Ryman Times NZ - WINTER 2023

RYMAN TIMES

RYMAN HEALTHCARE NEW ZEALAND WINTER 2023

Grandest of openings for William Sanders

New appointments to Ryman’s Board

Ninth win as Most Trusted Brand

Happy Birthday Margaret Stoddard

A WORD FROM RICHARD

Kia ora and welcome to our latest edition of the Ryman Times.

We were pleased to report a solid result for the financial year ending 31 March 2023, while also undertaking a number of important steps to reposition the business for future growth. This was achieved against a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, severe weather events and the tail-end impacts of COVID-19.

Our underlying profit of $301.9 million represents an 18.4 percent increase on FY22, driven by strong resale margins and a growing contribution from the Australian business. Reported profit decreased by 62.8 percent to $257.8 million due to lower revaluation gains of investment property and costs associated with the early repayment of United States Private Placement (USPP) notes.

Our $902.4 million equity raise has strengthened our balance sheet and will better enable us to execute our new growth model, while maintaining our focus on world-leading care that is ‘Good enough for Mum and Dad’.

Off the back of this I would like to give a very special thank you to our shareholders. We appreciate your continued belief in our purpose, and your faith in our ability to deliver in the future.

We also recently announced a number of upcoming board changes. George Savvides retired from the board on 1 June 2023, while Warren Bell and Jo Appleyard will retire at the upcoming annual meeting. Geoffrey Cumming also announced that he will not seek reappointment when his current term expires in 2024. A big thank you to all for their dedication and commitment as members of our board over many years. We wish Greg, George, Warren and Jo all the best.

We were also delighted to announce the appointments of Dean Hamilton and James Miller as directors on 1 June 2023. The board’s intention is for Dean to become board Chair on 31 July 2023 and for James to transition to the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee Chair role.

Once again, it’s been a busy time at Ryman and this latest edition of the Ryman Times captures some great stories from across the business – I hope you enjoy it.

A huge thank you again to all our shareholders for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Richard Umbers Group Chief Executive

IN THIS ISSUE

Solid result for Ryman

New appointments to Ryman’s board Ninth win as Most Trusted Brand

Residents to the rescue at penguin colony

Sir Jon is rolling with Ryman

Black belt knitters heed call for Yuri Bears

Happy birthday Margaret Stoddart

Grandest of openings for William Sanders

Ryman wins big at ‘Oscars’ of aged care

Residents celebrate King’s coronation

The accidental army man International Nurses Day

Front cover: New Zealand CEO Cheyne Chalmers with CDRE Andrew Brown

Ryman Healthcare Ltd Airport Business Park 92 Russley Road, Christchurch PO Box 771, Christchurch 8042

0800 588 222 rymanhealthcare.co.nz

The Ryman Times is a quarterly publication for shareholders. For editorial enquiries please contact ruthea.vanheerden@rymanhealthcare.com

Mark Dunajtschik wins Senior New Zealander of The Year

SOLID RESULT FOR RYMAN

Ryman Healthcare Limited (Ryman) has delivered a solid result while also undertaking a number of steps to reposition the business for future growth. This result was achieved against a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, severe weather events and the tail-end impacts from COVID.

Underlying profit of $301.9 million was up 18.4% (vs. guidance of $280-290 million), while reported (IFRS) profit decreased by 62.8% to $257.8 million.

Total assets of $12.51 billion at March 2023 have increased 14.1% from March 2022. Booked sales of occupation right agreements (ORAs) held steady, with growth in

resales offsetting softer new sales. Total booked sales of occupation rights increased from $1.08 billion to $1.17 billion, driven by a 10.3% uplift in average price per unit.

Longer term the company remains positive about the age and wealth demographic and has taken steps to reposition the business to capitalise on this future demand.

Group CEO Richard Umbers said: “As we look to achieve positive free cash flow by FY25, as signalled in our strategy, we have reprioritised our development programme over FY24 and FY25. We are also taking steps to refocus our future pipeline on lower density villages with lower peak debt and an improved

cashflow profile. And we are rightsizing our care offering in future villages, but remain committed to providing a continuum of care for all Ryman residents.”

