December 2015/January 2016
About Community News is a bi-monthly newsletter published by the management of several aged care facilities in the Newcastle region, to promote communication with residents, their families, staff and the wider community.
Photos Residents: have you seen a photo of yourself in Community News that you’d love to get your hands on? Families: would you love to have copies of all the photos of your loved one that have appeared in the magazine?
On the cover
If so, please get in touch with us and we can provide you with digital copies of photos from our Community News archives! Just send an email to kate@hvcare.com.au
At the Spring Ball: Glen Douglas dances with his granddaughter, Eve. Glen is the son of Fig Tree Point resident June Douglas, making Eve her great-granddaughter! Photo by Jessany Trotter.
Feedback The management of Hunter Valley Care and Empowered Living Support Services actively seek feedback from residents as well as their families. This is a fundamental element that drives ongoing improvement to the quality of the services they offer.
Chaplaincy Services Chaplains play an integral role in our communities. They visit each facility on a weekly basis, assisting with the pastoral and emotional needs of residents, families and staff. If you would like a Chaplain or other minister to visit you or a loved one, contact: Rev. Delma Geary on 0412 684 698 or Pastor Sue Jenkins on 0422 086 760 chaplain@huntervalleycare.com.au
For feedback contact: Head Office Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4955 6400 Fax: (02) 4955 6411 Email: kate@hvcare.com.au
The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the editor and other individual contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the management, staff or residents of Hunter Valley Care or Empowered Living Support Services. 2
Editorial
Christmas Message
Hello everyone!
Warm greetings of Christmas to all!
It’s been a while, I know, but it’s great to be back after my break. I hope everyone has been keeping safe and busy.
We hope that you will enjoy and truly experience the spirit of this season; to relax and unite together with family with a light and cheery heart to celebrate this joyful time of year.
Well, the tinsel is up, the lights are on, and Christmas is rapidly approaching – followed closely by the end of another year! Can you believe it?
Christmas is a time when friends and family reflect on Christmases of the past, and plan for the coming holiday with their loved ones in mind. It is a time for remembering, a time to share the goodness of your heart with others, and for expressing with words and gifts what someone means to you. It is a chance to give a message that will express love and caring to the ones we care about the most.
It has been a while since Community News visited our facilities, and there is so much to catch up on it’s been a challenge just to fit it into forty-eight pages! Christmas parties and balls; bus trips and art exhibitions – you will find this edition of Community News bursting with news of our facilities and loads of colourful photos, taken mainly by our clever staff members!
We take this opportunity to thank each and every staff member. Your hard work has achieved tremendous outcomes in the last twelve months, outcomes that have improved the lives of so many of our lovely residents and their families.
There are also eight new profiles from members of the HVC and ELSS communities, and I sincerely thank them, and everyone else who has taken time over the last year to share their stories with us. Every person’s unique life experiences are important threads that contribute to the colourful fabric of our community. It is an honour to be able to spend some time with you and record your stories!
And we also thank all of our residents and their families for entrusting their wellbeing, health and care to us. Among the coming joyous celebrations we will reflect on those very Christian values of giving, sharing and taking care of others.
I wish you all the very best at Christmastime and look forward to catching up with you in the New Year.
We wish you all the happiness and peace this Christmas, and look forward to seeing you in 2016!
Kind regards,
Sincerely,
Kate Austen, Editor
Cameron, Jayson, Christine and Malcolm
Slip on the ballet slippers and go dancing for Parkinson’s! People with Parkinson’s disease have found a new lease on life, allowing themselves to get lost in the music and the freedom of dance. Classes run by English National Ballet are proving to be a most welcome outlet for people with the disease, where for a brief time there are no limits or restrictions from symptoms. UK researchers have spent the past three years looking into the physical and emotional impacts of
the disease, proving dance may offer benefit to a person’s intellectual, social, physical and artistic aspects. With an estimated seven to ten million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s disease, the impact reaches far and wide. To provide you an insight into the prevalence here at home, it is estimated over 69,000 people are currently living with Parkinson’s disease in Australia.
(agedcarereportcard.com.au/blog) 3
HVC Resident Profile
At ninety years old, Rita Bailey is a poster girl for staying active. Up until six months ago, she was living in her fourthfloor unit in Charlestown: twenty-nine stairs up, and twenty-nine stairs down. That’s fifty-eight stairs in total, and she was out every day! Rita was born in Singleton and grew up in the beautiful town of Broke, the daughter of the local butcher. Back then, Broke was quite an isolated little town and buses were infrequent, preventing Rita from finishing high school. Instead she went to work in Singleton, doing the accounts and office work for another butcher. It was a good life, according to Rita. The
country folk were nice, and she spent her time practising the piano and playing at local concerts and dances. It was only when her mother was sick in Cessnock Hospital that Rita finally left Singleton and got a job in a hotel to be near her. This turned out to be a fortuitous move in one regard, as it was in Cessnock that Rita, the daughter of a butcher, met her future husband, who was (wait for it)… the son of a butcher! Together, Rita and her husband had three beautiful children, and eventually nine gorgeous grandchildren. More recently, nine greatgrandchildren have joined the family! After losing her own mother early to cancer, Rita believes she is blessed that all of her family since then have been perfectly healthy. This is one of the reasons that prompted Rita to begin her charity work with Kaleidoscope Kids, knitting warm caps for children with cancer. Rita has been knitting these caps for years now, and is even working with
Fred’s own Mary Poppins! Flashback to August when Fred Rendina went to watch his granddaughter, Alana perform the lead role in a Mary Poppins production at the Civic Theatre. According to his family Fred was all proud smiles throughout the show! This was the first time Fred had seen Alana perform, making this a very special day for his whole family, and one which they will always remember. 4
other knitters to send in caps for the premature babies at John Hunter. What a lovely lady! Rita is also blessed to have the majority of her large family living in the Newcastle area. Photos of her various children and their families adorn her shelves, and she feels lucky that she sees them quite often. Rita has never smoked or drunk alcohol. She always played a lot of tennis and kept busy with lots of craft. She has knitted for charity for years, and has passed on her altruistic streak to some members of her large, close family. At Amaroo, she is always the first to get involved in activities, and she spends her spare time (when not knitting for charity or visiting with her family) folding the napkins for dinners! In fact, it seems she has led the ideal active life, and perhaps this is what’s kept her healthy and happy for such a long time. We’re sure Rita Bailey must be an inspiration to her family – as she is certainly an inspiration to the rest of us!
