December 2014
Editorial Welcome to the December edition of Community News! What a wonderful year the HVC community has had. We’ll be looking back on some of our favourite moments from the year in January’s magazine, but for now, read on for some fantastic photos and recaps from Melbourne Cup, Remembrance Day and all the other happenings from November. Enjoy the festive season!
As the editors of Community News we would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in the magazine throughout the year.
Hunter Valley Care COMMUNITY NEWS is a monthly newsletter published by the Hunter Valley Care Family to promote communication with our residents, their families, our staff and the wider community. For more information contact Kate Austen: kate@hvcare.com.au Claire Bradshaw: claire@hvcare.com.au
Firstly, to the resident communities in all our facilities: we thank you for supporting Community News, providing your feedback, and most of all – being the stars of the magazine! We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff members of Waterview, Amaroo, Fig Tree Point and The Sanctuary, especially the Activities Officers at each facility. We could not put Community News together every month without the photos and information you provide us! We are so thankful for all your input and cooperation. We would also like to thank all residents and staff members who have been featured as profiles over the last 12 months. We are so grateful to each and every person who has let us into their lives. We have been entertained, touched and inspired by the diverse range of people we have met, and have enjoyed every minute spent putting your stories together. We look forward to meeting many more members of the community next year. We wish everyone in the HVC community a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. We hope you have enjoyed reading the magazine throughout 2014 and that you’ll continue to do so in 2015!
Resident Jack Sobb hand-crafted the cave in this traditional nativity scene currently displayed in the front window of Waterview. See page 7 for more details.
Hunter Valley Care strives to set the future direction for life choices in the Hunter region. We actively seek feedback from residents in our care as well as their families; this is a fundamental element that drives ongoing improvement to the quality of the services we offer.
Have you clicked ‘Like’ on the Hunter Valley Care Facebook page yet? If not, head over and do so today to get HVC pics, news and updates in your feed! Visit www.facebook.com/HunterValleyCare and help us build up our online community.
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For feedback contact us: Head Office Street: 78 York Street, Teralba NSW 2284 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4955 6400 Fax: (02) 4955 6411 Email: helen@elss.com.au
This Christmas message goes out to our residents, their families and friends, and our staff, for Christmas is the occasion to extend the message of love, sincerity and care. Our loved ones always play an important role in our lives; without them, life is nothing, and Christmas is usually the only time when we all get together to enjoy a whole week. Many go far to make each other’s Christmas special – we can all extend to each other good wishes in so many different styles and ways. If you need a cheerful Christmas message, the best will usually come from those near and dear to each of us. As W.J. Cameron says, ‘Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year – and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.’ For those who have lost loved ones in the last year, there will be a hole that may at this time seem unable to be filled. Only with time can we hope to heal and move to a place of serenity and peace. May you find this place during this Christmas season. In Japanese language, the term ‘on’ often refers to a sense of gratitude combined with a desire to repay others for what we have been given. It’s not only a feeling or expression of gratitude – it’s the sincere desire to give something back. Gratitude seems to be a forgotten word in the busy world in which we live. We have so much to do, and so much seems to be expected of us by others, that quite often we forget to spend a little time in expressing the deep desires of our heart by saying a simple ‘thank you’, ‘well done’, ‘I appreciate what you have done’ or ‘I appreciate you’! Remember the times that your Mum made you sit down after your birthday party and write those gratitude notes to those who had given you presents for your birthday? What a chore! But remember how good you felt when the thank you letters all landed in the mailbox? This is just a note, and due to its brevity it cannot fully express the extended thankfulness that lies in the hearts of Cameron, Jayson, Christine and myself. But we are truly thankful for the wonderfully dedicated way that our staff have worked to achieve goals and bring such pleasure and comfort to so many! Looking back over the year, we would like to celebrate with you the wonderful milestones that you have all helped to achieve. A short list is compiled below; however, I believe that there are many more daily milestones that occur, from all the good things that you all do! Some milestones from 2014 are as follows: • Playgrounds in all facilities • Pain management program with massage in all facilities and at The Sanctuary • Therapy dog for Amaroo • Amaroo extensions • Amaroo fish tank installed • Painting of Fig Tree Point • Hello to Executive Care Manager for Amaroo, Shelley • Hello and goodbye to Executive Care Manager for Fig Tree Point, Caroline • Units added at the Sanctuary • Commencement of Marmong Waters Estate development • Magazine publication • Partnership with ET Australia in setting up Registered Training Organisation • Assessor training accreditation for Chris Botham • Implementation of new Commonwealth changes for aged care funding • New Quality Program commenced • Updated WHS program commenced • Care Systems financial system implemented • My Aged Care website listings • Management teams • Chicken hatching program booked On behalf of the Board of Hunter Valley Care, we would like to wish you a very happy and joyous Christmas. May you find happiness and joy in all relationships with your loved ones, families and friends. Merry Christmas!!!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Malcolm Proctor Managing Director