At 19 May, there are 14 villages under construction, a reduction of two on the prior year. Progress has been made on a number of village main buildings that were delayed due to COVID.

Ryman invested $1.04 billion in portfolio development and finished the year with net operating cashflows of $650.8 million, resulting in a free cash outflow of $389.0 million.

During the year the company added Taupō to its landbank,

sold its Mt Martha site in Victoria with settlement due later in 2023, and the Newtown site in Wellington is now being held for sale.

Significantly, Ryman achieved planning approvals on four sites in FY23, including Karori and Rolleston in New Zealand and Mulgrave and Mt Eliza in Victoria.

Throughout the year Ryman has maintained the highest standards of care, and resident experience remains a key priority.

“We were very pleased to receive external endorsement for the quality of care we provide. 82% of our New Zealand villages have fouryear certification. In Australia, all four of our operational care centres received a 4-star rating following the launch of a new rating system for aged care,” said Mr Umbers.

“Winning Readers Digest

Most Trusted Brand nine times proves just how much older people and their families trust us to do right by them,” he added.

Technology is increasingly being employed to enhance our resident experience programme - for example, with the introduction of the new resident app, a platform to improve access to a wider range of activities and services within the villages. Hospitality platform Saffron is now being rolled out to all villages to enhance the food offering.

The launch of Ryman’s sustainability strategy during the year was a major milestone in its journey to a sustainable future.

As a step towards addressing its environmental impact, Ryman

secured an exclusive agreement with renewable energy developer Solar Bay. This will see power provided to its village operations via a new solar farm which is now under development in Maungaturoto, Northland.

Ryman completed a $902.4 million equity raise in March 2023. Net debt has reduced to $2.30 billion, and we finished the year with a gearing ratio of 33.1%, in line with the company’s medium-term target of 30-35%.’’

Underlying profit is expected to be in the range of $310-$330 million for FY24, in line with the statement provided at the time of the equity raise.

Ryman recently announced changes to the board, including the appointment of Ryman Chair Dean Hamilton.

The board will consider the resumption of paying dividends in FY24, taking into account trading performance, cash flow and market conditions.

Looking ahead, Mr Umbers said: “The strength of the Ryman team gives me every confidence that we will deliver on our care promise, reposition the business to capitalise on future opportunities and improve financial performance. The team continues to impress with their dedication and commitment, and I wish to thank everyone for their efforts.”

Pictured: Group Chief Financial Officer David Bennett and Richard Umbers.

FOURTEEN NEW VILLAGES CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Auckland

• Devonport, William Sanders

• Hobsonville, Keith Park

• Lincoln Road, Miriam Corban

• Lynfield, Murray Halberg

• Takapuna

Waikato

• Cambridge

Hawke’s Bay

• Havelock North, James Wattie

Christchurch

• Riccarton Park, Kevin Hickman

• Northwood

Melbourne

• Brandon Park, Nellie Melba

• Burwood East, John Flynn

• Highett, Bert Newton

• Ringwood East

Victoria

• Ocean Grove, Deborah Cheetham

SITES IN THE LAND BANK:

Auckland

• Karaka

• Kohimarama

Waikato

• Taupō

Wellington

• Karori

Canterbury

• Park Terrace

• Rolleston

Melbourne

• Coburg North

• Essendon

• Kealba

• Mulgrave

Victoria

• Mt Eliza

NEW APPOINTMENTS TO RYMAN’S BOARD

Dean Hamilton will join the board commencing 1 June 2023 and will subsequently take over as Board Chair on 31 July 2023, following the AGM. Mr Hamilton brings an extensive background in governance, large company leadership and financial markets, across both New Zealand and Australia. He is currently Chair of trans-Tasman civil contractor Fulton Hogan and holds director roles at Auckland International Airport and The Warehouse Group.

James Miller will also join the board commencing 1 June 2023, and will transition to the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee Chair role. Mr Miller is the current Chair of Channel Infrastructure and a director of Mercury NZ and Vista Group. He was previously Chair of NZX and brings extensive knowledge in both Audit and Risk and financial markets.