Five Minutes with a Staff Member
As a facilitator at Charlestown’s Amaroo, Kylie Watt is one of the first people you see as you walk through the front door. Because most people will find her face familiar, this month we thought we’d get to know a little bit about the lady behind the front desk. Thanks for sharing, Kylie! Tell us a bit about yourself. I was born in Newcastle and went to school at Gateshead High. It was a good school, and I still catch up with a lot of school friends. I have twin sons who are twenty-three years old, and they are the loves of my life. They’ve been visiting Amaroo since I started (eighteen years ago), so they know the place very well, and have been raised to have great respect for the elderly. Many staff and residents at Amaroo will know them well! What does your job involve? I started working at Amaroo as a cleaner in 1996, then moved to the kitchen before becoming an AIN. Over the last few years I’ve completed studies for a Certificate IV in Frontline Management. I’ve been in the role of a facilitator for the last eight years. What do you like best about your job? The people I work with make my job very easy. I have some great friends here, and in past Amaroo staff. What do you like to do outside of work? I like reading, and going to see good live bands. We recently went to see AC/DC in Sydney – they’re more my partner’s style, but they put on a really good show. We also saw Fleetwood Mac, who I love, at Hope Estate.
S-Plates for seniors – would you wear them? Insurance firm QBE has sparked debate over its suggestion that senior drivers could wear ‘S-plates’ in the vein of younger, probationary drivers. The controversial idea comes after statistics showed 50 drivers between the ages of 49 and 85 died behind the wheel between 2013 and 2014. QBE spokesperson Frank Peppard told the Herald Sun the ‘S-plate’ system would involve gradually restricting elderly drivers based on their performance. An ‘S1’ and ‘S2’ system would rate the drivers using data collected by installed devices in their
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cars, and restrictions could include banning night driving or restricting the geographical area seniors would be allowed to travel to. “This will save lives,” he said. “Older people should not fear this. It’s to offer them greater options to retain m obility while providing a safety net for the community.” But not everyone agrees and the controversy has sparked outrage, with some calling the idea ageist and unfair. What do you think about this? 5
A highlight of the festive season so far has been a visit from the lovely Cardiff Public School students.
We’ve long been aware that the staff and residents at Amaroo are a fashionable bunch, but we’re certain the ensembles observed during November’s Melbourne Cup Day parade would have rivalled anything seen at Flemington! Staff members Bettina Campbell and Teearni Jacques joined visitor Rachael Hynds, residents Joan Dunn and Rita Bailey, and volunteer Helen Belcher to hit the runway and model fashions kindly supplied by Millers Fashion at Charlestown (see photos). Another event on the recent Amaroo calendar was the Purple Party, with special guest Carter Edwards from 2HD. Carter, who is also a great friend of resident Helen Fletcher, entertained guests before wandering around to meet and greet. We thank Carter for his generous time, and as the following photos
demonstrate, a lovely day was had by all. In other news, the new Men’s Club, run by staff member Scott, has had a successful beginning. What do they do at Men’s Club? Well, man stuff… like blokey trivia, cheese platters, sharing a beer, and catching a few games on the telly. Next year the Men’s Club is planning to introduce a guest speaker program, which will hopefully kick off with a visitor from the Newcastle Knights. On the 6th of November, a quiet but moving memorial service was held for residents who had passed away in the first half of the year. Staff, residents and families were invited to attend and Reverend Andre conducted a beautiful and respectful service, which included a couple of hymns. Flowers were presented and candles lit for each of the departed residents, and staff member 6
Julie Bell gave a reading. The memorial service provided staff and residents, who may not have been able to attend a funeral, with an important opportunity to say goodbye to those with whom they had shared their time. The Hunter Valley Care community would like to thank staff member Karen Hynds for her thoughtfulness in organising the service. ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…’ at Amaroo! The tree is up, the walls are decorated and Christmas is fast approaching. One of the highlights so far has been a visit from Cardiff Public School students, who came to sing carols. After the children had performed, the principal organised a meet and greet, which was enjoyed by all. Congratulations must go to the staff at Cardiff Primary School, as everyone who attended the concert
Yvonne Younger and Watson Dingwall with two students from Cardiff Public School.
Amaroo welcomes several new residents, including Pete Woodcock.
was extremely impressed with the behaviour and maturity shown by the students. At the end of November Amaroo residents also had a special visit from the Galvin family. The four lovely Galvin children played instruments and sang Christmas carols for the residents, and kindly took the time to have a chat with them all afterwards. At the time of going to print, Amaroo residents were also looking forward to a visit from a group of carollers from Charlestown Primary School, which just goes to show that you can never have too many Christmas carols! December is shaping up
Joyful Enid Woolley enjoys a dance with some students!
A beautiful smile from Neville Tempest.
be full of many more festive occasions, including more concerts, the Christmas lights bus tours and our resident Christmas parties, which fall this year on the 10th and 11th of December. Family and friends are encouraged to attend any or all of these events, but please notify staff so they are able to cater accordingly. And don’t forget to get your tickets in the Christmas raffle: there are some great prizes donated by businesses in the local community, including Whitebridge Pharmacy and Whitebridge Cellarbrations. Just one last note on a new program at Amaroo for 7
Amaroo enjoyed a visit from the lovely Galvin children in November.
dementia-affected residents. Activities Officers Trudy and Karen recently completed training in the Montessori Principles. Research shows Montessori activities elicit strong positive engagement from people exhibiting symptoms of dementia. Trudy and Karen are currently in the process of implementing the daily program, which is tailored to the individual and based around their particular interests. While it is still in the initial stages, the program has been wellreceived by residents so far and staff are already witnessing some beneficial results.
The Melbourne Cup fashion parade: Staff member Bettina.
Bettina in another ensemble from Millers Fashion, Charlestown!
Is there anything volunteer Helen Belcher can’t do?
...nope, there is not! She even models nightwear with appropriate props!
Joan Dunn looking flash on the runway.
Rachael models Millers in blue...
We think she’s done this before! Rachael in red.
Rita Bailey races down the green carpet in blue - Millers.
This Millers outfit suits Rita’s sweet personality.
Petre Trpenovski hits the dance floor!
The beautiful Emily Connelly with some of her beautiful family.
Helen Wightman, dressed in blue and looking lovely with daughter Kath.
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Gorgeous racegoing girls – Nola Tomms and Edna Turton.
Mario Ermer has a glamorous lady on his arm!
Kath Blackmore – beautiful in blue and Watson Dingwall looking dapper!
Blue is a popular colour! It certainly suits the lovely Dulcie Kemp, pictured here with beloved family members.
Award winning jockey, Bill Wade with good mate and staff member, Teearni.