ROMANS 15:13 NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
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HVC Resident Profile
The word ‘all-rounder’ is often thrown around lightly, but Waterview resident Ruth Lumby is truly deserving of the title. Having lived an active and hardworking life filled with sport, farming, music, poetry and (most importantly) family, she is definitely an interesting lady to get to know! Ruth was born in Warialda in NSW’s Gwydir Shire. Her father, Captain Edmund Roseby, was a doctor, and she was one of 10 children (all of whom have kept their own teeth all their lives, as their father knew the dangers of too much sugar!). The fourth child of seven girls and three boys, Ruth was always very sporty: a champion swimmer and tennis player, as well as a keen golfer and horse rider, she collected many prizes and trophies throughout her youth. At one point, the family lived beside the Clarence River in Ulmarra; Ruth recalls that her father would often row across the river and Ruth and her brother Bob would swim back – so it’s no wonder she was a great swimmer! After attending high school in Grafton, Ruth married a farmer
named Jack Lumby, and the pair built a farmhouse by the Namoi River in Boggabri. For Ruth, life in the country was very different from the life in town she was used to! Living on a cattle, sheep and wheat farm, Ruth worked hard alongside her husband, helping out with livestock, feeding the shearers and more. In those days, it was expected that the wife prepare the shearers a hot lunch over the fuel stove, taking it out to the woolshed in the horse and buggy – very hot and very hard work! The shearers weren’t the only thing Ruth had to keep her eye on: living out in the bush, goannas and snakes were often a problem. It wasn’t unusual to see a goanna’s tail dangling down after one had crawled into the roof! You can see in the picture below how Ruth dealt with this problem – by keeping the pests away with the farm’s trusty gun. Ruth and Jack had five beautiful children. With some
child endowment money they had saved, Ruth bought a piano for the house, which the children gathered around regularly to hear their mother play. When the 1955 flood hit and the waters rose
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inside the house, the piano was raised onto 44-gallon drums to keep it safe! As well as being musical and sporty, Ruth has always had a passion for poetry. Having learned a lot of poetry during primary school, she still loves to recite poems to this day, and it’s a real treat to hear her do so. Her favourite poem is ‘Great, Wide, Beautiful, Wonderful World’ by William Brighty Rands, which she recites beautifully. What a talented lady! Ruth has been at Waterview for around fifteen months, and enjoys the fact that there is always plenty of entertainment on. Ruth’s daughter Sue is a regular at Waterview – you’ll often see her attending concerts or just spending time with her mum. Family has always come first for Ruth; it’s the most important thing in her life, and you can see that she has passed this quality down to Sue as well. On the 8th of December this year, Ruth will be celebrating her 97th birthday! A party will take place at Sue’s place for the family to celebrate a great milestone for this wonderful lady. We’d like to wish Ruth a very happy birthday, and we hope she enjoys looking back with her family over her accomplished life! CB
HVC Staff Profile
It’s not often that we can give you an insight into those who work outside of our facilities. They’re a little bit shy! But this month we are pleased to introduce you to one of our favourite Head Office staff members: Dylan Walsh, Hunter Valley Care’s Financial Controller. Dylan was born in Gosford and at age four moved to the small village of Dunoon, where the family lived on a macadamia farm (Dunoon is known as the Macadamia Capital of Australia!). On the farm Dylan learned to drive tractors and ride in a billycart; this was the origin of his obsession with cars, which is still thriving today! Dylan attended Southern Cross University, full-time at first and then part-time as he worked in the tax industry to gain experience alongside his studies. He learned a lot throughout this time, and has carried to this day a love for learning as much as he can. After completing uni, Dylan and his sister Tenika felt they had outgrown their hometown and wanted a change of scenery. They found jobs in Newcastle and both ended up living in beachside Merewether. Dylan’s role at Newcastle firm PKF Lawler involved working with listed clients such as large Pty. Ltd. companies and charities. It also encompassed a lot of travelling to places such as Melbourne, Mudgee, New Zealand, and further afield to England and America! While this may seem glamorous, being out of home every second week
