Ryman Times NZ - WINTER 2021

RYMAN TIMES RY M A N H E A LT H CA R E N EW Z E A L A N D

A sublime new beginning Ryman residents competing for gold Plans for new villages Perfect portrait for Logan Campbell

W I N T E R 2 02 1

A NOTE FROM GORDY Kia ora and welcome to our latest Ryman Times.

Who says getting older isn’t fun?

As I write this, we have hundreds of Ryman athletes training and competing in the Olympics@Ryman games at our villages. We decided that this winter we wanted to do something to lift everyone’s spirits, and since we can’t be at the games in Tokyo, we may as well hold our own version.

It has certainly brought out the competitive streak in everyone and the response has been tremendous. We have a serious goal behind the fun.

The first is to reinforce the idea that the fitter and more active you can be for longer, the better off you will be. There is a wealth of research which supports this, and the fact that more than 4,000 residents attend our Triple A classes each week is the proof of the pudding!

The second purpose is to make the most of technology, and experiment with where it can take us. We’re using Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Fitbits and we will be connecting all our villages in a way we never have before – so it is a really exciting experiment for us. We think this technology has huge potential to enhance quality of life for all of our residents and it is great to see the way it is being embraced. It may have something to do with the fact there is gold on offer!

It is also great to see the celebrations for our nurses, and we are very excited to be able to be bringing new Ryman communities to Karaka and Cambridge in New Zealand, and Essendon in Melbourne.

There’s plenty to cheer about – aside from the Olympics@Ryman – in this edition of the Ryman Times.

Gordon MacLeod Group Chief Executive

IN THIS ISSUE

4 6 8

A sublime new beginning Solid annual result in COVID year Ryman residents competing for gold

9

Riccarton Park renamed Kevin Hickman

10

Perfect portrait for Logan Campbell

12

Spot-on timing for melanoma checks

13

Ryman Healthcare starts its own vaccination programme

14

Devonport glade reopened

16

Upham’s portrait delights

17

Village namesake honoured

18

Celebrating our nurses on International Nurses Day

20

Plans for new villages

21

A tribute to our veterans

22

New CEO of Ryman Australia

24

Ryman’s predator trap project ramps up

4

21

6

14

22

Front cover: Resident and Ryman Olympian Terry Griffiths.

Ryman Healthcare Ltd

Airport Business Park 92 Russley Road, Christchurch PO Box 771, Christchurch 8042 0800 588 222 rymanhealthcare.co.nz

Ryman Times • 3

Produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) Manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.

A SUBLIME NEW BEGINNING Eileen and Jim Nisbet, amongst the first move-ins at Ryman’s new Riccarton Park Retirement Village in Christchurch, are thrilled with the stunning quality on their new townhouse.

The couple, who met in Invercargill and have been together for a good number of years, moved into the Steadman Road property after cutting a red ribbon. Their home is one of the stretch of townhouses boasting a sold sign on it.

The fact that the village is brand new, is one of the drawcards for the pair. Jim worked in the building industry and the couple both enjoyed moving into new homes during their married years together. They have new furniture at Riccarton Park.

“We’ve always done brand new… then the other attraction is that you start to think as you’re getting older, that you need to move (somewhere manageable) and you need to do it at a certain time,” Eileen says.

Jim says the couple went out to Charles Upham village, to take a look at the Ryman model. He was impressed with the townhouse quality. “They’ve put the best of the best, in.”

Eileen says there is a real excitement factor.

“The interesting thing is, we bought this home off the plan, and we’d never been in here until yesterday. We had never seen what it looks like … it’s quite stunning.”

Riccarton Park is Ryman’s 42nd village spread across New Zealand and Victoria, Australia. It is the first new village for Christchurch and Canterbury since Rangiora’s Charles Upham village welcomed its first residents in 2016.

Riccarton Park Sales Advisor Wendy Kappler says she has been helping the incoming residents get the best start possible. The movein journey with the Nisbets has been “really lovely”.