The lovely Evelyn Spooner chats to ECM Shelley Haines.
Good mates Les Hall and George Minter playing one of their regular chess games.
Amaroo mascot Bella is looking quite comfortable with Helen Wightman!
In the lead up to Melbourne Cup day staff member Teearni chats to Doreen Sheedy, while visitor Indie paints her fingernails. 9
Long time friends: Helen Fletcher with Carter Edwards, who presented her with a lovely photo of him and his wife.
The beautiful purple decorations for Amaroo’s purple party.
Carter Edwards sang a special happy birthday to Cveta Lampl.
Mr and Mrs Sheedy with staff member Julia Bell from the Alternative Therapy team.
Looking lovely, June Sills came to see Carter Edwards.
Staff member Teearni dances with Neville Tempest during the purple party.
Vivienne Griffiths enjoys a chat to Carter Edwards.
Staff members Trudy and Teearni with Bill Wade.
Shirley Carey and her hero Carter Edwards.
Peggy Carr with the beautiful Bella.
Staff member and good sport: Miles gave residents a few giggles dressed in this outfit for Hawaiian theme day!
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Hunter Valley Care Art Exhibition In September, Hunter Valley Care held its very first Art Exhibition! A big THANK YOU to the volunteers from Macquarie Life Church (including our own Chaplain, Pastor Sue Jenkins) for hosting this fantastic event and for the hard work from all the AOs that made it possible. And of course we can’t forget our all amazing artists, who worked so hard to prepare works to be exhibited – many of which were sold – and who flourished under the guidance of the wonderful Helen Belcher. We look forward to another exhibition next year!
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ELSS Resident Profile
When the town of Grafton, on the mid-north coast of NSW, got too small to accommodate both Noel Landenberger and his mate, they decided one of them would have to go! Believing the grass would be greener in Newcastle, Noel left his parents and seven siblings behind and made the trip south, looking forward to a bit of an adventure. What he found far surpassed his expectations: beautiful beaches, a readymade family, a welcoming community and a lifelong vocation. But more about that later! As a boy in Grafton, Noel and his mates spent a lot of time camping and surfing at Woolgoolga. It was here Noel first got involved in the Surf Life Saving movement: he helped resurrect the old Woolgoolga Club, which had fallen into ruins during the war. His involvement in the Woolgoolga Club drew him
to another surf club for companionship upon his move to Newcastle. When Community News asked which club, Noel looked mildly astonished that we even had to ask. ‘Nobbys! Is there any other club in Newcastle?’ Apparently not! Noel worked as a house painter with his brother during the week, and joined the Nobbys Club as a volunteer on weekends. The Club had a great social calendar, so after a few years Noel knew everyone. It was through his involvement in the Club that Noel met his life partner Joyce, a single mum who had five children enrolled in Nippers. Noel describes the ease with which he and Joyce grew together, and they went on to spend forty-two very happy years in each other’s company. Noel remembers a lot of good times during those days. He and Joyce didn’t have a lot – they would never even bother to lock the house, as they had nothing to pinch – but they had a good life. He recalls trying to round up the five kids to get them in the car for Nippers, while Joyce would be selling raffle tickets down the club. They spent so much time at the club that Noel took on the role of President for twelve or thirteen years. After that, he ran the kiosk for them for
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another seven years. ‘All my pleasure days were spent on the beach,’ muses Noel. ‘I got a lot of pleasure out of that club.’ When the kids got too old for surf club, Noel and Joyce got involved with greyhounds, and eventually whippet racing. The whippets were lovely dogs, and Noel and Joyce would keep up to three at a time at home. Not all were racers, but they had one good dog that won the state and national championships in his division! These days Noel lives at Bethel, and has fun joking around with the staff and going out on bus trips. As for family, Noel regarded Joyce’s children as his own, so he now has quite a few grandchildren to keep tabs on! Luckily many of them live in the Newcastle region, so he still sees them. Noel Landenberger left Grafton for good all those years ago, but I don’t think he’s ever had any regrets. As he says: ‘Newcastle’s a great place to live – it’s a good lifestyle.’ So lucky for Noel, the grass really was greener! (Noel is pictured here with a print of his favourite painting, a Joseph Lycett scene depicting Noel’s stomping ground of Newcastle and Nobbys c1818, complete with colonials and whippets in the foreground!)
Five Minutes with a Staff Member
If you hear laughter at Bethel, chances are Fifi Nafi’Ah is involved! This lovely AIN has a reputation for being able to make people smile, so in this edition of Community News we thought we should find out a little more about her. Tell us a bit about yourself. I was born in Bali, Indonesia, and I’m the second youngest of four girls. I moved to Australia in 2005, and my younger sister is also here, living in Sydney. I have two beautiful daughters: Chloe, who is seven, and Chelsea, who is three. What does your job involve? I’ve been working at Bethel for around six years now. I’m an AIN, so I help to look after the residents, and I’m a foot care nurse. I also spend two days a week in the Alternative Therapy team. What do you like best about your job? I enjoy all of it – having a chat and a laugh with the residents, and the people I work with are great. It’s also close to home – I live nearby! What do you like to do outside of work? I enjoy taking the kids to the beach, or to the movies and shopping. They both dance – they do traditional Indonesian dancing. Chloe might be going to the USA to dance in 2017, so we’re very excited about that. I also enjoy cooking. We try to go home [to Indonesia] every year for Christmas, to visit the family. I always look forward to someone else giving me a massage!
Playgrounds aren’t just for kids No more sitting around on the park bench whilst the grandkids play! Around the world seniors are being encouraged to play too, using specially designed seniors’ playgrounds with low-impact exercise equipment such as static bikes, body flexors and elliptical machines – all designed to promote flexibility, balance and strength. Many studies have revealed that the added benefits of exercise for seniors are to: 1. Reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia and some cancers, 2. Lessen cognitive decline, 3. Control obesity and high blood pressure.
Another health benefit for seniors visiting the playground is that it acts as a community gathering spot, increasing seniors’ interactions. Over time, this can contribute to addressing social isolation and loneliness. Whilst seniors’ playgrounds in Australia are only a mere thought, they have been well established in China and Japan since the 1990s, and in Europe and Canada since the 2000s. In addition, the United States has recently established multigenerational playgrounds. Would this be something you would want to use and participate in if it was in your local community? (agedcarereportcard.com.au/blog) 13
Barbara Clerke hops on her broom leaving scarecrow Noel Landenberger behind at Halloween!