Interim Chair Claire Higgins, said: “With a focus on refreshing board leadership and bringing

new capability to the company, we are delighted to announce the appointments of both Dean and James to the board. They bring a wealth of relevant experience and expertise to Ryman, which will ensure long-term and forward-thinking leadership and governance.”

“Their deep collective knowledge and specialist governance expertise will stand the company in good stead for the future, and we look forward to welcoming them,” continued Mrs Higgins.

Mr Hamilton said: “I am delighted to be joining the board of Ryman. With a deeply-rooted culture of care, a renewed focus on financial performance and expansion opportunities particularly in Australia, the future for the company is exciting. I look forward to contributing and helping lead the company and the committed Ryman team.”

Board member changes George Savvides has already announced his intention to retire from the board. This will take effect from 1 June, to coincide with the appointment of Dean and James.

Longstanding directors Warren Bell and Jo Appleyard have also announced that they will retire at the AGM this year. Geoff Cumming has announced that he will not seek reappointment when his current term expires in 2024.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to the outgoing directors for their dedication and commitment as members of our board over many years and we wish them all the best,” added Mrs Higgins.

Both Claire Higgins and fellow director Paula Jeffs intend to stand for re-election at the forthcoming AGM.

The board will also look to appoint two further directors in the course of the coming year.

About Dean Hamilton

Dean is currently the Chair of Fulton Hogan and a director of Auckland International Airport and The Warehouse Group. Prior to moving into governance in 2018, Dean was the Chief Executive of Silver Ferns Farms and prior to that, was a Managing Director in Investment Banking at Deutsche Bank in New Zealand and Australia.

At Silver Fern Farms, Dean led a team that successfully delivered a substantial turnaround in the organisation’s performance. Silver Fern Farms is New Zealand’s largest red meat processing and marketing organisation that at the time had over 7,000 employees, $2 billion in revenue and 15,000 shareholders. Under Dean’s leadership the business achieved a significant improvement in financial performance and discipline, staff and supplier engagement, sustainability and consumer trust in brand.

Dean was at Deutsche Bank for over 12 years, firstly in New Zealand and then as Managing Director and co-head of the Melbourne investment banking team. Dean was involved with a large variety of clients and transactions, advising on M&A, IPOs, equity and debt raisings and leveraged buy-outs. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University and is a CMInstD of the NZ Institute of Directors.

About James Miller

James Miller is currently Chair of Channel Infrastructure, and a Director of Mercury NZ and Vista Group. He has recently retired as Chair of NZX, and previously held board positions with Accident Compensation Corporation (deputy Chair), Auckland International Airport, the Financial Markets Authority and Vector.

He is currently Chair of the Audit and Risk Committees for Mercury NZ and Vista Group. He has been Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Auckland International Airport and Channel Infrastructure and Chair of ACC Investment Committee, overseeing a $50 billion fund.

James has 14 years capital markets experience with Craigs Investment Partners as Head of NZ Wholesale Equities. Prior to that he was Head of Equities and Head of Research at ABN AMRO and Barclays de Zoete Wedd.

James is a qualified Chartered Accountant and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand, a Certified Securities Analyst Professional, and an accredited Director of the Institute of Directors in NZ Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago University and is a graduate of The Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School (USA).

RESIDENTS TO THE RESCUE AT PENGUIN COLONY

The sighting of some rare and extra-fluffy penguins was an ample reward for an adventuresome group from Diana Isaac Retirement Village who travelled to Akaroa to visit the endangered birds they are working hard to protect.

The group travelled independently to Akaroa, to be transported over the hill to Pōhatu Bay/Flea Bay, a stretch of land and water longinhabited by the flightless birds.

The minivan trip was hosted by Kevin Parthonnaud of Pōhatu Penguins, a tourism venture based around the penguins, which works hard on removing predators from the peninsula to help maintain the ‘taonga species’.

The little penguin/ kororā cuddled into protective boxes, opened up for a viewing, to the delight of visiting group, including Bruce and Lynn Gray, Kate and Gary Archbold and Brian Hill. Others involved in the village conservation efforts include Norm Reid, Ross Nicholas, Graham Norquay, George Waters and Ralph Duckmanton.