She ordered a red ribbon for Eileen to cut before crossing the threshold of her and Jim’s new home, and also provided flowers and a lunch platter to help make their welcome special.

“I came down earlier in the morning and we put the heat-pump on and made sure the unit is all welcoming for them.” Wendy says.

Ryman Times • 4

Jim says at the age of 19 he emigrated from Scotland to start his life in Invercargill, New Zealand. Soon enough he met Eileen and the two married and spent a couple of years in the southern city before moving north. In Christchurch they brought up two sons, who now live respectively in Wellington and Brisbane.

They lived for 21 years in Halswell and prior to that in Fouvant Street, which happens to be just a jump across Yaldhust Road from their new village home. “It’s like coming back to where you started,” Eileen says.

During her “younger years” Eileen ran a gym, and now she says she is looking forward to being involved in village life, including the Triple A exercise and activities class.

Jim is also looking forward to becoming part of a new and vibrant community and says everyone in the new street is “so friendly”.

Pictured: Riccarton Park residents Eileen and Jim Nisbet.

Ryman Times • 5

SOLID ANNUAL RESULT IN COVID YEAR Ryman Healthcare has reported a full year underlying profit of $224.4 million, with a second half recovery driven by record sales.

Audited reported (IFRS) profit, which includes unrealised fair value gains on investment property, increased 60% to $423.1 million in the year to March 31, 2021.

Shareholders have received a final dividend of 13.6 cents per share, taking the total dividend for the year to 22.4 cents per share, which is 50% of underlying profit.

The record date for entitlements was June 4, and the dividend was paid on June 18, 2021.

“I couldn’t be more proud of how the team has performed – not only to keep COVID-19 out of all of our villages and keep everyone safe – but also to power through and keep on innovating, developing and growing,’’ Mr MacLeod said.

In December Ryman achieved its long-term target of having five villages open in Victoria by the end of 2020, and Ryman has another six villages in the pipeline in Australia.

Group Chief Executive Gordon MacLeod said transactions and building activity had recovered after a challenging first half due to COVID-19.

Ryman has bought new village sites at Essendon in Melbourne, and at Karaka and Cambridge in New Zealand. Ryman has sold its Coburg site in Melbourne after opting to buy a more attractive site in nearby Essendon.

“We bore the brunt of the COVID-19 lockdowns in the first half. In the final quarter we achieved record new sales and resales, which was no mean feat after a tough year.’’

Approval was received to build new villages at Ringwood East in Melbourne, Northwood in Christchurch and two Auckland villages at Takapuna and Kohimarama.

Ryman Times • 6

Ryman’s total assets grew by 19.5% during the year.

The company has diversified $825 million of debt funding.

A NZ$150 million retail bond issue in New Zealand, a US$300 million USPP private debt placement and an A$250 million institutional term loan were all oversubscribed, Mr MacLeod said.

“The debt issuances allowed us to take our plans to a wider audience of funders and we were delighted with the response.

We ended the year with a stronger balance sheet, and new diversified long-term debt funding with weighted average tenor of nine years with plenty of headroom.

“We have had record cash collections of $1.18 billion during the year to support our largest ever building programme, and we are planning to have 14 villages under construction, seven in Australia and seven in New Zealand later this year.

TWELVE NEW VILLAGES CURRENTLY UNDER WAY: New Zealand • Lynfield, Auckland (Murray Halberg) • Devonport, Auckland (William Sanders) • River Road, Hamilton (Linda Jones) • Lincoln Road, Auckland (Miriam Corban) • Havelock North, Hawkes Bay (James Wattie) • Hobsonville, Auckland • Riccarton Park, Christchurch (Kevin Hickman)

Australia • Brandon Park, Melbourne (Nellie Melba) • Burwood East, Melbourne (John Flynn) • Highton, Geelong, Victoria (Charles Brownlow) • Ocean Grove, Victoria (Deborah Cheetham) • Aberfeldie, Melbourne Ryman’s integrated villages and high-quality care continued to be in strong demand, with care occupancy in established villages running at 97%.

