RYMAN TIMES RY M A N H E A LT H CA R E AU ST R A L I A
Our residents moving in Mammoth year for Ryman Australia New executives to lead expansion Nellie Melba named best in Asia-Pacific
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A NOTE FROM GORDY Hello everyone and welcome to an inspiring Ryman Times. But before I get to the inspiring bit, I wanted to say my sleeve is rolled up and I am awaiting my COVID-19 vaccine – and I hope you all are too. We strongly advise everyone in the Ryman community gets a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available. I will be doing my bit! If you are looking for a bit of inspiration, look no further than this edition. A good start is with the amazing tale of Ryman employee Dennis Frazer, who drew on his workplace first aid training to save the life of his choking toddler. Faced with a situation every parent dreads, the Nellie Melba Retirement Village construction site gatekeeper jumped into action and saved little Zedden’s life. Hopefully it inspires others to take a first aid course like the one Dennis did through work. And then there is the virtual reality opera event we held for residents at Nellie Melba. Seeing the impact of that amazing technology, especially on residents living with dementia, has inspired us to think of new ways we can connect those we care for with enriching experiences wherever they may be. Innovation has always been at the heart of Ryman’s mission, so to see our residents clapping and dancing along to that powerful virtual experience is just so heart-warming. And something that should inspire even more confidence and excitement in Ryman’s future on this side of the Tasman is the appointment of Cameron Holland as our first ever CEO – Australia. Cameron will guide our growth in Australia and support us to operate like an agile, family business while ensuring we remain connected to the things that have made Ryman successful over the past 35 years. You can find out more about Cameron, and all these other stories, inside, so please enjoy. Stay safe.
Gordon MacLeod Chief Executive
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Our residents moving in
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Mammoth year for Ryman Australia
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New executives to lead expansion
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First aid training a lifesaver
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Nellie Melba hosts Australia’s first VR opera
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Zaigere’s career of care
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Nellie Melba named best in Asia-Pacific
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Ryman through a daughter’s eyes
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Fitness fun fuels Ryman passion
Ryman Healthcare Ltd
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Shared values forge police partnership
1800 288 299 rymanhealthcare.com.au
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6 Front cover: Ocean Grove residents Anna and Lyn.
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OUR RESIDENTS MOVING IN After a mammoth year 2020 ended on a high note for Ryman in Victoria with the opening of two stunning villages.
John Flynn Retirement Village manager Roslyn Prentice said the village community would rapidly expand in the first months of 2021.
On December 23 Ryman’s coastal community in Ocean Grove became a home and so too did John Flynn Retirement Village in Burwood East.
“Seeing the village become occupied by residents has been something I’ve looked forward to since starting my role,” she said.
Residents at both villages were greeted with flowers, champagne, and Christmas trees when they opened the doors for the first time to their sparkling new apartments and villas. For Ocean Grove sales advisor Janine Wilde, the significance of the arrival of the first residents was immense. “I feel like I’m at a wedding and I’m the mother of the bride,” she said. “Seeing the residents go into their villas gives me a real peace of mind that it has been the right decision for them.”
“The number of people moving in will continue at pace, adding to a real sense of community and excitement at John Flynn.” Lola Fisher, who was the first to move into a villa at Ocean Grove with her husband Graham, said it was “very special” to be a pioneering resident. “It’s impressive, amazing,” Lola said.
“It’s very special to be the first, and what Ryman has done the whole way through has been fantastic.” Ryman Times • 4
Once Ocean Grove village is completed the village will have more than 300 residents, villas and serviced apartments as well as aged care comprising low care, high care and specialist dementia care. The John Flynn village will have apartments, serviced apartments and aged care comprising low care, high care and specialist dementia care. Pictured above: Ocean Grove residents Anna and Lyn. Pictured left: Ocean Grove residents John and Marie. Pictured right: Ocean Grove residents Graham and Lola. Pictured bottom right: John Flynn’s first residents Ron, Kathleen, Graeme, Lynda and Marian.