and living out of a suitcase had its drawbacks. Dylan eventually tired of the travel – his life had become all work, so he needed a change. Having enjoyed working with aged care clients as an auditor, he decided to pursue his career in that industry, which brought him to us! Dylan has worked with Hunter Valley Care since August in 2012. As Financial Controller, he oversees the entire finance division: supervising the financial aspects of all facilities, dealing with tax, legal and insurance matters, and designing and implementing business intelligence systems, to name just a few tasks. The role requires Dylan to have an aerial view of the company; every aspect of the business affects or is affected by finance, so he needs to be a broad thinker and a problem solver. This is one of his favourite aspects of the job: the opportunity – or necessity, really – of using all of his brain. He also enjoys the responsibility that comes with dealing with professional stakeholders, as well as the dynamic nature of a role that spans from accounting to business management to marketing – and everything in between! As you may have guessed, Dylan isn’t your average accountant. He is also passionate about environmental and social matters, and is a strong advocate for sustainability in these areas as well as in business. He has good relationships with various local charities, such as Soul Café, the Salvation
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Army and Reach Newcastle, and takes particular interest in coming up with ways to support charities by responding directly to a community need. A great example of this is his organisation of last year’s Christmas Clean-out for the Salvation Army, in which Dylan collected any unwanted yet useful household items from people’s houses after Christmas. He is in the process of gaining Social Return on Investment accreditation, which will allow him to understand the social footprint of companies in the community. Dylan is also excited about HVC’s future growth plans, which will involve responding to the community’s changing needs so that HVC can continue being a leader in aged care provision. When he’s not at Head Office or working on one of his own innovative community projects, Dylan loves guitar, piano and singing, and has a great network of friends, family and mentors around Newcastle. We think they’re lucky to have such a dynamic thinker and all-round nice guy in their circle – as we are to have him at Hunter Valley Care! CB
Social engagement and cognitive health go hand in hand A recent study by the University of Queensland has found that older people who participate in group social activities show better cognitive health than those who do not. Demonstrated benefits of regular social group engagement included reduced mental decline and memory loss. The study also found that positive effects become even more pronounced as age increases, with many socially active 80-year-old participants demonstrating the cognitive performance of 70-year-olds. At all HVC facilities, residents are enabled and encouraged to participate in regular social group activities. A few examples this month include discussion groups at Waterview, balloon tennis at Amaroo, and ‘Olden Day Tales’ reminiscing at Fig Tree Point – not to mention the fabulous Christmas parties happening across all facilities!
Henny Penny Hatching Program In February next year, our facilities will be playing host to some very special, very fluffy guests. For 12 days, residents will be able to watch the hatching process of a dozen baby chicks! Henny Penny Hatching, a professional hatching program vendor, will provide eggs set to hatch over multiple days. This means everyone has a good chance of actually seeing a chick emerge. A glass incubator and brooding pen will be set up for ease of viewing. Residents may like to help with changing the chicks’ water and feed and making sure they’re warm enough under their brooding lamp – or
they may be content to simply sit back and watch the little fluffballs chirping away! At the end of the 12-day period, the chicks can either go to new homes with staff, friends or family members, or Henny Penny Hatching can rehome them with local farmers. (Please note that HPH is not associated with fast food brand Henny Penny. It’s just the name that’s the same!) Stay tuned for more updates on the hatching program. We’re sure family and friends will want to plan a visit to play with some chicks alongside their loved ones!
International Volunteer Day Since 1985, December 5th has marked a day for the celebration of volunteers worldwide. From the UN Volunteers website: International Volunteer Day is a chance for volunteer-involving organisations and individual volunteers to promote their contributions to development at local, national and international levels. International Volunteer Day is particularly relevant in aged care – volunteers make up a large and 6
invaluable part of the industry, so it’s wonderful to have a day on which to recognise their contributions. The Hunter Valley Care community thrives on the assistance it receives from volunteers. We’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each and every person who offers their time and effort to help our facilities run smoothly. We couldn’t do it without you!
Creative Dementia Therapy Scholarship
Dirt baths and pooch socks: a Bella update
The therapeutic benefits of creative pursuits such as music and art have been proven worldwide, especially in the area of dementia therapy. Research has consistently shown that creative therapies can, and do, improve the cognitive function and mental wellbeing of people with dementia.