Only 1.4% of Ryman’s portfolio was available for resale at March 31, down from 1.9% at September 30, 2020. Ryman built 736 new beds and units during the year.

Chairman Dr David Kerr said a highlight was the response to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, with both residents and staff jumping at the chance to get vaccinated.

“We’re achieving care resident vaccine rates above 95%, which is really pleasing.’’

SITES IN THE LAND BANK: New Zealand • Kohimarama, Auckland

“Our villages are safe havens for older people where they can expect to live well and with the best of care on hand if they need it. The COVID pandemic has made this security about the future top of mind for older people, and we expect demand will continue to grow.’’

• Bishopspark/Park Terrace, Christchurch

Pictured on page 6: Ryman’s new village at Ringwood East has received development approval.

Australia

“Getting vaccinated is the best thing anyone can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,’’ Dr Kerr said.

• Northwood, Christchurch • Karori, Wellington • Newtown, Wellington • Takapuna, Auckland • Karaka, Auckland • Cambridge, Waikato

• Highett, Melbourne • Ringwood East, Melbourne • Mt Eliza, Victoria • Mt Martha, Victoria • Essendon, Melbourne

Ryman Times • 7

RYMAN RESIDENTS COMPETING FOR GOLD Ryman Healthcare is staging its own Olympic Games, bringing together hundreds of residents across 41 villages in New Zealand and Australia to compete in Olympics@ Ryman.

To get into the spirit of the Tokyo games, Ryman’s residents will be competing in cycling, swimming, bowls, a 21.6 km team walking relay and quiznastics.

As well as giving residents a chance to compete, Olympics@Ryman will be a chance to pioneer new digital technologies to connect residents.

Ryman’s technology partner AWARE Group has developed solutions to connect all the villages and sports, and the events will include bowls using artificial intelligence and virtual cycle races using Rouvy technology.

Residents will compete in a 21.6 km relay walk wearing Fitbit technology, and special timing sensor pads will be used to time the swimming events.

Gordon MacLeod said the aim was to prove it is never too late to compete and to show what technology could do.

“We’ve been working with our residents to come up with a games format that will allow them to compete and we’re expecting hundreds will take part. We’ve discovered we’ve got some incredible sporting talent on board already, including games competitors from the Melbourne and Rome Olympics.

“We’re expecting some fierce trans-Tasman rivalry as well, as everyone competes for gold.

The events include: • Swimming: 30m breaststroke in Ryman’s pools • Lawn bowls: mixed fours, 10-end in a tournament.

We’ll use artificial intelligence to stage the inter-village finals remotely.

• Relay walking race: (six-person team, 21.6 km relay in an indoor race arena using electronic trackers) • Cycling: (10 km race on stationary bikes using Rouvy technology) • QuizNastics: (a six-person team quiz, including general knowledge and Olympic questions) Pictured: Resident and cyclist Jane Jackson.

Ryman Times • 8

RICCARTON PARK RENAMED KEVIN HICKMAN Pioneering Christchurch business leader Kevin Hickman has had a new retirement village named in his honour.

A large crowd heard a bit of history about Kevin from Gordon MacLeod, and also about the importance of such villages to the city from Christchurch Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner.

Kevin, who co-founded Ryman Healthcare in 1984 with John Ryder, has seen his idea grow to provide beautiful homes, comfort and security for thousands of Kiwis and Australians.

Gordon MacLeod said it was fitting the new Riccarton Park village would be known as the Kevin Hickman Retirement Village.

“Kevin’s impact on the lives of older people has been profound. He played a huge part in pioneering the retirement village industry in New Zealand, he challenged the status quo and worked tirelessly to raise standards of care and enhance quality of life for older people.”

“It’s a thrill for me, and I will enjoy watching the village develop.’’