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MAMMOTH YEAR FOR RYMAN AUSTRALIA 2020 was a mammoth year for Ryman’s Australian construction team, with five villages open by the year’s close. The momentum is only set to continue in 2021. Victorian construction manager Martyn Osborn said while COVID-19 restrictions cut the output of works at sites by around half, the dedicated team worked tirelessly to ensure residents could move into John Flynn in Burwood East and the Ocean Grove village on December 23. “This is testament to the extraordinary efforts of our team who, despite unprecedented challenges caused by the global pandemic, delivered first-class villages in time for residents to celebrate Christmas,” he says. This year will be just as busy, with work continuing at pace at John
Flynn, Aberfeldie, Highton and Ocean Grove.
centre is on track to be opened midway through the year.
Residents will continue to move into John Flynn’s first building of independent apartments in the first months of the year, while construction of the village centre is well underway and is due for completion later in the year.
Demolition crews have been busy at the Ringwood East site, clearing the former Daisey’s Hotel in preparation for remediation works.
“Our Nellie Melba village is set to get a revamped café and barbecue area as well as a covered walkway, and a large café will be built at Weary Dunlop,” Marty says The Aberfeldie village is also quickly taking shape, with residents moving in later in the year. Vibrant communities are blossoming at both the Highton and Ocean Grove villages, and the Highton village
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Ryman’s development team remains busy working on plans for villages at Highett, Mt Eliza and Mt Martha. “There is no doubt 2021 is going to be a huge year full of exciting developments for the Ryman team and residents,” Marty says. “If 2020 taught us anything, it is that when faced with challenges we rise to the pressure and excel, and we’ve definitely hit the ground running this year.” Pictured: An apartment building of John Flynn Retirement Village nearing completion.
NEW EXECUTIVES TO LEAD EXPANSION Ryman Healthcare has announced the appointment of senior executives to lead its Australian business and group construction operations. Cameron Holland has been named Ryman’s first CEO Australia, while Chris Evans has been appointed as Chief Construction Officer (CCO), providing strategic and operational leadership to construction. Mr Holland will lead Ryman’s operations in Australia, including its five operational villages and six villages under development. Ryman Healthcare opened its first village in Melbourne in 2014, and last year achieved its target of having five operational villages in Victoria by the end of 2020.
“We were delighted to achieve that milestone we set, and Victoria is now a substantial part of our business,’’ Ryman Group Chief Executive Gordon MacLeod said. “The appointment of Cameron reflects that the business has
come of age, and we see huge potential to build more Ryman communities wherever they are needed in Australia.’’ Mr Holland is an experienced business leader, working in senior leadership positions at Jetstar Airways and Lonely Planet Publications early in his career. He also has extensive experience in the aged care and retirement living sector. Previous roles include Executive General Manager – Home and Disability Services and Chief Operating Officer – Independent and Assisted Living at Australian Unity. Most recently, Cameron was the Chief Executive of Luxury Escapes, a high-end, international travel provider. Newly appointed CCO Chris Evans is an experienced construction leader with more than 25 years working for John Holland Construction Group in a range of operational and senior leadership positions in Australia. Most recently Chris worked at Sydney Airport, where he was Chief Assets & Infrastructure Officer, looking after a
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significant capital investment and construction programme and a team of more than 300. Mr MacLeod said the appointments followed an extensive international search. “We were looking for outstanding leaders to take our Australian and construction teams to the next level. Cameron and Chris are proven leaders with the experience and the energy to help us tackle the huge amount of work ahead of us as we continue to expand.’’
“It’s exciting to have them aboard and we look forward to their contribution in the years to come.’’ Both executives will join the Ryman team in April, and both will join the senior executive team, reporting to Mr MacLeod. Pictured: CEO - Australia Cameron Holland (left) and Chief Construction Officer Chris Evans.
FIRST AID TRAINING A LIFESAVER When every parent’s worst nightmare became a terrifying reality for Dennis Frazer, life-saving skills gained at a first aid course organised by Ryman kicked into gear. The Nellie Melba Retirement Village construction site gatekeeper is overcome by emotion when he recalls how among the panic that set in when he saw his 19-month-old son, Zedden, blue and gasping for air, so too did his first aid training.