We’ve been talking about Amaroo’s puppy Bella for so long now that it’s easy to forget she’s still so very young! At only five months old, she still has her ‘naughty puppy’ side, which seems to come out mainly when she’s at home with her caretaker Trudy…who recently had the joy of giving Bella two baths in one night when she ran outside and rolled in the dirt after her first one! It’s lucky she’s so cute – who could stay mad at her?!
To ensure that all residents affected by dementia benefit from such therapies, Hunter Valley Care will be running an exciting new scholarship competition in collaboration with the University of Newcastle. The competition will involve participants developing a 12-month dementia therapy program focusing on creative aspects such as music or art. The winning program will be implemented in our facilities and its success will be evaluated after 12 months. The developer of the winning program will receive a substantial scholarship to facilitate further study. We think this is a fantastic opportunity for students to become actively involved in the community and to share cutting-edge ideas that will help improve dementia care. Stay tuned to Community News for further updates on the competition! For further information, please email: claire@hvcare.com.au
Speaking of cute, Bella has also recently had a new addition to her doggy wardrobe: puppy socks! Equipped with grips so she can walk around normally without slipping, the socks cover her claws and allow her to interact safely with residents who have especially sensitive skin. This way nobody misses out on a cuddle when Bella does her rounds!
The Sanctuary in brief Residents of The Sanctuary have recently had visits from a range of different groups and organisations, including Council of the Aged, Falls Prevention, the Royal Society for the Blind, and White Lady Funerals, who gave a presentation on grief. Staff members and residents have also been spending time planting some pot plants together. Residents will be able to take the plants to their own units and watch their progress. Nothing like a bit of greenery to brighten up a room!
No room at the inn... Recent visitors to Waterview may have noticed a beautiful Christmas display in the front window, depicting a traditional nativity scene. What visitors may not know is that the crib in the scene was made entirely by Waterview resident Jack Sobb (who is featured on this month’s cover!). Jack spent a few two-hour sessions crafting the papier-mâché cave, giving it structure with a solid base and a wire frame. With a lick of paint, some wood chips for the floor and some little lights on the inside walls, the display was complete! We’ll leave you with a thought about Christmas time from Jack: You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving. What does Christmas mean to you? 7
Fig Tree Point News - Horse Races and Sombreros! Last month started on a high for residents of FTP with all the excitement and festivities of the Melbourne Cup. Form guides were studied, fascinators and hats caught the eye everywhere you looked, and staff-member-turned-bookie, Shayne, ran an impressive array of sweepstakes. (See photos in our Melbourne Cup gallery starting page 12). A lovely champagne lunch, quiz and fashion parades passed the time until the big race was run, and there were many happy winners at the end of the day! In other news, last month residents finally enjoyed Mexican theme day (which you may remember was originally planned for August, but the performers slept in!) – and it was worth waiting for! The weather was perfect for a fiesta on the balcony, which was colourfully decorated in Mexican style with streamers, piñatas and a plethora
of artistic masks handmade by staff and residents. The Mariachi performers (who came all the way from Sydney) were worth waiting for as well, and as you can see from the photos below, residents enjoyed a lively show of singing and dancing, as well as a lovely Mexican-style feast including tacos, salsa and sangria-style punch. On the 11th of November, Remembrance Day was observed with a service led by Toronto RSL on the FTP balcony overlooking the peaceful waters of Lake Macquarie. It was great to see so many residents marking the occasion and showing their appreciation of the brave sacrifices made by servicemen and women, past and present. In other news, last month residents enjoyed two fantastic concerts with ever-popular performers Adam
Gaye Akers (daughter of Verlie Wells) dancing with FTP AIN Sam!
Kath Kirkby enjoying the music at the Adam Price concert!
Joan Webb cleaning up in the ring-toss on carnival day!
Joan Webb gets into the spirit of things on Carnival Day.
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Price and Des Collins. There were also some great bus outings to the Belmont 16 Footers, a cruise on Brisbane Water with Starship Cruises, an outing to Shelly Beach and a full day bus trip to the Hunter Valley Gardens, where residents enjoyed a lovely lunch. Coming up in December is a calendar full of Christmas-themed activities! Christmas carols, singa-longs, concerts, crafts, bus trips, church serves and of course – Christmas parties! Once again, please remember that family and friends are encouraged to attend any or all of these events. As a final word, one of the most popular bus trips of the year is to see the Christmas lights, and demand has been so high in previous years that all HVC facilities will be running outings to cater for this. We can’t wait to see the Christmas lights – and hope to see you all there!