The Christchurch residents have already handed over more than 30 traps and at the end of the project they will have handed over around 50 of the traps for use on the farm and penguin conservation area that is also a marine reserve.

The Pōhatu Penguins venture already has lines of traps on site,

but always needs more to contain the spread of rats, hedgehogs, weasels, stoats and feral cats.

To see where their traps had been laid, the group of trap makers made the trip to Akaroa to treat themselves to a Friday lunch then be picked up by Kevin and be taken on a tour of a lifetime.

Kevin’s four-wheel drive van took them up the extremely steep Lighthouse Road. Suddenly they were treated to spectacular views of a crater rim leading down to Akaroa Harbour and recognisable features like Ōnawe Peninsula, the site of a former pā, near Duvauchelle.

“You don’t have a lot of places in the world where you can sail in and out of an extinct volcano,” Kevin told the group, bringing context to the view.

Brian Hill was astounded that the penguins would not always choose a wooden box/house to nest in, but instead would often clamber as much as 200 metres up the bay’s steep hillsides to find their own private space as part of an open hillside colony.

“Why do they go to all the trouble, when they can be down here?” Brian asked.

Kevin answered that was a bit of unknown. “They’re strong fighters and they don’t like to be close to

each other. So, some prefer to walk on a bit more.”

“We’ve got about 250 houses for 930 breeding pairs, and only about 180 boxes are (currently) occupied.”

The penguins are now being given a degree of protection, at least from the weather, by the regeneration of vegetation not only on the farm but elsewhere on the peninsula. Kevin says nowadays upwards

of 20 per cent of Banks Peninsula has been re-forested.

The conservation work is somewhat balanced by tourism work but there is also funding from the likes of ECan, charities and Christchurch City Council as well as the work done by the likes of Ryman Healthcare.

Pictured: The touring group from Diana Issac with Kevin Parthonnaud.

NINTH WIN AS MOST TRUSTED BRAND

Ryman Healthcare has been named the Most Trusted Brand in retirement living and aged care for the ninth time.

New Zealand’s largest retirement village operator took the top prize in the annual Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand Awards.

“Each year the need for specialised yet compassionate aged care in our community becomes ever more pressing,” says Louise Waterson, Editor-in-Chief of Reader’s Digest magazine.

“In being voted New Zealand’s Most Trusted aged care and retirement villages brand for the ninth year, Ryman Healthcare has

shown an unyielding commitment to enriching the lives of its villages’ residents, ensuring their health and social wellbeing needs are not just met, but exceeded.”

The awards showcase the premium standard of customer service in New Zealand and are a coveted measure of the brands Kiwis love and trust.

The voting process involves New Zealanders choosing the brands they know, use, and stand by, and involved interviews with 1,700 Kiwis.

Respondents praised Ryman for the standard of its care, caring teams and fair terms and low fees.

“Congratulations to all the team at Ryman Healthcare on this outstanding achievement,” says Louise.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that we have won this award for the ninth time. Looking after people takes a lot of hard work, collaboration, and care every single day,” says Cheyne Chalmers, Ryman New Zealand CEO.

“Our residents and their families place a lot of trust in us, so this recognition really is a testament to the whole Ryman team. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication, hard work, and professionalism.”

SIR JON IS ROLLING WITH RYMAN

Every knight needs a trusty steed, and Sir Jon Trimmer now has Lucille, a gift from Ryman Healthcare.

Over a 60-year ballet career

Sir Jon and his wife Lady Jacqui danced all around the world before settling back to life at home as long-term artists with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Sir Jon danced for the late Queen Elizabeth five times, and also for King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales. He also danced with Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev and performed in the Royal Danish, Sadlers Wells and Australian ballet companies.

Now 84, Sir Jon is enjoying his retirement years with Lady Jacqui in their beachside home at Paekakariki, north of Wellington.

Sir Jon has a group of long-term ballet supporters, and they realised mobility was becoming an issue for him because of arthritis and an old injury.