With assistance from a St John call-taker Dennis desperately worked to dislodge something blocking Zedden’s airway by performing back blows and chest thrusts on his son until the fire brigade, followed by paramedics, took over. While Zedden recovered well following a short hospital stay, the trauma of the incident and the absolute necessity to have first aid training will stay with Dennis and his family forever.
“We had just moved into our new house and we had a late dinner, and Zedden had just gone to bed after having a bottle and I suddenly heard my wife and mother-in-law screaming,” he said.
“I’m just so grateful to have been offered that most recent training, and to the brilliant paramedics and fire brigade because it saved his little life,” he said.
“I ran in and I grabbed him and seeing his face staring at me like a little fish trying to get the air, that was really awful, but all of the training came back to me.”
Having become a father for the first time to Zedden when he was 59-years-old, Dennis said conversations with Nellie Melba construction site nurse Lachlan
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about how to keep young children safe also helped him during the emergency. “There are a bunch of guys in the team with young kids, and I was literally talking to Lachlan two weeks before this happened about safety things.
“It’s brilliant that we’ve got this training and a full-time nurse available to learn from, it’s saved a life.” Nellie Melba construction site health and safety advisor Frank Ryan said the frightening incident was a reminder of the importance of workplace first aid training. “Our priority is always the safety of our residents and team, and this extends to helping our team and their families to be safe at home,” Frank said. Pictured: Dennis with wee Zedden.
NELLIE MELBA HOSTS AUSTRALIA’S FIRST VR OPERA Residents from Nellie Melba Retirement Village in Melbourne have been treated to an operatic experience like no other during Australia’s first virtual reality (VR) opera trial. With doors to theatres across Melbourne closed due to COVID-19, eight village residents, including Australian opera icon Nance Grant, and residents living with dementia, attended the exclusive trial. Ryman’s Operations Quality Manager Joanne Wang said the VR opera pilot developed by VR streaming platform ‘Inverse’ and the Melba Opera Trust, aimed to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of VR and opera for older people. “There’s a mountain of research showing that music can have a hugely positive impact on people living with dementia, so this was a fantastic opportunity,” she said. Within minutes of residents donning their headsets for the
recital (starring Melba Opera Trust alumni Stacey Alleaume, Nathan Lay, Michael Petruccelli and pianist Amir Farid) the profound benefits were obvious for all to see. Exclamations of “this is fantastic” and laughter and humming gently broke the drama of Don Giovanni. But perhaps the greatest testament to the pilot’s success was the number of residents who watched it multiple times. Soprano star Nance Grant said the experience was “fantastic in every way”. “People attending operas now are all getting into the older age group and somehow or other we’ve got to get younger people to be opera goers too,” she said.
“This was fantastic in every way and I think this technology would be the ideal thing for engaging younger audiences.”
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Inverse founder Darren Vukasinovic said the trial could not have gone any better. “The mental and emotional healing power of music is widely known, and live music has an even more profound impact on one’s feelings of health, happiness and wellbeing,” he said. Melba Opera Trust CEO Amy Black said the experience had been hugely beneficial not only for Nellie Melba village residents, but for the artists too. “The artistry and sound were of course superb, and after the challenging year we have all endured, it was inspiring to feel as though we were once again in a room with a live performance,” she said. Pictured: A closer look at the virtual reality opera concert.
ZAIGERE’S CAREER OF CARE When Weary Dunlop Retirement Village manager Zaigere Eales saw a job advertisement featuring an image from the colourful Ryman ‘Pioneers’ campaign, she knew the company was for her. With nearly 25 years’ experience in the aged care and retirement sectors, including as a Director of Nursing and as an Executive Care Manager, Zaigere says the campaign’s representation of older people leading diverse and vibrant retirements was enough to make her cut an extended holiday short. “I liked the philosophy,” she says.
“It’s really important to me at this stage in my life to go with a company that I am philosophically aligned to, and to know that prior to starting the job.” Zaigere was born in Goroka, Papua New Guinea (PNG), where her father and uncle worked as teachers. Her name is a tribal name meaning ‘little flower’.
