LIFESTYLE Experience Ryman Healthcare
T H E I M P O R TA N T T H I N G S I N L I F E
ISSUE THREE 2019
Weary Dunlop's
Life according
What's new
5th birthday
to Dad
in Burwood East
A N OT E F R O M G O R DY
Welcome to Lifestyle
Residents and our team members recognise the important things in life in many ways at our villages. We celebrated Weary Dunlop Retirement Village's 5th birthday recently, which is a fantastic milestone. However, what’s truly worth recognising is the wonderful close-knit community that Weary Dunlop enjoys.
And lets not forget the importance of laughter. Our Father’s Day competition provided some great laughs. It appears that amidst all those Dad jokes, some classic pearls of wisdom can emerge! We thoroughly enjoyed reading all the entries, and I hope you enjoy our winners feature. Best wishes,
In fact, this issue of Lifestyle features a few examples of where the important things in life have proven their worth. We see this in our resident story where Graeme experienced true friendship in the form of a listening ear in his time of need.
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LIFESTYLE
Gordon MacLeod Chief Executive Ryman Healthcare
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VILLAGE EVENT
Weary Dunlop's 5th birthday It was a birthday bash that will linger long in the memory.
Weary Dunlop Retirement Village celebrated 5 years since its official opening in magnificent fashion recently. Melba Opera Trust scholars Cleo Lee-McGowan, Adam McMillan, Stephen Marsh and Samuel Piper brought the house down with a 45-minute performance, while residents enjoyed cocktails, canapés and birthday cake. Samuel Piper is the inaugural recipient of the Melba Opera Trust's Ryman Healthcare
scholarship and was performing at Weary Dunlop for the first time. Village Manager Kym Faulkner paid tribute to all the staff and residents who put in a huge effort to make the event such a success. "This village has grown into a really close-knit community in the 5 years since it opened, and continues to embrace new residents into the Weary Dunlop family.
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"It's just gone from strength to strength, so it was wonderful to be able to celebrate such a big milestone.” Above left: Residents John, Marjorie and Nick Above top: Residents Elaine and Fran Above: Chef Lawrence created a delicious birthday spread
RESIDENT STORY
Through tough times, friendships grow Graeme knows more than anyone that, when times are tough, you find out who your true friends are.
As an independent resident at Ryman’s Weary Dunlop Retirement Village, Graeme would visit his wife Helen every day in the specialist dementia care wing at the village. After his visits with Helen, like clockwork, there would be a glass of sauvignon blanc waiting for Graeme in the village lounge, along with fellow residents Jim and Kath. Watching Helen’s health deteriorate was a very tough time for Graeme, but Jim and Kath were a constant pillar of support. The trio would catch up most days after Graeme had left Helen for the day.
It became “like a ritual”. “Jim would say, ‘I’ll get you a drink and I’ll see you when you get down’,” Graeme says. “Sometimes I’d be late, but they were always waiting for me.” Jim: “If we had to wait for half an hour or more, we’d wait for him. It was important from our point of view to help him relax a little.” When Graeme and Helen moved into Weary Dunlop in 2016, they didn’t know anyone. Not long after, Jim spotted Graeme at the village Happy Hour.
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“I noticed this bloke sitting across from me, and he was sitting on his own. So, I decided to go and have a chat to him,” Jim says.
“We got on like a house on fire. We talked together for over an hour, and it just developed from there.” Looking at Graeme, Jim and Kath now, most people would assume they’ve been lifelong friends. They see the story of their friendship
Left and above: Kath, Graeme and Jim enjoying each other's company
as emblematic of what Weary Dunlop Retirement Village is all about. When someone is having a tough time, residents step up to support them. Likewise, when there’s a celebration, people are there to raise a glass and share the moment.
That ‘chat to anybody’ philosophy saw one man decide to sit beside a stranger because he looked like he needed someone to talk to.
Like any thriving community, people living at Weary Dunlop show genuine care and compassion for those around them. “We ourselves have made lots of new friends here,” Kath says. “I just chat to anybody. It’s very good for your own wellbeing to keep making friends.”
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Nearly four years later, the conversation is still going strong.
COMPETITION WINNERS
To celebrate Father’s Day, we asked Victorians to share their Dad’s sage, witty, or emboldening wisdom in our Life According to Dad competition. Selecting winners from over 1,500 entries proved to be a rewarding challenge. There were giggles and joyful tears as our judging panel realised the everlasting impact that a Dad’s nuggets of wisdom can have on his children.
Here are some of our winner’s stories:
“ ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER, EVEN WHEN SHE’S WRONG!”
“ IT’S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE.”
Winner: Gallo Fa’atele
Winner: Mark Doyle
Gallo’s Dad, Koko Fa’atele’s advice lives on since he passed away 7 years ago. Holding back happy tears, Gallo said, “I can always remember Mum giggling away in the kitchen when he said it.”
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“My Mum died when my brother and I were pretty young, so there were just the three of us.” Mark’s Dad, Frank, wholeheartedly stepped in as both Mum and Dad for his boys. “I’ll be ringing my Dad in Dublin at the weekend and I’ll let him know we won.”
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Witty Wisdom We thought these shortlisted tummy ticklers deserved a special mention.