Everyone needs to update their style from time to time, and that’s exactly what’s been happening at Bethel this spring! While you may not notice anything on the outside of our beautiful heritage-listed building, on the inside it’s a different story: floors and skirtings are being replaced; new handrails, televisions and a comprehensive sprinkler system are being installed; residents will enjoy new bedspreads throughout the facility, as well as select new furniture; and the whole interior is being repainted in bright, fresh colours, professionally selected by Ross Smith Design. Just in time for the festive season! The workmen aren’t the only ones who have been busy at Bethel. The last four months have also seen our lovely residents enjoy some fantastic activities and theme days, a few of which are
highlighted below. In August, everyone who was anyone got dressed up for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Activities Officer Neenie Andrews was in her element, transforming the activities room into a complete Wonderland. As you can see from the following photos, staff and residents alike paraded some amazing costumes for the day. Aloha! For September’s theme day, Bethel went to Hawaii – well, went Hawaiian anyway! There were beautiful Hawaiian-themed decorations, Hawaiian music and food, as well as colourful entertainment provided by some talented Indonesian dancers that were organised by staff member Fifi (we know – not exactly Hawaiian, but close!). There were also prizes for the best dressed resident and staff member. 14
On the NRL grand final day, there were team colours flying and parties on all floors. Congratulations to Noel Landenberger, the winner of the footy tipping competition. What is it about dressing up as a horrifying monster that everyone loves?! Who knows, but the staff and residents at Bethel are no different, and the end of October brought the most anticipated event on the Bethel activities calendar: Halloween! A wonderfully scary Halloween was had by all (see photos), and residents are already planning their costumes for next year! As well as the above theme days, residents and staff also have also been enjoying some outdoor BBQs in the warmer weather. Melbourne Cup day was celebrated with happy hour, nibbles, sweeps and
Wendy Lowe’s last day of chemotherapy with her beautiful poster made by the Bethel community.
Bill Avery with his lovely wife Nancy!
Congratulations Noel Landenberger, winner of the 2015 footy tipping comp!
Bethel residents ran their own races on Melbourne Cup day!
Remembrance Day was observed on November the 11th with a service.
Jack Stephens and Marion Clement pay their respects.
Catherine Austin and Pastor Sue Jenkins on Remembrance Day.
Pastor Sue Jenkins and Burt Geary held a moving service for Remembrance Day.
War veteran John Howard laying flowers on Remembrance Day.
horseracing games, and Remembrance Day was honoured with a beautiful service, including a bagpiper and the laying of flowers and wreaths. The ever-popular magician Joel Howlett visited in November, and a special message must be sent for those who couldn’t attend: please be assured Joel will be returning as soon as he can be booked for next year!
At the end of November, residents attended the first of many Christmas events: the Macquarie Life Church Christmas Party, which was a fantastic day as always (see page 37 for photos). December will see preparations begin for Christmas, including craft, carols and Christmas lights tours – and of course, more parties! Merry Christmas! 15
Congratulations Wendy! And finally, an update on the journey of our beloved staff member, Wendy Lowe: Wendy has thankfully completed her final round of chemo, and residents recently helped make her a lovely poster (pictured) to celebrate the milestone. Bethel staff and residents always look forward to her visits, and are thrilled to see how well she is doing.
The Bethel Mad Hatter’s Tea Party! John O’Donnell and AO Neenie Andrews.
Everything was rosy for Sonia Davison at the Mad Hatter’s Tea party!
Nancy King and the White Rabbit.
Helen Wakefield’s hat was also especially rosy!
Is that you, Shirley Johnson?
We think our Activities Officer, Neenie Andrews is behind those purple shades!
There’s something different about Margaret Campbell...
John O’Donnell and the Cheshire Cat!
Dianne Steele, Marion Clement and that smiling cat.
ECM Mark Bramble wonders who is in that suit!
A beautiful cake for the tea party.
Janette Hele is trying to go incognito.
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Staff member Suzan and her stripey friend.
John Howard and the smiling cat.
They suit you, Winifred Taylor!
George Krauksts with a lovely smile.
Ian Strain gets a photo with a Mad Hatter!
Wearing more than one hat – Noel Landenberger.
Estelle Watters – another lovely smile!
Trevor and Mary Sutton with staff member Fifi.
The Indonesian dance troupe on Hawaiian theme day!
A beautiful photo of Sonia Davison and her lovely daughter, Pru. 17
Gorgeous Indonesian dancer: Fifi’s daughter, Chelsea.
Residents enjoyed voting for the best dressed staff member.
On Halloween: Marion Clement and Jack Stephens with a friendly black cat.
Stan Ozdzynski and Nancy King looking colourful.
John O’Donnell looks the part of a true Hawaiian local.
Beverley Young and Betty Doss don’t look scared!
caption Jean Partridge and witchy staff member, Michelle King.
John O’Donnell and AO Neenie Andrews have a dance.
Good mates: witch Barbara Clerke and scarecrow Noel Landenberger.
A Bethel witch (and black cat) parks her broom at the Witches’ Parking Station!
John O’Donnell and good mate, Bones!
Catherine Austin and AO Neenie have a dance on Halloween.
Scary snacks for scary people!
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ELSS and University of Newcastle collaboration ELSS is proud to announce its partnership with the University of Newcastle’s School of Nursing for student placement, which will provide excellent training and enhance and complement local community services. Recently ELSS had the opportunity to sponsor the 25th birthday celebrations of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which coincided with the University of Newcastle’s 50th birthday celebrations. ELSS provides the University of Newcastle’s nursing students with opportunites to develop positive and meaningful relationships with staff and residents. Students provide critical support to individuals and their families living with dementia, and utilise the strategies created by industry leaders in research, technology and design for individual based care in a positive homelike, caring
Words that continue to resonate - 75 years on “...Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost....” Charlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator (1940) This excerpt is from an incredibly stirring speech, written and spoken by Charlie Chaplin for the film The Great Dictator. It has been called the ‘greatest speech ever made’. The words are stirring and evoke powerful emotions of the importance of care in our humanity. Do you remember what it meant to you?
The Knights (pardon the Newcastle pun) of the Oval Table for the signing of the Student Placement Agreement. From left: Jane (Clinical Placement Officer), Amanda (School of Nursing and Midwifery), Gwyn (Clinical Placement Liaison Nurse), MaryAnne (Clinical Placement Unit), Sarah Jeong (Associate Professor, International Student Liaison Officer) and Nicole (Clinical Placement Officer), and Karen Anne Waters (ELSS Project Manager).
environment. “The need to train and retain nurses with excellent skills, knowledge and a passion for research and development in the aged care arena is imperative,” says Karen Anne, our Project Manager, pictured here with Professor Sally Chan, Head of School, Nursing and Midwifery. With Australia’s ageing population, providing excellent training and promoting the rewarding opportunities in aged care both professionally and personally is vital.