Betty Williams enjoying some music with Adam Price.
tiful e most beau always has th oto. ic ow uk W y ph a Mar n never resist smile - we ca
riachi band, Fiesta r Patricio and his ma
Hecto
The FTP balcony was decorated with all the beautiful masks made by staff and residents.
Viva.
Kaylene O’Neil (L) and staff member Robyn Buckley enjoy some punch.
Anna Bakaj with the band.
Beryl Duncan.
Elizabeth Adamson wore a very interesting hat for the occasion!
Activities Officers: Monica, Yvonne and Greg with the band.
Perfect weather to spend a day on the balcony!
Robyn Buckley and Anna Bakaj.
Sheila Venables and Allan Wrigley.
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Winifred Scoles and
Beryl Duncan.
Waterview News Waterview residents and staff have been well and truly into the festive spirit already, with an array of great concerts and celebrations happening throughout November. A visit from the Nefertiti Belly Dance Group was a particularly colourful event that was thoroughly enjoyed by residents and staff alike! While shimmying through their routines, the belly dancers took time to explain the origin and background of the beautiful, elaborate outfits you can see in the photos below. Some residents even got up for a jive themselves – although they stuck to a much more traditional style of dance! Another popular concert was the Newcastle City Choir’s celebration of ‘60 Years of Song’. The choir, led by Ruth Gay (Activities Officer Tracey’s mum), performed a wide variety of favourite tunes, inspiring
Everyone at Watervie w enjoyed the colou rful performance by Belly Dance Group. the Ne
fertiti
many residents to join in and sing along. November also saw the return of Penny’s Ponies for Melbourne Cup Day. Two gorgeous Shetland ponies were paraded around to visit residents, who fed them treats of apples and carrots. There seemed to be another ‘horse’ wandering around Waterview on the day as well, but on closer
Robert Hill takes to the floor.
Nefertiti Belly Dancers.
Nefertiti Belly Dancers.
Nefertiti Belly Dancers.
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inspection, we think there may have been someone named Tracey underneath that horsey head…! Festivities will be continuing throughout December at Waterview, with Christmas craft, decorating, concerts and singa-longs as well as a couple of all-day parties and night-time bus trips to look at the lights!
Mary Rutherford dancing with a performer.
ride on ots a sweet Robert Hill sp a. se Swan bus outing to
a recent
Waterview - cont.
Newcastle City Choir’s celebration of ‘60 Years of Song’!
Newcastle City Choir performed a wide variety of favourite tunes.
Waterview’s Joan Lennox (L) and Helen Arey enjoy listening to the Choir.
Amaroo Well, the tinsel has been strung, the tree trimmed, and the decorations hung around the place... it must be December! In the lead-up to Christmas, everyone’s life tends to get a little busy, and it has been no different for the residents of HVC’s Amaroo. November’s Melbourne Cup Day was celebrated in the traditional manner with a fashion parade (hats and fascinators), sweepstakes and a wonderful concert with Sam Franze. Always a great day, the photos in our Melbourne Cup Day gallery on page 12 show some of the fun that was had! Speaking of entertainers, residents also enjoyed several great concerts last month with Mel Summers, Kelvin Richards, Peter Cosimo and Bob Thomas. In addition to these visiting entertainers, a group of residents went on a lovely outing with Biala Services to listen to Adam Price and Sam Franze. All this music should get everyone in the mood for December, when we have another huge line-up of concerts on the calendar. As usual, there were a few great bus trips in November, including an outing to Swansea RSL Club for a lovely waterside lunch, where residents could watch the
boats and pelicans cruising the channel while they dined. And although the November weather was unpredictable, residents also managed to enjoy a bus trip to Stockton for a BBQ lunch! Back home at Amaroo, the new fish tank is up and running in the Iris dining room and we’ve all been enjoying watching the beautiful new fish glide gently around their underwater wonderland. In fact, the feedback has been so positive that staff are looking into procuring another tank for the Gardenia dining 11
room! Could this be another project for resident Betty Weston? Coming up in December is the ever-popular Christmas lights bus trip on the 16th at 7pm, so pop the date in your diary. And as well as concerts we will also have all of the usual preparations in the lead-up to Christmas, including Church services, Christmas craft and carols. Once again, please remember that family and friends are encouraged to attend any or all of these events. Merry Christmas everyone!