“ EVEN THE QUEEN HAS TO PUT HER UNDIES ON ONE LEG AT A TIME.”
“ IF YOU DON'T ASK, YOU DON'T GET TOLD NO!”
“ NEVER BUY FISH AND CHIPS IF YOU CAN'T SEE A SEAGULL.”
“ PUT ONE SHOE IN EACH SUITCASE SO IF IT GETS STOLEN, THEY CAN'T WEAR YOUR SHOES.”
Left: Ryman resident Norris Aitken enjoying game time with grandson Tony
“ THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER MADE A MISTAKE HAVE DONE NOTHING.”
“ THE GRASS MIGHT BE GREENER IN THE NEXT PADDOCK, BUT IT WILL STILL NEED MOWING.”
Winner: David Murrell
Winner: Georgie Fraser
Leaving New Zealand for Australia at 20, David remembers Dad Henry Murrell. “Dad was pretty quiet about me leaving. He hadn’t come to my leaving do and he said it to me at the airport”. Henry’s wisdom is ever present for David, who has since passed these wise words onto his daughters.
Georgie, named after her late Dad George Fraser, remembers how her Dad’s advice put life into perspective. “I was about 18 or 19 and everyone was heading overseas on their OEs and I was at home. It stuck with me.”
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RYMAN NEWS
Breast Cancer Foundation Australia Ryman Healthcare's charity partner for 2019 to 2020
Ryman has teamed up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation for our 2019–2020 charity partnership. When we asked our residents and team members which cause they wanted to support, breast cancer was the overwhelming favourite.
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Residents and staff in our villages and offices will be putting their heads together to come up with some clever and entertaining fundraising ideas, as well as taking part in breast cancer fundraising events such as the Pink Ribbon Breakfast.
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Smoke signals a new Ryman village in Highton Smoke slowly wafting into the sky has signalled the beginning of Ryman’s new retirement village in Highton. A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony performed by Wadawurrung representatives Michael Cook and Billy O’Toole, was held at Ryman’s Highton site on South Valley Road recently. Ryman’s construction, development and sales teams were also in attendance. Following the ceremony, Ryman’s Victorian Construction Manager, Martyn Osborn, and Project Manager, Tom Robinson, broke ground nearby. Martyn said the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony were an important milestone in the life of the new village.
Above: Ryman Site Administrator Kurt Hiller
“Having the ceremony is a really big deal for us because it’s about acknowledging the traditional owners of the land – the Wadawurrung people – and paying due respect to their connection to what we’re doing.” Ryman are working towards selling independent villas and apartments in November 2019. When completed, the Highton village will comprise 57 independent villas, 23 independent apartments, and 60 serviced apartments. There will also be low care, high care and specialist dementia care within the same village community.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Raising funds for cancer research is a cause close to the hearts of many residents at Nellie Melba Retirement Village in Wheelers Hill. When the opportunity arose to host an event as part of ‘Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea’, a group of residents didn’t hesitate to take the lead. “So many people here have been touched by cancer, we just felt that we wanted to make a contribution,” said resident Rosie, one of the village organisers.
From left: Residents Rosie and Kerryl with friend Maddie –
Around 100 people attended the high tea, raising $1,500 through raffles and attendance donations. LIFESTYLE
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N E W V I L L A G E U P D AT E
Burwood East Retirement Village selling now It’s an exciting time for Ryman in Victoria as independent apartments at our new Burwood East Retirement Village are selling now.
Ryman villages are people’s homes Our Burwood East village will epitomise the same warm and vibrant community that Ryman villages have become renowned for. Set in beautifully landscaped gardens, the village includes its own café and is located only 19kms from the CBD. It’s also situated next to the Burwood Brickworks development, which will provide an expansive retail centre. Independent Apartments Our one, two and three-bedroom apartments are designed with the over 65s in mind. They have spacious, well-considered layouts and air conditioning for year-round comfort.
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Italian inspired design We’re always looking at ways to improve the resident experience. We have refined our kitchen designs to include flat bench tops with waterfall edges, creating a breakfast bar that becomes the social hub of the kitchen. Our bathrooms have a walk-in shower and Italian-designed floor and wall tiles. We’ve added extra storage within the vanity and some clever shelving.
Lina Benedetti 1800 413 933
Michelle Shaw 1800 270 751
About our sales advisors Lina has first-hand experience of Ryman villages as her Mum lived in Weary Dunlop Retirement Village some years back. Michelle has been with Ryman for 5 years, and was previously a sales advisor at Ryman's Nellie Melba Retirement Village in Wheelers Hill. Lina and Michelle will guide you through the process. From your very first enquiry, to ensuring you are settled into your new lifestyle at the village. –
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WHO WE ARE
Ryman Healthcare has been building and operating retirement living and aged-care facilities within one village community for over 35 years.
Because we put our residents ďŹ rst, everything else falls into place. Ultimately, that's what makes the Ryman dierence.
Over Aberfeldie
Nellie Melba Coburg
Burwood East Weary Dunlop Ringwood East
Mt Eliza Highton
Mt Martha Ocean Grove
35 friendly villages across Australasia
For more information about Ryman or to book a complimentary lunch and tour call Jennifer on
1800 517 376 rymanhealthcare.com.au
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