So, his friends got in touch with long-term RNZB supporter Ryman Healthcare to see if what could be done to help.

Soon after the beautiful Lucille – a racing blue scooter – was delivered to Sir Jon with the compliments of all his friends at Ryman.

“I love Lucy – she does everything I need and she’s great to drive,’’ Sir Jon says.

Sir Jon named the scooter after American actress and comedienne Lucille Ball. He’s also a fan of the Kenny Rogers ballad Lucille – but his Lucille won’t be leaving him anytime soon.

Sir Jon has always considered himself a fortunate man because of the length of his career and the audiences he entertained.

“I’m lucky because I danced for 60 years with no serious injuries, but all those years of lifting ballerinas have taken a toll. I had an ankle injury a long time ago which healed beautifully but is now coming back to haunt me. And there’s arthritis of course!’’

Now he’s mastered Lucille’s controls he is a familiar sight in the village speeding to the shops and they’re the talk of the village.

“Don’t tell me I need a licence to drive Lucille,’’ he laughs as he scoots off to the shops.

Pictured: Sir Jon Trimmer with his beloved Lucille.

MARK DUNAJTSCHIK WINS SENIOR NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR

The 2023 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau is Sir Mark Dunajtschik.

Mark, a holocaust survivor from the former Yugoslavia, has called New Zealand home for more than 60 years.

After accepting his award in front of over a thousand guests last night at the Cordis Auckland, Mark humbly said; “I just want to say to Ryman Healthcare and all the other judges and people, I feel very happy and proud the community appreciates my contribution. Thank you.”

A successful businessman and property developer, he’s celebrated for philanthropy in his beloved Wellington. A true pioneer of kindness, generosity, and support.

Some of his achievements include:

• Setting up the air rescue service with the late Sir Peter Button.

• Helping fund Wellington’s Children’s Hospital Te Wao Nui.

• Contributing towards a new mental health centre at Hutt Hospital.

Mark can be modest about his contributions but was extremely honoured to have picked up the top prize.

“I’ve been knighted and now this, I don’t look for accolades I do it because I want to do it.”

He and his life and business partner of fifty years, Dorothy Spotswood, live a very simple life in Oriental Bay. They like sport (particularly tennis), and both enjoy walking. They’re drawn to helping people who find themselves in an unfortunate position, not of their own making. This is what drives their generosity.

Ryman Healthcare has sponsored Senior New Zealander of the Year since 2019 and many of our values are reflected in Mark’s attitude towards his own generation. Mark has made a substantial contribution to New Zealand throughout his life, touching countless people and organisations.

People like Mark who make that lasting difference in the lives of others is why Ryman is proud to continue our association with this coveted award. Celebrating those who challenge the stereotypes of ageing.

Mark is happy to still be productive in his 80’s, probably because his sister once told him: “there’s nothing worse than waking up and you’ve got nothing to do for the rest of the day.”

Pictured above: Sir Mark with the other winners and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

BLACK BELT KNITTERS HEED CALL FOR YURI BEARS

The loving contributions of thousands of ‘black belt knitters’ from around the world have begun a quest to bring smiles to Ukrainian children displaced by war.

14,000 Yuri bears are now on their way to Warsaw, Poland, with the help of shipping company Mondiale VGL who donated their services to transport the precious cargo.

The bears are due to arrive in Poland, to be distributed with the assistance of New Zealand aid organisation Kiwi K.A.R.E., at schools, hospitals, and refugee camps, in mid-June.

Among the countless boxes of bears stitched with love are the creations of the Australian Crafters’ Aid Network (ACAN).

ACAN member Jenny O’Brien said that since 2019, knitters from around Australia had made toys and clothing for people living in difficult circumstances.

“We began by sending handmade items to children in camps in Syria,” she said.

“We’ve always had a policy that refugees, asylum seekers, and children who are victims of conflict or disaster are the cohort we want to support.

Prior to COVID-19, bearskins were knitted for projects run through several schools in Victoria and South Australia, in which school children were taught a little about the plight of refugees, and then completed a bear.

