me to concentrate when I come across difficult questions and also helps me wind down when I want to slow down a bit.

CARS Humans have always dreamed of becoming faster, higher, and stronger. Cars fulfil our first dream – of becoming faster. With the advancement of technology, cars are also becoming smarter. I hope I could have a selfdriving car one day.

INTERNATIONAL CUISINES I find one of the best things that I can do in Perth is to explore food from all over the world. I am a big fan of trying different cuisines. Food tells beautiful stories about the people and culture who create it, and most importantly, makes me happy.

HIKING One of my favourite ways to spend quality time with my family is to go hiking. I usually go to the Perth Hills with my wife and kids and we like to spend the whole day exploring.

MOVIES & DOCUMENTARIES I love movies and documentaries, especially those thought-provoking ones which help me to open my mind and boost my curiosity. Movies are also a great way to spend time with my children.

HISTORICAL BUILDINGS Every time I visit a new place, I always try to visit some of its historical buildings. I find it interesting to listen or read about the stories of those architectural masterpieces, through which I discover connections with the people from centuries ago.

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS I like following the latest technology trends and feel inspired when I see how technological breakthroughs improve our lives and transform the world. I strongly believe that technology is the key to a brighter future and the answer to many challenges that the humans are facing.

PUZZLES CROSSWORD

No. 008

Stick Simplicity Irish girl’s name Bird’s home

QUICK QUIZ 1

Valles Marineris is a canyon on which planet in our solar system?

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a 1798 work by which poet?

Which Mexican folk song, famously adapted by Ritchie Valens, contains the lyrics "Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan"?

In which medium does artist Marina Abramovic primarily work?

The codename "Marine One" usually denotes what vehicle used by the US president?

WORDSTEP Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step. There may be more than one possible answer.

BROWN

_ _ _ _

CHEFS

SOLUTIONS

9-LEttER WORD

DOWN

1 2 3 4

3 7 6

2 7 8 3

FEB, 2021

CROSSWORD

1 Adolescent 5 Suffix with soft or hard 6 Egyptian god 7 Chap

SUDOKU

ACROSS

No. 008

clip, clomp, clop, compel, compile, cope, elope, epic, impel, limp, lope, mope, open, opine, peel, peen, pence, penile, peon, piece, pile, pine, poem, pole, polemic, police, POLICEMEN

4x4

5 6 1 8 3 2 4 7 9

5 9 6 4 6

8 9 4 6 5 7 1 2 3

20 words: Very good

9 4 3 8 2 8 9 7 2 6 5 8 1 9 6

2 7 3 4 9 1 6 5 8

1 4 9 2 8 3 7 6 5

27 words: Excellent

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

3 5 7 1 6 9 8 4 2

today’s Aim: 14 words: Good

No. 008

6 2 8 7 4 5 3 9 1

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and teach letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

SUDOKU

4 1 6 5 2 8 9 3 7

9-LETTER WORD

9 8 2 3 7 6 5 1 4

27 28

22 24 25

Asphyxiation (11) Observed (9) Let go (7) Obstacle (10) High ground (4) Ways (7) Not edited (5) Hair product (3) Common joint injury (11) Traineeship (10) Vast (9) Middleman (7) Speaker of the word of God (7) Chocolate bean tree (5) Citrus fruit (4) Science room (3)

7 3 5 9 1 4 2 8 6

21 23 25 26

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 14 17 19 20

WORDStEP BROWN, CROWN, CROWS, CREWS, CHEWS, CHEFS

18 20

Japanese warrior (7) German city (7) Last (5) Related to government (9) Away from the centre (8) Covered (6) Concur (5) Government department leaders (9) Laziness (9) Outdoor area adjoining a house (5) Sweet liquid (6) Sleeplessness (8) Key maker (9) Famous Swiss children’s book (5) Baked chocolate treat (7) Repetitive design (7)

4x4 ACROSS: 1. Teen, 5. Ware, 6. Isis, 7. Gent. DOWN: 1. Twig, 2. Ease, 3. Erin, 4. Nest.

ACROSS

1 5 9 10 11 12 15 16

No. 008

1. Mars 2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge 3. La Bamba 4. Performance 5. Helicopter

QUIOCK QUIZ ANSWERS

TEABREAK

WORDFIND

CODEWORD

Can you find all of the words listed below? The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

eggs ham lox milk muesli muffin oatmeal orange juice

CROSS MATH

–

– +

= 75

–

x B

= 3

= 17

= 7

+ ×

Can you work out what the missing letter is that spells an 8-letter word? It could read either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

= 7

Each number corresponds to a letter. Can you crack the code? 1

EIGHT AROUND HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

Insert each number from 1 to 9 in the shaded squares to solve all the horizontal and vertical equations. Multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

porridge snack soup tea waffle yoghurt

= 8

5x5 Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down.

A A

O E

E Y

S A U

MIrANdA TApseLL 1. For her role in which TV show did Tapsell win Most Outstanding Newcomer and Best New Talent Logie Awards? A. Black Comedy B. Cleverman C. Redfern Now D. Love Child 2. In which Australian children’s series does she voice the main character? A. Bluey B. Little J & Big Cuz C. Mustangs FC D. Grace Beside Me 3. What is the title of Tapsell’s memoir, released in April 2020? A. Any Ordinary Day B. A Question of Colour C. Top End Girl D. A Bigger Picture

4. Which Bridesmaids actor did she star alongside in the hit musical The Sapphires? A. Kristen Wiig B. Rose Byrne C. Rebel Wilson D. Chris O’Dowd 5. Which Indigneous Australian filmmaker directed Top End Wedding, the 2019 rom-com that Tapsell co-wrote, produced and starred in? A. Wayne Blair B. Warwick Thornton C. Rachel Perkins D. Ivan Sen

ANSWERS: 1d, 2b, 3c, 4d, 5a

bacon bran buffet coffee cornflakes crepe croissant eat

AWU B R I J DN S O T H 14

C Q F L Y VM Z P X E K G 1

CODEWORD WORDFIND secret message: wake up 3 + 6 – 2 = 7 + + + 8 + 4 – 5 = 7 × + + 9 – 7 + 1 = 3 = = = 75 17 8

CROSS MATH

WORDWHEEL flexible O K E

C U R

S C A R S T A L O N O M E G A

5x5

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