“My mum and aunt delivered babies in PNG and my dad and uncle pulled teeth and did all sorts of stuff. They had medical books and looked up how to do things,” she says. “And then after living with my grandfather as a child I’ve always had a connection with the elderly.” It was this natural connection that pulled Zaigere away from work as a district nurse and propelled her to start working in aged care in 1996. As well as dedicating much of her life to the sector, Zaigere and her husband Nigel have three children. In her downtime Zaigere is likely to be found sewing, knitting or painting. She enjoys connecting with others whether it be her family or residents. “Residents at the village have told me how much they love living here, so that’s really good,” she says. “I’m looking forward to getting to know everybody.” Pictured: New village manager Zaigere Eales enjoys connecting with people.
Having spent the first 15 months of her life in PNG, and later living with her grandfather, Zaigere quickly developed an affinity for caring for people.
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NELLIE MELBA
NAMED BEST IN ASIA-PACIFIC Nellie Melba Retirement Village and its dementia care model have scooped top prizes in the Eldercare Innovation Awards 2020 in Singapore. The Wheelers Hill village was named Project of the Year in the Residential Aged Care category in the Asia Pacific region. And the myRyman Life model of dementia care was named Innovation of the Year in the Dementia Care Solution category. Gordon MacLeod said the awards recognised excellence in the Asia Pacific region, and the wins were great recognition for Ryman’s design, construction and operations teams. “It is fantastic to get recognition in both these awards because they span everything we do, from building beautiful villages to caring for people.
“A huge amount of teamwork goes into taking a bare piece of land and turning it into an absolutely stunning village like Nellie Melba, which not only provides gorgeous apartments but also the best of care to its residents.’’ Ryman Healthcare has been providing specialist dementia care for more than 20 years, and currently has more than 850 dementia beds in New Zealand and Australia. There are around 400,000 Australians living with dementia, and that’s forecast to more than double in the next 30 years. Ryman’s model of dementia care was developed in conjunction with its residents and families, as well as considering the latest international research.
“The recognition of myRyman Life is reward for a huge amount of innovation and determination from our operations team, whose goal it is to ensure that our residents living with dementia can have the best quality of life possible,’’ Gordon said. “It has been a huge education project and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our residents and their families, who are as committed to demystifying and destigmatising dementia as we are. “Last year was an incredibly challenging year because of COVID, and these awards were a wonderful way to end it. I have never been prouder of our team.’’
RYMAN THROUGH A DAUGHTER’S EYES For John Flynn Retirement Village sales advisor Lina Benedetti, Ryman’s guiding ethos; ‘good enough for mum and dad’, has never been truer. Before Lina started her role offering outstanding support and information about the living options available at John Flynn, her mother Marianna became a resident of the care centre at Weary Dunlop Retirement Village.
“Having seen the care mum is given made me feel Ryman was a company I could feel comfortable representing,” Lina says. Lina sees the needs of prospective residents not only through the eyes of a sales advisor, but through those of a family member. “Ryman does a lot of things that other companies don’t do, including the continuum of care, so when you explain to people what
will happen if they need more support and a higher level of care, they sometimes have a bit of scepticism.
“But I can vouch for it, mum’s at Weary and it really is that good.” With COVID-19 changing the way sales advisors support residents under contract, Lina started a weekly newsletter to ensure residents about to move into the stunning village can see the latest developments without needing to leave home. “In a lot of ways we have been able to form stronger relationships with residents than maybe what we would have had it not been for COVID-19, because we have taken on more of a caring role, continuing regular phone contact and seeing if there is anything we can do to support people during this challenging time,” she says.
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During lockdown Lina and fellow John Flynn sales advisor Michelle Shaw held morning and afternoon teas via Zoom to introduce residents to one another before the village opened. Supporting people to start an exciting new chapter in their lives is a privilege, Lina says. “I enjoy knowing they are moving somewhere where they will be happy and content, that they will have a quality of life, rather than worrying about the gutters needing cleaning, or having to move somewhere else if their health changes. “It is a privilege, and long after the sale the residents stay very much upper most in your mind.” Pictured: Sales Advisors Michelle Shaw and Lina Benedetti.