4 1 0 2 y a D p ourne Cu
Melb
caption Entertainer Sam Franze.
Amaroo’s Margorie Bir
t.
Amaroo’s Molly Clewitt.
Amaroo’s Vikki Atanassoff.
Amaroo’s Violet Funnel.
Amaroo’s Ilma Race.
Amaroo’s Watson Dingwall.
Amaroo’s Carole Forster.
Amaroo’s Edna Turton.
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udrey Fryer.
Amaroo’s A
Melbourne
, Leonie and Michelle.
Kylie, Shelley, Martin aroo staff members:
Am
Cup Day 20
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Amaroo’s Mario Ermer daces with a family member.
Amaroo’s Shirley Davies.
Amaroo’s Clair Wiggins.
Amaroo’s Ray Taylor.
Amaroo’s Heather Quinn.
Amaroo’s Julie Bell and Karen Hinds.
Amaroo’s Yvonne Younger.
Amaroo’s Mario Ermer.
Amaroo’s Jean Sinclair.
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pl.
Amaroo’s Cveta Lam
4 1 0 2 y a D p ourne Cu
Melb
, Clair Wiggins aroo’s Leonie Manning
Am
Amaroo’s Gertrude Ru
nkin.
Amaroo’s Francis Bush.
Amaroo’s Doreen Feighan.
Amaroo’s Mary Murray.
and Michelle Peden.
Amaroo’s Kath Blackmore.
Amaroo’s Lurline Costello.
Amaroo’s Joan Dunn.
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Amaroo’s Betty Weston.
Amaroo’s June Faulder.
FTP’s Nicola
Robinson.
Melbourne
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FTP’s Joan Webb.
ola!
, Danielle and Nic P staff members Megan
FT
Cup Day 20
FTP’s Joy Granger.
FTP’s Keith Woolfe.
FTP’s Marianne Harwood.
FTP’s Marjorie Drysdale.
FTP’s Mary Perry.
FTP’s Natalie O’Donnell.
Waterview’s Allan Walsh, Kerry Simpson and, er, Tracey Watt. We think.
Waterview’s sweet Dulcie Jones makes an equine friend.
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terview
Lilley from Wa The beautiful Elaine and cute pony.
4 1 0 2 y a D p ourne Cu
Melb
Waterview’s John Webber and Ruth Verofkins.
Waterview’s Mary Rutherford nuzzles a muzzle!
No one suspected a
thing...
Is someone you know seeking AN ALTERNATIVE TO RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE? offers a boutique assisted living environment for the active and young-at-heart. Located in the quiet, leafy suburb of Tingira Heights, The Sanctuary provides quality group accommodation, where residents are free to maintain their active, independent lifestyle. However, they also enjoy the advantages of companionship and live-in support as needed. It’s the best of both worlds! All of The Sanctuary’s residents enjoy the comfort of a private suite in a beautifully appointed modern house. Residents can choose to prepare their own meals, do their own laundry, clean their own suites, and organise their own appointments and outings – or this can all be done for them. Our flexible staff enable residents to select options that will best suit them on a day-to-day basis. The concept of community living is integral to the design of the Sanctuary and there are many beautiful shared spaces for residents to enjoy. Residents are encouraged to utilise communal lounge and dining areas, quiet outdoor sitting and BBQ areas, and gentle walking paths through the beautiful native gardens.
For more information contact Tez Wrathall p 0450 475 288 • e tez@hvcare.com.au
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Suites at The Sanctuary are now available!
Weight loss support group: an update from Jan Lloyd Well believe it or not, there are only approximately six weeks until the New Year. 2015 is looming over our doorstep. It is already casting a summery shadow over our lives, a shadow large enough to be very visible…can you see it? I mention this not to entertain you with pointless imagery nor to frighten you into some type of frenzied activity! No, I mention this because I need you to think about our weight loss supportive venture now – don’t wait until January is already upon us. By the time we reach the middle of January, I am hoping (may I be so bold to say even praying) that our group will be up and running. I need your input now. We might like to come up with a natty name for our group, like ‘Fig Tree Figure Finders’ or ‘Toronto Tenacious Trimmers’. Just a couple of silly
suggestions – I’m sure you could come up with better, so please let me know. We can also consider the type of format we want to pursue, such as measuring individual weights as opposed to a group weight. For example, we could lodge a group weight and in our monthly Community News update, I might be able to report something like, ‘Good news – we have lost a total of 10kgs this month at Fig Tree!’. I invite everyone to let me know what you think about these ideas. I would dearly love to hear from you – but soon eh? January is, as I stated, looming. We can do this together – our group as a whole will be greater than the sum of us as individuals. Come join me. Janette Lloyd, Fig Tree Point RN Ph: 0417 210 609
Hunter Valley Care Observes Remembrance Day
FTP residents rug up against the cold.