Remember when...
...You could get a job as a bowling alley pinsetter?? A job that sadly no longer exists today, pinsetters were often young boys employed to set up the pins after bowlers had knocked them down! 19
HVC Resident Profile
In this edition of Community News we get to know Fred Burrows, a relative newcomer to our community out at Toronto! Fred was born in Haberfield in Sydney, and sadly his father passed on when he was just five, leaving his mum a widow and himself an only child. They moved to Summer Hill, where Fred went to Summer Hill Primary School and then Stanmore Commercial. By the time he finished school, work was difficult to find, but luckily Fred won an apprenticeship as an electrical fitter at Westinghouse. He was about twenty-two years old when World War II broke out, and was able to use his electrical skills in the manufacture of searchlights and the installation of equipment at the naval base in Jervis Bay. Fred tells a little-known account of one dark night at Jervis Bay, when naval base personnel were awoken by the sound of machine guns. A Japanese submarine had
entered the bay and soldiers were trying to land, intending to destroy equipment at the base. The Japanese soldiers were shot as they came up the beach, but for a good long time after that, all military personnel at Jervis Bay were on high alert. In fact, they were so nervous that it was sometimes a case of shoot-first-ask-questionslater! One night when Fred was returning to the base from Nowra, even the car they were driving in was accidentally fired upon! Fred also clearly recalls an event that many youngsters may not be familiar with: the time three Japanese mini-submarines snuck into Sydney Harbour, avoiding the partially constructed anti-submarine boom net. Two were scuttled, but one fired a torpedo intended for the warship USS Chicago. Instead it hit a converted ferry, the HMAS Kuttabul, killing twenty-one sleeping soldiers. After the war Fred qualified as an electrical contractor and moved to a job in Mudgee, where he stayed for fourteen years. Back then, Mudgee was a very conservative country town, and for years Fred was considered the ‘new boy’! After a brief first marriage that didn’t work out, Fred finally married the love of his life, Daisy Joyce. The beautiful Daisy was
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a widow who had been left with an eight-month-old baby, Wayne. Fred, Daisy and Wayne started a new family, and happily, daughter Shirley came along to complete things! Fred and his new family moved to Belmont for ten years, and then to Speers Point, where they settled for good. Fred talks fondly of their house in Speers Point, on a hill overlooking the lake. The hill was nicknamed ‘Pill Hill’ as so many doctors lived there! Fred and Daisy spent many happy years together at Speers Point, and Fred says they were always the best of friends. When asked what makes a happy marriage, Fred replies simply: ‘Decency and respect’. He says he and Daisy tried to never hurt each other’s feelings. They always discussed things, respected each other’s skills, and had a lot of trust in each other. Sadly, Daisy recently passed away from cancer. But Fred feels very lucky to still have his daughter, step-son and four lovely grandchildren living close by in the Newcastle region. And while Fred will always miss their family home at Speers Point, especially the amazing view across the lake, he is lucky enough to enjoy a different aspect of the same lake from his new home at Fig Tree Point.
Five Minutes with a Staff Member
Last month, staff and residents of Fig Tree Point were pleased to welcome back a familiar face – actually, two familiar faces! After a year away, Kimberley Frost has returned to the new role of Activities Coordinator, and this also means regular visits from her trusty fourlegged companion, Naala. For the benefit of all the new residents and their families, Kimberley kindly agreed to let us reintroduce her in this edition of Community News! Tell us a bit about yourself. I grew up in Toronto, and went to school at Toronto High. I have two brothers and one sister. I’ve worked at Fig Tree Point for nine years, but recently spent a year in Wollongong. I’ve been back at Fig Tree Point for a week now! What does your job involve? I’m the Activities Coordinator, which involves updating care plans, and organising concerts and monthly activity programs. Quite a bit of paperwork, actually! What do you like best about your job? I really enjoy meeting new people and hearing their different stories, learning about their lives. There are a lot of new people here now, and they really get involved in the activities, so I’m looking forward to getting to know them. What do you like to do outside of work? I love to catch up with friends, and I enjoy photography. I love animals – I have two pets: a cat and a dog. Many of the residents remember my dog Naala, and one of the first things they asked on my return was when I’m bringing her to visit. They’re already looking forward to seeing her dressed up for Christmas!
There is no easy way around grief... it is the natural response to the loss of someone special. Likewise, major life events such as change of circumstance or illness can leave you distressed. HVC and ELSS have Chaplains available for the support of residents and their families. Should you feel you need some help in these times, do not hesitate to contact a Chaplain.
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Staff member Sharon having fun with Heinz Duewell on the dance floor during a recent Adam Price concert.
It’s no secret that staff and residents of Fig Tree Point love a good theme day, and as the following photos demonstrate, they have been indulging this love over the past few months! There were saris and poppadoms for Indian theme day; croissants and pastries for Bastille Day; horses and hats for the Melbourne Cup; pizza and red wine for Italian Day – and much more besides! Regular bus trips have also been popular as the weather warms up, and residents have enjoyed outings to destinations such as Sabor Dessert Bar in the Hunter Valley, the Maitland Art Gallery, and the Hunter Valley Gardens to see the beautiful spring roses. December is all about Christmas and parties and craft! Residents have been busy making beautiful trees and wreaths to deck the halls (well, the hallways), and are looking forward to the annual Christmas lights bus tours. This year the Christmas parties for our lovely residents, their families and friends will be held on the 14th and 16th of December. Please see staff to book for 22
these days, as you are all welcome! All staff at Fig Tree Point would like to wish residents and their families the very best for Christmas and the New Year!
Making bird feeders: Grahame Dorward (with Jean Sunol) has a well-deserved reputation for being a bit cheeky!
Amy Crocker and Jean Sunol enjoying an Adam Price concert.
Mary Stevens and Activities Officer Greg dancing to Delilah.
Visitor Gay and staff member Sharon tear up the dance floor!
June Tayler and staff member Terrese make pleasant company.
Activities Officer Yvonne displays one of the wonderful wreaths made at FTP.
Betty Anderson celebrated her 87th birthday back in September.
Activities Officer Greg dons a sari for some traditional Indian dancing.
Staff member Lucy Wells with Sheila Venables.
Registered Nurse, Sandy Pannu, donated time on her day off to come in and demonstrate traditional Indian dancing.
Jean Merrick looking lovely at the Spring Ball (for more photos, see page 34).
Beautiful Fay Broadbent wears beautiful spring flowers in her hair!