Kevin Hickman said he was delighted to have a village named after him; “it is a real thrill for me, and I will enjoy watching the village develop.’’

Kevin is an award-winning athletics coach, and he was named New Zealand Athletics Coach of the

Ryman Times • 9

Year in 1999. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016 for his services to aged care and sport and was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame last year.

The new village borders Riccarton Park racecourse which reflects one of Kevin’s other passions – thoroughbred horses. When he retired from Ryman in 2006, Kevin concentrated on developing his Matamata horse stud Valachi Downs.

The village on Steadman Road welcomed its first residents earlier this year and is growing fast.

Pictured: Sales Advisor Anthea Johnson, Gordon MacLeod and Sales Advisor Wendy Kappler.

PERFECT PORTRAIT FOR LOGAN CAMPBELL Logan Campbell residents were wowed by a stunning new portrait of their village namesake.

The beautiful oil painting by Craig Primrose QSM was unveiled at a special happy hour gathering and was an instant hit with residents and staff alike.

The painting features Sir John Logan Campbell aged in his 80s, with a long white beard, dressed in black standing in front of an image of his beloved Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill.

David King, Ryman’s Corporate Affairs Manager, was at the unveiling to explain why John Logan Campbell was chosen as the village namesake and to talk a bit about his legacy.

The Scotsman, who had trained as a doctor in Edinburgh, arrived in New Zealand in 1840 and immediately took a path towards more commercial and business ventures such as shipping, brewing, timber, newspaper publishing, banking and insurance.

He also made a massive contribution towards public life, serving as an MP and briefly becoming Mayor of Auckland at the age of 84.

Logan Campbell was knighted in 1902 and in 1906 a bronze statue of his likeness was unveiled in his honour.

When he passed away in 1912 at the age of 94 the funeral procession up to One Tree Hill was the largest in Auckland’s history.

“To the people of Auckland, he epitomised the spirit of the place. He became a significant father figure because he was there from the very beginning,” says David.

“By dint of his sheer longevity and influence he became the default father of Auckland.”

With the village being situated on Campbell Road, the choice of Logan Campbell for a name became a clear frontrunner from the outset.

“Logan Campbell was the red-hot favourite when we asked for suggestions,” David said.

“It’s a name that will forever be associated with this area.”

Pictured: Craig Primrose QSM, Village Manager Karyn Nobilo and David King.

Ryman Times • 10

Ryman Times • 11

SPOT-ON TIMING FOR MELANOMA CHECKS Melanoma New Zealand’s mobile spot check van donated

by Ryman Healthcare arrived in the Hawkes Bay in May this year and in no time had its flags flying and a queue of residents lining up for checks at Princess Alexandra Village in Napier.

The van also visited Hastings before moving on to Havelock North where our James Wattie residents and construction team also received checks.

The van attracted a lot of interest in the community after it featured in an online story from Hawkes Bay Today newspaper, with delighted readers encouraging others to get checked and excited they could receive the checks at no cost.

Local reporter Gianina Schwanecke, decided doing a story about her own experience getting a check would raise

awareness and help readers understand not only the importance of the checks, but also how easy and unintrusive they are.

She showed up with a local photographer and talked readers through the process from filling out the consent form, to getting the spots on her shoulder and calf checked by nurse educator Gill Rolfe.

Gill offered advice about protection from the sun’s rays with sunscreen, appropriate sun-safe clothing, and times if possible to avoid being in direct sunlight.

She also recommended people carry out their own checks at least once a month and see a professional at least once a year.

More than 1,200 spot checks have been carried out since February

Ryman Times • 12

and more than 200 people have been referred on for further evaluation of suspicious lesions.

Melanoma New Zealand Chief Executive Andrea Newland said, “The van will enable us to reach many New Zealanders, including rural and remote communities, many of whom work outdoors and so may be at higher risk of developing a melanoma.”

“The good news is that if melanoma is caught and treated early, it’s almost always curable.”

