c M Laren’s Messenger Bruce McLaren Retirement Village
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Winter edition 2018
Summer fun Residents John Ng and Olive Feasey enjoyed spending time with the Somerville kindy kids.
Commemorating Anzac Day
Meet Al and Yvonne
Pink Ribbon Breakfast
Greetings from Chantelle... Hello and welcome to McLaren’s Messenger. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new residents! It’s been a busy few months at the village with a variety of celebrations and activities; including Easter, our Art Showcase Weekend, St Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day and our fabulous Pink Ribbon Breakfast, which raised over $3,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation. However, our most memorable was our very moving Anzac Day service. Several of our female residents shared stories about nursing during the war and numerous residents and staff read poems and told stories. It was a truly amazing service.
We also received our staff survey results, with an excellent response rate. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that we came third out of 31 Ryman villages. The survey results reflect how much our staff enjoy working here, which I know means a lot to me, and to our residents. Please do let me know if you have any concerns, my door is always open. Kind regards,
Chantelle Hand Village Manager
Bowls champions During May, the Bruce McLaren Bowling Tournament was held and we welcomed teams from the Howick, Pakuranga and Buckands Beach clubs. It was a tough competition but in the end, we took the crown! So, why not check out our lovely bowling facilities? Right: Our winning team; Neville Reid, Kees van Dam and Neville Hunter. Rose
Chantelle Hand Village Manager Ph: 09 535 0220 Call Chantelle for general enquiries, or any information about resthome, hospital or dementia care.
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Rose Lawlor Sales Advisor Ph: 09 535 0225 Talk to Rose for more information about independent apartments, or serviced apartments.
Fun with the kids Fu The re resthome residents have ‘adopted’ the children from Somerville Kindy. We have a childr monthly reciprocal arrangement with the kindy to visit one another in order to have some fun. This month the children arrived filled to the brim with activities to share. After a yummy morning tea and a sing-along, it was time to get to the serious business of making playdough snowmen and monsters, colouring in pictures, and playing with jigsaws. We also spent some time in the great outdoors where the residents loved watching them swinging and doing somersaults. They had a splendid time in each other’s company. Above: Resident Elsie Wedding keeping a watchful eye on a fun activity. Right: Resident John Ng colouring with a young friend.
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It’s got to be
good enough for Mum In May 2018 Kevin Hickman announced he was standing down from the board of Ryman, ending 34 years of service at the company. There is no doubt that Ryman Healthcare would not be the company it is today without Kevin, and everyone at Ryman wishes him all the best with his retirement. The Ryman story began back in 1983, when Kevin was a former policeman turned private detective. He was asked to investigate a resthome fire in Christchurch, and he did not like what he saw. “The fire was in an old villa and there were four people to a room all with shared toilets,’’ Kevin recalls. “To me it was crazy, the standards were so poor. But that’s how resthomes were in those days.’’ Kevin would never dream of putting his mother into a place like that if she needed to go into care. “I thought, what would I want for Mum?” And so, Ryman’s philosophy that care has to be “good enough for Mum” was born. Kevin teamed up with John Ryder, an accountant, and together they made a dynamic pair. Ryman – a combination of Ryder and Hickman – Healthcare was registered and they bought their first property to convert into a resthome in 1984.
“I thought, what would I want for Mum?” As well as providing care that was better than anywhere else, the company had to be sustainable, with its systems constantly refined and improved upon. The size of the villages and the facilities offered may have changed over the past 30 years, but Ryman’s core philosophy remains the same. Care is still at the heart of what we do. And it’s got to be good enough for Mum. Or Dad!
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Italian meatballs Meatballs 500g Mince beef 1 Onion diced 2 tbsp Fresh thyme 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Egg 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs Salt & Pepper
A note from Ryman chef,
Sugo sauce 1/2 Onion, diced 1tbsp Garlic 1 tbsp Basil, chopped 1/4 cup Red wine
400g Tinned crushed tomatoes 1 Bay leaf 500ml Beef stock
Method • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. • Combine all the meatball ingredients with the beef mince and mix well, then roll them into golf ball size portions. • Fry all the meat balls in a semi deep fry pan to seal the meat, and place them onto a baking tray. • Use the same deep fry pan to sauté the onion, garlic, basil and bay leaf, then deglaze with red wine and add the crushed tomatoes and beef stock. • Once the sauce starts bubbling, pour over the meatball tray. • Cover with baking paper and foil and cook for 2 hours. • Serve hot on a bed of mashed potatoes. • Serves 4-5.