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The inquisitive Fig Tree Point group enjoy the artworks.
At Maitland Art Gallery: Lindsay Johnston inspects a work up close.
Win Scoles and Beryl Duncan underneath an unusual display.
Reg Allen expressing his view.
Win Scoles, Muriel Carlson and Beryl Duncan enjoy a day out at the lovely Maitland Art Gallery.
On Melbourne Cup day: Allan Wrigley shares dessert with his daughter, Chris.
Jan Patrick looking very smart in black.
Muriel Carlson and Win Scoles: horsing around as usual!
Amy Crocker laughing it up!
Staff member Sharon riding her trusty steed, Greg.
Dolly Platt all dressed up for the races.
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Staff also dressed up for the Melbourne Cup festivities: Looking lovely are Sharon, Vicki, Judy and Yvonne.
New outdoor area at Fig Tree Point Residents and their visitors will soon be able to enjoy a lovely new outdoor area at Fig Tree Point. A new landscaped garden area will soon open up to the south of the building, with easy level access from the top floor Activities and Staff Rooms. Scattered table settings will allow residents and their guests to enjoy relaxing in patches of lovely sunshine or under the filtered light from existing and new trees, as well as providing smooth walking paths around landscaped garden beds. This new outdoor space will complement Fig Tree Point’s existing outdoor areas, including the sundrenched north-facing balconies, the west balcony and garden, and the ground floor gardens and gazebo areas. So now no matter what time of day, our residents will have somewhere sheltered and beautiful to sit so they can be nurtured by nature!
Scholarship winner: April Booth
For those who have not met her, we are very excited to introduce April Booth: April is the winner of the 2015 Creative Dementia Therapy Scholarship, a collaboration
between Hunter Valley Care and the University of Newcastle! April is a fourth-year Occupational Therapy student at UoN, and she developed an inspired program for her scholarship entry, using Reminiscence Therapy based around a series of period musicals. April is currently almost finished implementing her fifteen-week program at Fig Tree Point, under the guidance of staff, who have been witnessing exciting results. Recently we asked April a 25
couple of questions to help explain how her program will benefit aged care residents, especially those with dementia. What is happening at Fig Tree Point at the moment is inspiring, exciting and ground-breaking stuff! Well done, April. What kind of experience will the residents of Hunter Valley Care have undergoing the program, and how will this enhance or complement their care? Every week, the residents of Fig Tree Point will engage in a comprehensive creative therapy program (Cont...)
based around a well-known musical, including singing, dancing, acting and music. They will also have the opportunity to engage in Reminiscence Theatre. This program will provide residents with an opportunity to engage in an activity for the sake of enjoyment, while
stimulating the development of social and emotional skills, providing a remedy against boredom, as well as a distraction from pain or discomfort, all whilst encouraging recall. Currently we are in negotiations with Toronto High School to introduce Reminiscence Theatre to Hunter Valley Care. Reminiscence Theatre is popular in Europe and America, and was established thirty years ago in London. Participants are given a topic question (for example, what happened when you were sixteen going on seventeen) and they then recount their experiences to actors. The actors translate these responses into a script and reproduce their experiences as a play, and perform this to the participants. We are hopeful of including the drama students from Toronto High School in this experience to enhance collaboration between generations. What is Reminiscence
Therapy, and how is it thought to help those with dementia? Reminiscence Therapy involves the discussion of past activities, events and experiences with another person or group of people, usually with the aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household and other familiar items from the past, music and archive sound recordings. This program facilitates reminiscence through using musicals from days gone by such as Singing in the Rain, The Sound of Music, and The King and I. During each session, residents have recounted memories of their youth. There is evidence to suggest reminiscence therapy is effective in improving the mood of persons diagnosed with dementia, and able to improve quality of life. Additionally, designing activities which promote reminiscence and value a person’s story promote the concept of ‘personhood’, or the notion that there is
a ‘core essence’ (Camic, Williams & Meeten, 2013) of every person that can be nourished, regardless of the severity of dementia or any other condition (Camic 26
et al., 2013). Focusing on this concept of personhood also enhances relationships between residents and staff, as it brings into focus a person’s story. What inspired you to enter for the scholarship? I am a current Occupational Therapy student enrolled at the University of Newcastle. The mantra of Occupational Therapy is the power of meaningful engagement to transform a person’s life. As part of my university studies, I am completing an honours project investigating the use of creative therapies in the mental health setting. I was inspired to enter this competition to draw together these two areas of knowledge to create a program that had the ability to benefit an entire community of people. What will implementing this program mean to you? Implementing this program provides me with the satisfaction of knowing something I have created is operating and is making a change to the lives of people around me. It’s so rewarding to believe in a program, and to know that the activities you have chosen will benefit another person. To be given the opportunity to prove that is overwhelming. I feel so honoured to be able to participate in this opportunity. April will be implementing her fifteen-week Creative Dementia Therapy program until January 2016 at Fig Tree Point, and we look forward to closely watching her success!