The spot check van is currently travelling the North Island to offer checks to the public and residents and staff in Ryman villages.

Pictured: The Melanoma spot check van has travelled across the country.

RYMAN HEALTHCARE STARTS ITS OWN VACCINATION PROGRAMME The Waikato District Health Board and Ryman Healthcare have teamed up to speed up the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in the region.

The DHB is the first in the country to take up Ryman’s offer to partner on delivery of the vaccine programme utilising an accredited in-house vaccination team.

Hilda Ross Retirement Village in Hamilton is the first Ryman village to run its own vaccine clinic, which started in April.

This allows the DHB to free up resources for other places for the vaccine rollout.

The DHB will have one staff member on site to oversee the cold-chain process, but a vaccine team of Ryman’s registered nurses has been specially trained to get on with the job.

The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is stored at -70° Celsius so requires careful cold-chain management.

Cheyne Chalmers, Ryman’s Chief Operations Officer, said collaboration meant a quicker rollout and better use of resources for the DHB.

“We’re delighted that the Waikato DHB has taken up our offer and is happy to work in such a collaborative way. Our registered nurses are fully trained and know all the residents, so they will be dealing with familiar faces.

“I think there’s a huge benefit in this for both sides – and we hope we can create similar partnerships with other DHBs to do the same.’’

Ryman Times • 13

Waikato DHB programme lead for the vaccination rollout for the Waikato, Maree Munro, says the partnership is a great example of working together to meet a mutual goal.

She says it also allows Ryman to deliver the vaccine to staff and residents in a way which suits them best.

“Having Ryman’s experienced team do the important job of vaccinating their residents will also ensure they have a good experience and be among familiar faces,” she says.

Pictured: Former nurse and Hilda Ross resident Helen Fahey with Regional Operations Manager Arthur Keane and Operations Project Clinical Manager Janine Snape.

DEVONPORT GLADE REOPENED Funny stories, heartfelt pledges and even self-penned songs were all featured at the reopening of the Mary Barrett Glade, the tree-filled parcel of land between William Sanders Retirement Village and Ngataringa Bay also known as Polly’s Park.

The Glade has been closed off for nearly three years after a couple of slips triggered by heavy rain in June 2018 made the area too unstable for public access.

Ryman, along with the Department of Conservation (DOC), made the call to close off the track until it could be upgraded and the risk to the public had eased.

Paul told of a strong character who took it upon herself to almost single-handedly transform three hectares of what was then Navy-run land formerly used as a dumping ground into an urban native forest.

He recalled how Polly would walk to the beach for her daily swim wearing just her togs, towel and jandals, much to the embarrassment of his teenage self.

“Later I realised that was Polly just being her courageous self,” he said.

“And preserving her legacy is something I am unapologetically proud of.”

That time finally came around in early May as dozens of people, including members of the Barrett and Pollock families, friends, village residents, neighbours and members of various Devonport organisations, celebrated the reopening.

Over the next 16 years she created a living memorial to her late daughter Mary who died from cancer aged 39, and in 2003 she won the Government’s Green Ribbon Award in the category ‘Caring for the Urban Environment’ for her efforts.

While the Glade offers a stunning treescape from the village perspective, many residents who attended were keen to hear more about the people behind the names Mary Barrett and Mabel ‘Polly’ Pollock.

After Paul played a song he had written and showed off the official gold coin Polly was awarded by the Deputy Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2010, his sister Claire talked of the times she helped Polly in the Glade.

Siblings Paul and Claire Barrett, Mary’s children, and Polly’s grandchildren, and Polly’s son Brian Pollock, shared their stories.

“I’m so proud to see so many of you here today and I know Polly would be so chuffed too,” he said.

Ryman Times • 14

Finally, members of Pest Free Devonport, Restoring Takuranga Hauraki, and the Devonport Peninsula Precincts Society stood before the audience to pledge their dedication to preserving the Glade as part of their work restoring the Ngataringa ecocorridor and making it a haven for native birdlife.