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Lawrence Slow cooked Italian meatballs are a resident favourite at our Weary Dunlop Retirement Village. It’s a hearty dish that blends well with our new Harvest menus, and residents love the texture and flavour. Furthermore, it’s a healthy option and is easy to prepare. You simply combine the ingredients and let the oven do the cooking – leaving more time to spend with your loved ones. Weary Dunlop chef Lawrence with resident Enid McCauley
Resident Profile
Meet Al and Yvonne
When they were younger, Al became interested in computers and applied for a job at Time Life International. They offered him a job, however, it meant a year’s training in Chicago. They had a three-year-old and a one-month old baby at the time, so it was not an easy decision. One day Al came home and said; “I am leaving in three weeks and … you and the children can come!” After a year in Chicago the family returned to Amsterdam and Al became a manager of the computer department. Yvonne vowed never to leave Holland again. But in 1981 they immigrated to New Zealand, which they chose because of their love of sailing and windsurfing. They settled in Howick and Al started working for Wattie Industries and later TipTop ice cream.
They have made great friends at the village. Al and Yvonne Wegman’s story started in Holland. Al, who was an assistant accountant, met Yvonne, a primary teacher, in Amsterdam. They were married in 1962, and have two children and four grandchildren. Their son, Eric, lives in Melbourne, and their daughter, Liset, lives in Holland.
At 55 years old, Al wanted a change and decided to become a driver for Corporate Cabs. He enjoyed driving around Auckland for a few years. Later, the couple saw the Bruce McLaren village being built and decided that it would be their next port of call. They have now been living in the village for three happy years and have developed many friendships. They also enjoy the weekly activities like line dancing, bowling and Zumba!
Mother’s Day The village centre recently transformed into a woman’s haven, with hearts and butterflies scattered on tables along with champagne flutes and floral tea sets. Our care centre residents were treated like the queens they are!
coffee and champagne. It was a memorable afternoon in each other’s company and was thoroughly enjoyed by staff, residents and their families. Pictured: Resident Anna Ting and her daughter Tabitha.
The residents and their families feasted on delicate cakes, slices and savouries along with tea,
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Anzac Day
Mission Heights buddies
On Anzac Day, over 250 people gathered in the village centre for a moving ceremony. Several residents shared their amazing stories; one resident related events of what it was like in a German POW camp, whilst others shared their experiences as wartime nurses. Resthome resident, Shirley Borland, also proudly read the Ode at the ceremony.
Every Wednesday, the resthome residents enjoy the company of children from Mission Heights Junior College. During this time, some of the residents take on the role of teachers and the children learn how to knit, play bowls, play Rummikub, bake cookies and make 3D models. Pictured: Resident Bill Fotherby helping a student make a helicopter.
Staff Profile
Introducing Moreen Hello, my name is Moreen Lata. I grew up in Suva, the capital of Fiji. I am the eldest of four siblings. My first job was working as a tailor in a factory. My husband, Dinesh, and I have two beautiful children.
I learned a lot, including how important communication is in the work environment.
We immigrated to New Zealand in 2007 where my first job was in the packing department at Healthpac. My second job was working at Villa Maria and I stayed there
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for three years. I learned a lot, including how important communication is in the work environment. I started working at Bruce McLaren in 2015 as I wanted to work with the elderly. Working in the village has made me very happy and I really love the staff and my residents. Everyone is treated with respect and I am so grateful to work with such an amazing team.
Pink Ribbon Breakfast In May we held our fantastic Pink Ribbon Breakfast, which raised $3,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation. An outstanding 120 independent residents dressed up in all shades of pink for the occasion. We welcomed several guest speakers to talk about how breast cancer affects different age groups and to hear from survivors. The food from the kitchen was delicious as always and during breakfast the residents participated in a quiz. The pink raffle was also drawn and we had a presentation from the serviced apartment craft group who made some heart cushions that will be donated to Counties Manukau Health’s Breast Clinic. A big thank you to everyone who contributed.
Upcoming events July
July
25
29
Bruce McLaren Singers
Royal Artillery
August
August
Paul and Penny
Health and Wellness fair
08 Duo
Band
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Above: The residents had a great time at the breakfast fundraiser. 795 Chapel Road, Howick, Auckland
www.brucemclarenvillage.co.nz