A member of Toronto RSL leads the Remembrance Day service at FTP.
FTP’S Verlie Wells and Kath Kirkby brave the cold.
FTP’S Peggy Dewez and Joan Webb.
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The Last Post at Waterview.
Hunter Nature
Ceratopetalum gummiferum The NSW Christmas Bush is a tall evergreen shrub found commonly in the New South Wales bush, so named for its delightful display of pinkish-red foliage around Christmas time. The slim, attractive leaves and the profusion of flowers and sepals, which start out white and change colour as the bush fruits, make the bush a popular alternative to the more traditional pine tree as a Christmas decoration. The Christmas Bush occurs naturally in the coastal regions and near ranges of New South Wales, and can grow to 12 metres in height. However, it is also readily available in nurseries and thrives when kept trimmed in pots.
...The crowds on Sydney Harbour were a little more relaxed at the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race? This picture, taken in 1971, shows there have always been some strange vessels on the water to celebrate the start of the famous Boxing Day race, which began in 1945. 18
Introducing
Marmong Waters Estate is the newest addition to the Hunter Valley Care portfolio, offering a selection of elegant, independent living units surrounding a state-of-the-art Community and Recreation Centre, all on the shores of the picturesque Lake Macquarie. Marmong’s beautifully designed independent living units provide the ultimate modern environment for those who want to downsize from family homes without compromising privacy, freedom of choice or lifestyle options. Your new home will be part of an exclusive community encompassing a range of amenities, while also offering the comfort of 24-hour support. Marmong Waters Estate provides several unique options that will help you truly feel at home, including the opportunity to bring along your four-legged friend – certain areas of the estate will be pet-friendly! Residents have full access to the Community and Recreation Centre,
including BBQs and beautiful outdoor areas, a fully equipped kitchen for functions, health and fitness facilities, an integrated business centre, and more. With its boutique, resort-style design, tranquil setting and close proximity to an abundance of Lake Macquarie attractions, we can’t wait to give future residents the chance to call Marmong Waters Estate home. Marmong Waters Estate luxury Independent Living Units are now selling off the plans. Building is currently in progress, and the first units are expected to be available by June 2015.
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(Extra Services)
Amaroo Aged Care Facility Street: 66 Dudley Road, Charlestown NSW 2290 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4943 3675 Fax: (02) 4942 3075 Email: reception@amarooagedcare.com.au
The Sanctuary – Independence with Care Street: 31 Tinglewood Close, Tingira Heights NSW 2290 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4947 1010 Fax: (02) 4914 8704 Email: thesanctuary@huntervalleycare.com.au
Fig Tree Point Aged Care Facility Street: 7 Harris Street, Toronto NSW 2283 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4950 4133 Fax: (02) 4950 5078 Email: reception@figtreepoint.com.au
Waterview Aged Care Facility Street: 16 Cumberland Street, Teralba NSW 2284 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4941 7000 Fax: (02) 4958 5276 Email: reception@waterviewagedcare.com.au
en beds
The lovely Jim Grant tends gard at Waterview.
The knitting group at Waterview pose for a snap with the facility’s brand new camera! We think it’s a winner.
Amaroo’s Ivy Janson looks stunning in this hat on Melboune Cup Day.
A cheeky smile from Fig Tree Point’s Activities Officer, Vicki Edman.
SPOTLIGHT ON DECEMBER ACTIVITIES • • • • •
9th Christmas Party – Nursing Home 10th Christmas Party – Extra Services 17th Christmas Lights Bus Trip 24th Christmas Trivia with Prizes 31st High Tea
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3rd Christmas Stall 8th & 9th Christmas Lights Bus Trip 9th Fashion Parade & Shoe Parade 16th Christmas Party – Hunter, Macquarie, Hostel 18th Christmas Party – Ground and First Floors
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3rd & 17th Nails with Kay 4th Concert: Peter Stefanson 10th Christmas Party – Extra Services 11th Christmas Party – Nursing Home 16th Christmas Lights Bus Trip