Bagpiper Kat Legg then led the group to the Glade where the ribbon was cut, and everyone walked through the Glade.

DOC organised the upgrade of the track with the work being paid for by Ryman Healthcare as part of its resource consent.

Ryman also provided replacement Mary Barrett Glade signs and, as also required under their resource consent, information panels detailing the history of the wider area.

The village’s location was once the site of the former Duder Brickworks, remnants of which can also be seen throughout the Glade.

Pictured: Although the weather didn’t cooperate, the day was filled with laughter and wonderful stories.

Ryman Times • 15

UPHAM’S PORTRAIT DELIGHTS Charles Upham residents were delighted and wowed by a new portrait of their village namesake.

The late autumn setting at the village helped set a warm tone for the unveiling of the portrait of Charles Upham by Craig Primrose QSM. The colours were bold but reflective and caught the attention of residents as the painting was unveiled at a special happy hour.

Charles Upham’s grandson David Mackenzie was on hand to represent the Upham family.

Charles Hazlitt Upham was born at Gloucester Street in Christchurch

in 1908. He had served as a territorial soldier during the 1930s and when war broke out in 1939 he signed up for the 2nd NZEF and joined the 20th Battalion.

The bar, or second VC, catapulted him to even more fame, and made him the most decorated Commonwealth Soldier of the Second World War.

He joined as a Private, but Colonel Howard Kippenberger recognised his potential and promoted him.

His men loved him, and he was brilliant – he assessed risk, was tactically smart, and fearless when it came to getting the job done.

Once back in New Zealand, he settled down with his wife Molly on a sheep farm at Conway Flat.

Charles was awarded the Victoria Cross in London from King George VI. The King was then approached to award a second Victoria Cross for his exploits at Ruweisat Ridge in the Western desert.

Ryman Times • 16

He remains the only combat soldier to receive two of the highest awards for valour ever awarded in the Commonwealth.

Pictured: Craig Primrose QSM and David Mackenzie at the unveiling.

VILLAGE NAMESAKE HONOURED Residents at Murray Halberg Retirement Village were full of praise for a beautiful new portrait of their village namesake.

The painting features two representations of the Kiwi sporting legend, one in his Rome Olympics team uniform and one running his way to victory in the 5000 metres event at those same 1960 Games.

The portrait was revealed after a suspenseful build-up by Ryman Healthcare’s Corporate Affairs Manager David King at the residents’ happy hour gathering.

The residents were thrilled to hear more about Sir Murray Halberg from Shelley McMeeken, CEO of the Halberg Foundation which Sir Murray established in 1963.

It was the injury to his arm during a school rugby game which set Sir Murray on a course that would not only change his life, but the lives of thousands of young New Zealanders with physical disabilities.

Having achieved incredible sporting successes despite his disability, he was inspired to enable others to do the same.

“He wanted those with physical disabilities to have the same opportunities to participate in sports and recreation as able-bodied people,” Shelley said.

Sir Murray competed at the Empire Games in Vancouver in 1954 and the Olympics in Melbourne in 1956 before winning gold for the three Ryman Times • 17

miles at Cardiff in 1958. After his Olympic gold in 1960 he won the three miles at the Empire Games in Perth in 1962, set world two- and three-miles records and was the first New Zealander, in Dublin in 1958, to run a mile in under four minutes.

More recently, Sir Murray was awarded his knighthood in 1987 and New Zealand’s highest non-titular honour, the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) in 2008.

He was named the 94th New Zealand Olympian in 2009 as part of a four-year long project to celebrate New Zealand’s Olympic history.

Pictured: Craig Primrose QSM with Shelley McMeeken, CEO of the Halberg Foundation.

Ryman Times • 18

CELEBRATING OUR NURSES ON INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY COVID-19 tested healthcare systems across the world in a way not experienced for a century.