7 diet tips to reduce your chance of developing dementia Several factors have been linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease including older age, genetic factors, family history, a history of head trauma, midlife hypertension, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. Studies have also suggested that diet and lifestyle factors may influence risk. So what can we eat to reduce our chances of developing Alzheimer’s Disease? 1. Minimise your intake of saturated and trans fats. (i.e. meat, processed meat, dairy, butter, coconut, processed foods.) Trans fats appear on ingredient lists as ‘partially hydrogenated oils’. 2. Vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, fruits and wholegrains should replace meats and dairy products as primary staples of the diet. 3. Vitamin E from foods rather than supplements. (i.e. from seeds, nuts, leafy green vegetables and wholegrains.) 4. Regularly check vitamin B12 levels, especially after surgery or illness. 5. If using multiple vitamin supplements, avoid ones with copper and or iron and only consume iron supplements if directed by your doctor. As excessive intake of iron and copper may contribute to cognitive decline. 6. Whilst the role of aluminium in Alzheimer’s Disease remains under investigation, it is recommended to avoid use of aluminium cookware, antacids, baking powder or other products that contain aluminium. 7. Include aerobic exercise in your routine. Forty minutes of brisk walking, three times per week. (agedcarereportcard.com.au/blog)
Hunter Nature With permission: tolgabathospital.org
Suborder: Microchiroptera (‘little hand-wing’) There is nothing cuter that a microbat! Thousands of these minute balls of fluff zoom quietly through the night skies, each one providing us with an amazing and free service by eating up to 400 insects a night! Microbats mainly use echo-location to hunt down their insect prey. They are also much smaller than fruit-eating bats, with the largest weighing in at sixty grams (the same size as your average Mars Bar) and others as little as four grams! And not only are these cute little critters the size of your thumb (like the pictured pipistrelle bat), they have a diverse and strange array of facial features that only a mother could love. Like little gremlins! Who’ve been fed after midnight... Microbats roost in caves and naturally formed grottos made by overhanging rocks, although some can be found in trees. They can be seen flying just above your campsite at night, hunting any insects attracted to the light. In fact, some bats are so small that they themselves may be
Gilles San Martin CC BY-SA 2.0
mistaken for large moths. If you listen carefully, sometimes it’s possible to hear high-pitched clicking or chirruping sounds. These sounds are mainly social chitchat or warning sounds the bats make to each other. The sounds they make to locate their prey are way too high-pitched for our clunky human ears to register! You don’t have to go out camping to encounter microbats either, as they are attracted to insects found swarming around house and shop lights too. Despite their awesome aerial acrobatic skills, unfortunately they are still subject to collision injuries from ceiling fans and cars. Injured bats should not be handled – a wildlife carer should be notified as soon as possible. 27
HVC Resident Profile
Without its queue of rusty red and black ships, Newcastle’s eastern horizon would be almost unrecognisable. But have you ever wondered what it must be like to live on board? One man who knows is Waterview’s Gary Bult, and last month Community News had a very interesting conversation with him about the life of a merchant sailor! Gary was born and bred in Cooks Hill, one of four children. At the tender age of sixteen he joined the merchant navy, which was to be his life for the next thirtyfive years. The sixteen-year-old Gary must have been quite brave to leave everything he knew and board one of those monstrous ships for the first time. Some of the crossings were rough, especially the Great Australian Bight. The waves would hit the ship side-on, making it roll terribly, and as a nervous young deck boy Gary would try to
sleep in his life jacket, which was quite uncomfortable! However, he quickly learned to love this amazing life, and soon he was rarely scared. There were so many lifeboat drills that the crew all knew exactly what to do if they got into trouble – but thankfully, this was a skill Gary never had to test. Not that there weren’t some rough times! Gary has many stories of being tossed about in big storms, waves breaking over the deck and ships limping into shore with a serious lean to one side because the cargo had shifted. Once, during a rough crossing to New Zealand, a few containers were even washed over the side! Apparently this is not uncommon, and while some are airtight and simply float, waiting to be salvaged and posing a potential threat to yachts, others would certainly sink to the bottom. Gary reckons there must be quite a few containers scattered across the ocean floors! Certain crossings were always rough, but the bigger ships were more comfortable. Gary tells how empty ships (with no cargo) roll more; going into waves, an empty ship would pitch high into the air, and when it dropped back to crash into the water, the iron of the deck would actually wobble! We think that must have
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been quite disturbing… One potentially dangerous shipping route was through the Philippines. Gary recalls that as they neared Manila, the crew had to stand guard at night with fire hoses, ready in case they were boarded by pirates. The pirates were only after money, spirits or cigarettes, but they would often carry guns! Luckily, none of Gary’s ships were ever boarded. Gary loved going to sea. Much of his time was spent working for BHP, going between Port Kembla, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand. He worked on ships carrying coal, iron ore, wheat, and occasionally race horses from New Zealand. He reckons it was a top life, and he loved the sea. He saw whales all the time, and sharks would follow the ships for scraps thrown over the side. When asked if he ever fell overboard himself, Gary looks a little sheepish. He never fell off a ship, he says, but once in Kwinana (WA), when walking back to the ship after a night out, he stumbled off the jetty into the water! We wonder if that was the only time... According to Gary, about the only downside to his life at sea was missing his three children grow up. He wasn’t going to miss out on his Continued...
Five Minutes with a Staff Member
Waterview’s Evelyn Simon has a reputation for hard work, a kind heart and a beautiful smile, and when Community News sat down to have a little chat with her, we found out her reputation is well-deserved! Tell us a bit about yourself. I was born in southern Sudan, but left in 2004 to escape the Civil War, and to seek a better life for my children – I have two daughters and one son. After living in Cairo for three years, we came to Australia as refugees in 2007. I gained my qualification as an AIN over three years whilst working at Crowne Plaza, and I have been employed at Waterview for almost five years now. What does your job involve? I am an AIN, so I help to look after the residents. What do you like best about your job? I love to work with the elderly, because I get a lot of love in return. They are good company and they make me feel at home. I am very happy to work at Waterview – it is a very well-respected company, and a good place to work. What do you like to do outside of work? Outside of work I have a second job driving a taxi! I know the streets of Newcastle very well. Two of my eldest children are at university, one in Newcastle and one in Canberra, and my youngest is still at school at Saint Phillips. In my spare time I like to watch movies, and practise singing for mass on the weekend.
(Gary Bult cont.) grandchildren though – he has three grandsons, of whom he is very proud. And now there is a brand new feather perched proudly in his old sailor’s cap: his gorgeous great-grandson Jackson, who is just four months old. Gary couldn’t be prouder of Jackson, and
is happy he still has his family living in the Newcastle region. What an amazing and interesting life Gary Bult has had! If you’d like to know more, we’re sure Gary would be happy to chat, but before you do we should share this: not everything that floats in
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the water is a boat! During our chat, Gary taught us that those iconic monstrosities floating off the coast of Newcastle are ‘ships’, not ‘boats’, and in the shipping world that is a very important distinction. You learn something new every day!
Waterview moustache mates: Robert Hill, Phil Ayre and Gary Hult, go pink before shaving at the end of Movember.