FITNESS FUN FUELS RYMAN PASSION It’s the brightly coloured tights and broad smile that first give away how Triple A instructor Kerri Stephens feels about her job. Kerri has led the Triple A (Ageless, Active, Aware) functional fitness program at Ryman Healthcare’s Weary Dunlop and Nellie Melba retirement villages in Melbourne since the villages opened in 2014 and 2018. “I fell in love with it (Triple A) the minute I started,” she says. Kerri’s Triple A classes help residents to stay physically active and well, but the social benefit is equally obvious, she says. “We’ve got residents who are lifelong gym goers that can do it all, and then we’ve got residents who have never been very active, and the great thing about Triple A is everyone has a go and it’s a social thing.
“A lot of people have become really good friends through attending Triple A.” The classes also enable Kerri to educate residents about “little changes” they can make, like not sitting with their legs crossed, which will help their posture. “I’ve even now got residents that go around and tell people to uncross their legs,” she laughs.
Having worked in the fitness industry for about 20 years, the mentality of Ryman’s Triple A goers is particularly inspiring, she says.
“I want to be half as good as they are when I am their age.” “I’ve trained with a lot of age groups and they think they are going to walk out a different person. “The residents come, they do all the tricky things I give them to do with a smile and a laugh, and then they come back and do it again.” It wasn’t until after she had her children, and was working in sales, that Kerri decided to make a career out of her love of “the exercise burn”. “It was like an early mid-life crisis,” she laughs. “I went and did a personal training course; I bought a women’s gym and I have not looked back. “This is the best destination.” “I love the exercise burn and some people will say ‘your idea of fun and my idea of fun are different’. “But I’m the fittest and most inspired I’ve ever been.” Pictured: Kerri Stpehens loves helping residents during Triple A classes.
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SHARED VALUES FORGE POLICE PARTNERSHIP Ryman and Victoria Police’s shared values of service and care towards others are the inspiration behind a new partnership between the organisations. The partnership, which will include connecting Ryman villages with local police stations to offer residents a chance to learn more about scams, road safety and security, was made official during a ceremony acknowledging Glen Waverley Police Station’s Police Member of the Year. Senior Constable Marc Burley was awarded the inaugural Victoria Police Glen Waverley Station Commanders Award, sponsored by Ryman Healthcare, for his outstanding work ethic, professionalism, initiative, integrity, leadership, teamwork, community engagement and selflessness in 2020. Ryman Healthcare Victorian Sales and Community Relations Manager Debra Richardson said Snr Const Burley’s characteristics were a wonderful display of the values which define the police and Ryman Healthcare.
“We’re extremely proud to be associated with the award and we’re even prouder it has gone to a recipient like Snr Const Burley,” she said. The partnership would have great benefits for residents and prospective residents.
“It will allow our residents and prospects to learn about important ways to stay safe, and I have already received feedback about the peace of mind that this connection with the police is bringing families of residents and prospects.” At the awards night, held at Waterfront on the Pier in Port Melbourne, Debra told about 70 officers from the Glen Waverley station of Ryman’s, and her own long connection with the police. Ryman’s founder, Kevin Hickman, was a policeman-turned-private investigator in 1983 when he was called to investigate a fire at an aged care facility in Christchurch, New Zealand, she said.
Kevin was appalled by what he saw, and he kept coming back to the question ‘what would I want for my mum?’. From this Ryman’s ‘good enough for mum’ founding philosophy was born. “Around the same time Kev opened our first retirement village I graduated from police training college in Melbourne,” Debra said. “My 10-year career in the police force shaped who I am in ways I suspect only fellow police officers can fully understand.” Members of the Glen Waverley Police Station will visit both Nellie Melba and Weary Dunlop retirement villages, while further partnerships with other stations were being established, she said. Pictured: Senior Sergeant Greg Dean, Senior Constable Marc Burley and Victorian Sales and Community Relations Manager Debra Richardson.