From Ryman Healthcare’s retirement villages in New Zealand and Victoria, to hospitals and medical rooms in faraway countries, it was nurses who led the fight.

On May 12, Ryman joined thousands across the world in celebrating International Nurses Day (IND).

Ryman Healthcare Chief Operations Officer Cheyne Chalmers said Ryman nurses had been instrumental in adapting the delivery of care to rise to the challenges of COVID-19.

“This included championing infection prevention control practices,” Cheyne said.

“Care even went as far as some team members who were vulnerable to contracting the virus, because they were living with other healthcare workers, moving into villages.”

More than 50 Ryman nurses had undergone training to become nurse vaccinators of COVID-19 vaccinations, Cheyne said.

The International Nursing Council’s 2021 theme for IND was ‘A Voice to Lead’, with the sub-theme was ‘A Vision for Future Healthcare’.

The ability of Ryman nurses to adapt to the changing needs of residents and utilise technology in care were clear examples of future focused healthcare.

“Our nursing leadership team has a clear focus on providing the best care and has recently created a new Dementia Model of Care (myRyman Life) which aims to demystify and destigmatise dementia,” she said.

IND was also an opportunity to acknowledge the ability of Ryman nurses to positively impact the lives of residents and other team members.

“Our Ryman nurses are the best in the world at providing awesome care to our most vulnerable residents, and for that I thank you!”

Cheyne said.

Victorian Operations Quality Manager Joanne Wang said while nursing would continue to adapt to environmental and

Ryman Times • 19

technological changes, the fundamentals of the profession would remain the same.

“Nursing will continue to play a key role in promoting health and keeping people well in the aged care industry,” she said.

“I hope to see more nurses joining the aged care workforce where we offer great career pathways.”

The day was marked in unique ways across Ryman’s villages.

Team members at Weary Dunlop in Victoria, and at Woodcote in Christchurch, dressed up in old nursing uniforms, while residents at Kiri Te Kanawa in Gisborne who were former nurses shared their favourite memories of the occupation over high tea.

PLANS FOR NEW VILLAGES New villages worth a combined $350 million will free up homes and boost local economies in New Zealand.

Ryman Healthcare has purchased new sites in Karaka and Cambridge to meet growing demand for retirement homes and care.

The new sites in Karaka west of Papakura, and Cambridge south of Hamilton, will help meet growing demand for Ryman’s integrated living and care model.

Both villages are in fast-growing areas where housing is in short supply. The villages will free up hundreds of homes in the local housing market.

“Our research shows South Auckland and the Waikato are

both regions where demand for better retirement living and care are needed so we have been looking for possible sites for some time,’’ Ryman Chief Development Officer Jeremy Moore said.

“We’re delighted to have secured these sites and we will design and build new villages that everyone can be proud of.’’

home to more than 350 residents and worth $220 million.

The Cambridge site is on 8.6 hectares of rural land west of the town and is part of a larger residential development.

It could eventually be home to more than 320 residents and be worth $150 million when completed.

The Karaka property is on a large 10.4-hectare site on Hingaia Road and is 1.5km from Karaka village and 4km from the centre of Papakura.

Ryman villages are named after significant people from the community and Mr Moore said naming suggestions for both sites were welcomed.

It has views across the countryside to the Hunua Ranges, is well suited to a townhouse development, and could eventually be

Pictured: The Cambridge site will meet the growing demand for retirement homes and care.

Ryman Times • 20

A TRIBUTE TO OUR VETERANS Ryman Healthcare’s Stories of Valour tribute book has been published and was with the villages and residents, libraries and RSAs in time to commemorate Anzac Day. It is the seventh edition of the book which began as a small booklet and has grown to a 188-page bound book. This year the book features the wartime memories of 67 Ryman residents.

The special commemorative books have been produced to tell our residents’ stories and mark the special day in New Zealand and Australia.

The collection of residents’ stories is remarkable and diverse and demonstrates the various ways

conflict affected our people from volunteer civilians to the military.

pilot after Japan had surrendered, everyone’s war was different.