Waterview news It’s been a while since we visited Waterview, and so much has been happening it’s difficult to know where to begin! Residents were quick to take advantage of the warm spring weather, and the buses have been overflowing. One particularly fine morning was spent at the Botanic Gardens at Heatherbrae, and another fun trip was to Monarchs in the Hunter. The 23rd of November was a special anniversary day for Waterview: twenty-five years of aged care service was marked with a circus-themed celebration! As you can see from the photos that follow, all sorts of fun was had. A couple of highlights from the day were visiting magician Joel Howlett, who is always entertaining, and Waterview’s very own Dr Proctor, who completed his rounds on a unicycle! Rumour has it he was observed juggling as well... The following week, the Waterview community learned that riding a
unicycle and juggling are just a few of Dr Proctor’s hidden talents, when he turned up to the Waterview talent show despite not being scheduled to visit! During the talent show, Dr Proctor impressed the crowd with his fiddle playing, accompanied by none other than Waterview ECM Phil Ayre, who danced a jig! And just when surprised residents thought they had seen it all – it got better… Phil pulled out a ‘saw’ and proceeded to accompany the good doctor as he played the Blue Danube Waltz. Not many Waterview residents had seen the traditional saw ‘played’ quite this way before (involving a block of wood). So it was surprises all around! We also have to mention the rest of the talent show stars! Waterview staff exhibited their diverse skills on the stage, reciting poetry, singing opera, dancing, and just generally acting the goose. Everyone enjoyed the fun day, and it’s got to be said… Waterview’s Got Talent! 30
On the 3rd of November the Melbourne Cup was celebrated with sweeps, a high tea, and a visit from our equine friends at Penny’s Ponies. While Penny’s Ponies won’t be winning any races, these cute, fluffy little horses won the hearts of residents and staff alike. As well as enjoying some fantastic concerts over the last few months, with the likes of Wayne Rogers, the Newcastle City Choir and new entertainers ‘The Good Old Days’, the Waterview community sadly bid adieu to one of our favourite entertainers, Des Collins, who passed away recently due to illness. Des had been entertaining residents for many years, playing the piano and singing. He will be remembered for his great jokes, entertaining stories, and amazing musical repertoire played entirely from memory. Des will be missed by many at Waterview, but we are thrilled to have his lovely son John now visiting us with his guitar.
Happy 25th Birthday Waterview! Elsie McIntyre and Phil Ayre.
Elsie McIntyre having fun with magician Joel Howlett.
Dorothy Cohen and Ringmaster, Phil Ayre.
Staff member Alina: Acting the clown.
A fierce circus lion about to jump through his ring of fire...
JD’s World of Magic!
Colourful staff clowns: Kathy and Natasha.
Waterview’s practitioner, Dr Proctor came dressed fully prepared for a circus...
...and completed his rounds on his unicycle!
November was also Movember at Waterview, and three of our gentlemen sported lovely flowing moustaches (flo-mo’s) for charity. As you can see from the main photo, it was a shame they had to shave in the end – but it was all for a good cause, as they raised over $700 towards the education and awareness of men’s health issues! And speaking of raising money… You may remember that back in October, ECM Phil Ayre rode his
pushbike all the way from Canberra to the Sydney Opera House to raise funds for Lymphoma Australia (see photo, page 33). Phil would like to thank all sponsors, including Hunter Valley Care, for their support and donations. Around $45,000 was raised in total from the twenty riders who made the journey. Coming up in December, Waterview will have their annual Christmas lights bus tours on the 8th and 16th, and residents will 31
celebrate Christmas with parties on the 15th and 17th. Please remember family and friends are welcome to attend, and you can book with staff members Tracey Watt or Lyn Beattie. Coming up, January’s themed celebration will be based around Australia Day, with Aussie trivia, concerts, crafts, cooking, beach themes and so much more! Merry Christmas from everyone at Waterview, and a Happy New Year!
Arsenic and Old Lace brought along Marylin Monroe for a special visit!
Betty Hillier masquerading as a zebra.
That’s Doreen Fraser behind that mask...
...and we are pretty sure that’s Gary Bult!
Staff members Lyn Beattie, Diana Cowdroy, ECM Phil Ayre and Pauline Boswell. Of course.
RN Penny Webb!
On a recent bus trip Waterview residents spent a lovely day at the Heatherbrae Botanic Gardens.
Marie McKendry looking fabulous on Melbourne Cup day.
This very horsey display was put together by one of our lovely staff members. 32
Staff members Pauline, Ma and Phil looking good on Melbourne Cup day.
On your marks... get set... no? One of Penny’s ponies takes a stroll!
Judith Wright meets a visiting pony on Melbourne Cup day.
A tiny jockey - looking life-like.
Musical Director of the Newcastle City Choir: Callum sings Les Miserables.
The beautiful voices of the Newcastle City Choir.
Wayne Rogers always shares a laugh with residents during his show.
The fabulous Wayne Rogers continues to amaze us with his diverse wardrobe and song list!
ECM rides for charity Pictured right: Waterview ECM Phil Ayre at the end of the Parliament to Opera charity ride in October, to raise funds for Lymphoma Australia. Pictured with Phil is thirteen-yearold Jack from Belmont and family friend. Jack rode in memory of his father who passed away twelve months ago from Lymphoma. According to Phil, all the riders rallied around Jack to make sure he was able to complete the 300 kilometre trip, and more than one tear was shed when he was able to complete the distance. 33
Fig Tree Point
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The beginning of spring was celebrated in grand style this year at Fig Tree Point, with a colourful and festive ball! The hallways and ‘ballroom’ were an excited whirl of silk, satin, taffeta and organza; there were bow-ties and vests, buttonholes and hats, frocks and evening gowns of all colours. There was fine food and sparkling champagne, and all around the room decorations and flowers heralded the return of another beautiful spring. And of course, there was dancing! As well as a wonderful performance by two guest ballroom dancers, staff, residents and families danced away the afternoon to one of our favourite concert performers. A wonderful day was had by all, making the many
weeks of preparation well worth the effort. ECM Nila Smith made a special presentation to the staff during the afternoon, acknowledging all their hard work. Special mention must be made here of AO Yvonne, who spent much of her own time organising eveningwear for the residents, and who (with AO Greg) spent many hours after work decorating the facility to ensure the day was memorable. And memorable it was! In fact, everyone was talking about it for weeks afterwards. Perhaps the Spring Ball might become an annual tradition at Fig Tree Point? We certainly hope so! The stunning photographs on this page were kindly taken by budding young photographer and staff member, Jessany Trotter.
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Billy Collins
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Macquarie Life Church
Christmas Party
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Amaroo Aged Care Facility
The Sanctuary
Fig Tree Point Aged Care Facility
Waterview 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: admin.amaroo@elss.com.au
Bethel Aged Care Facility
30 Lorna Street,Waratah NSW 2298 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4967 7665 Fax: (02) 4967 7553 Email: admin.bethel@elss.com.au
Street: 7 Harris Street, Toronto NSW 2283 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4950 4133 Fax: (02) 4950 5078 Email: admin.figtree@elss.com.au
Fig Tree Point’s Grahame Dorward holding aloft some bird feeders he has just finished making.
Anne A colourful happy snap of Ian and el. Beth ’s atah War from Strain
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 Street: 16 Cumberland Street, Teralba NSW 2284 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4941 7000 Fax: (02) 4958 5276 Email: admin.waterview@elss.com.au
Amaroo’s award winning jocky Billy Wade dances with his good mate and staf f member, Teearni on Melbourne Cup day.
Waterview’s Elsie McIntyre leading her hopeful for the big race on Melboune Cup day!