As an annual publication, which initially began with residents’ World War II memories, it now encompasses residents who share their memories of Malaya, Borneo, Korea and Vietnam as well as those who served and volunteered on the home front.

Each experience has been held tightly for a lifetime. Who knows what those young men and woman would have become if war had not seized the best years of their young lives?

Some residents felt it was time they told their story; for many this was the first time they have.

From delivering a baby during battle in Italy, being imprisoned in Changi, nursing the wounded back to health or comforting them when there was no longer hope, to narrowly avoiding a kamikaze

Ryman Times • 21

And there are happier memories of camaraderie during conflict and the formation of life-long friendships, but a common theme is a sense of loss and sadness, and that war is the most futile of endeavours.

Anzac Day is their day to remember and our special day to honour them, and we hope the book goes some way to repaying the debt we owe them.

NEW CEO OF RYMAN AUSTRALIA Ryman Healthcare’s first Australian CEO Cameron Holland’s life could look very different had he accepted the offer of a place at a prestigious music school.

Blessed with both academic ability and musical talent, Cameron found himself choosing between the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music or studying business at Monash University.

Having held senior leadership positions with Australian Unity and Jetstar, and most recently as the CEO of Luxury Escapes, Cameron says he is pleased he chose the latter.

While he says he doesn’t have a lot of spare time after work, as a father to 10-year-old Bella and 7-year-old Sophie, in his downtime Cameron swaps the title of ‘CEO’ for ‘taxi driver’.

It was while working for Australian Unity as the Chief Operating Officer, running the retirement living, aged care and home care divisions, that Cameron discovered a passion for genealogy.

“I’m really fascinated by family history, so I’m the chief documenter, I’m the one with the Ancestry account finding our family’s secrets all the time.”

He hopes that what he discovers will be of value to his children in the future.

“I had a conversation with my grandmother before she passed away. She had pretty serious dementia, but when she talked about her early life it all came back and she became quite animated and energetic.

“I never recorded it, which really annoyed me because it would have been fascinating to watch later and share with my family. There were some cracking stories!”

Cameron is diving headfirst into his newest adventure, that as Ryman’s first Australian CEO.

“I’m excited about getting stuck in and kicking some more goals with Ryman.”

Ryman Times • 22

Ryman Times • 23

RYMAN’S PREDATOR TRAP PROJECT RAMPS UP Ryman’s predator trap building programme just got on a roll.

Extra villages have joined the building project, initiated at Rangiora’s Charles Upham Retirement Village.

Predator trap builder Lynn Andrews has been spreading his skills far and wide. He is advising other Ryman residents on the methodology of wooden trap construction. There are different sized wooden trap housings – to capture different types of pests in different habitats – and Lynn has that detail at hand and also written down.

There have been one-on-one chats advising on how to source materials, including wood, screws and metal mesh. These have also enabled practical demonstrations on trap assembly.

Those that have visited Lynn, at Charles Upham, include Norris Aitken from Bert Sutcliffe village, Allan Pretious from Julia Wallace and John Jennings from Anthony Wilding.

The traps are being put to very good use for conservation and the protection of native birds.

Recently Lynn and other environmentally minded Charles Upham residents were given the satisfaction of handing over more than 50 pest traps to Banks Peninisula-based groups.

Separately, other traps have been supplied to sites near the Hurunui River and in the North Canterbury high country.

Norris, Allan and John have willingly taken on Lynn’s advice

and expertise. John says when he first floated the traps idea to Anthony Wilding residents via email, he got a positive response.

“I got six men who put their hands up and said, yep I’d like to be part of that.”

Norris says the original enquiry as to whether he would be interested in making traps came to him as part of the residents’ group.

Straight away he said:

“Yes of course, just give me the details. I’ve got some people in my village who would be quite happy to do it.”

Pictured: Charles Upham resident Lynn Andrews.