When the bearskins project was halted by the pandemic, the network of knitters was left with bags of half-finished bears unable to reach their intended recipients in Syria.

“We really wanted to send handknits to Ukraine, but didn’t know how to, so it was a win-win when we heard about the Yuri Bear Project.

“Nell, an ACAN member from Adelaide, has been working with schoolchildren to finish many bears,” she said.

Among the 415 bears donated by ACAN are 30 made by the woman who taught Jenny to knit, her mother Lilian, who is 93.

The bearskins knitted by Lilian along with those made by many others over the past few years were finished by Jennifer and her cousin specifically for the Yuri Bear Project.

“We’re all what you might call ‘black belt knitters’,” Jenny laughed.

“Knitting is so labourintensive, so tactile, so nurturing, and it’s imbued with your memories of your own grandmother or mother teaching you to knit.

“You feel part of the great chain of women now and throughout history who have nurtured children in this way.

“To find a way to help these little children in this ghastly war has just been fantastic.”

The Langwarrin CFA Craft Group also championed the Yuri Bear Project.

Over tea and scones the group made about 100 bears for the project.

Yuri Bear Project Organiser and Ryman Healthcare Victorian Sales and Community Relations Manager Debra Richardson said the generous response of community craft groups had been “overwhelming and humbling”.

“What began as a way for me to feel I could do something to show I was thinking of my foster son Yuri grew into a movement which was championed by the likes of the Australian Crafters’ Aid Network and Langwarrin CFA Craft Group, and empowered thousands to take action in response to the horrors of war.

“To say I am overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of help is an understatement; there are simply no words to convey my appreciation.”

Debra will join Kiwi K.A.R.E in Poland to help distribute the bears.

“It will be an immense privilege to literally place these cuddly gestures of love and support into the arms of Ukrainian children on behalf of all project contributors,” Debra said.

Pictured: Yuri Bear project contributor Lilian O’Brien, 93, with Yuri Bears.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARGARET STODDART

Sunny Margaret Stoddart Retirement Village has marked its 30th anniversary in style.

The Christchurch village was a pioneering concept when it first opened in April 1993. Cheyne Chalmers celebrated with the residents, unveiling a commemorative plaque with acting manager Maya Daniel and raising a toast to another 30 years of the village.

“Margaret Stoddart is a special place that has a significant place in the history of Ryman, and I think in the history of villages in New Zealand.

“Margaret Stoddart was Ryman’s first purpose-built retirement village and the first we named after a significant person – Margaret Stoddart, the Canterbury artist.

The village was a trend setter, designed around a care centre with beautiful courtyards and gardens with plenty of light.

Ryman cofounder Kevin Hickman designed the village from start to finish and the care centre was built in the shape of a figure eight –making it easy to work in, convenient and functional for staff and residents alike.

“Christchurch hadn’t seen anything like it,’’ Cheyne said.

“The townhouses were spacious and light with lots of glass. The design has influenced every other village we’ve designed since then – another 40 in fact!’’

Cheyne took time to praise the other two factors that go

into making a successful village – wonderful residents and a compassionate team.

Margaret Stoddart has some of the longest-serving team members in Ryman and the village had been a source of comfort and a haven for thousands of residents and their families over 30 years.

“As a company we’re incredibly proud of the contribution Margaret Stoddart has made to so many lives and will continue to make for the next 30 years,” she said.

Pictured: Clinical Manager Maya Daniels with Cheyne Chalmers.

GRANDEST OF OPENINGS FOR WILLIAM SANDERS

Hundreds of residents and team members joined with the Devonport community to celebrate the grand opening of William Sanders Retirement Village.

Matua Matt Maihi, kaumatua of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei got the evening under way with a karakia to bless proceedings.

Commodore Andrew Brown, deputy chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy, said it was pleasing to see the former navy land put to good use.

“When you decided to name the village after William Sanders VC, we were doubly delighted.

“Not only have you invested in the Devonport community, but you have also made this place into a lasting memorial to William Sanders one of our own.’’

Cheyne Chalmers said the village was the result of a huge amount of work by hundreds of committed people.

More than 2.1 million hours of work had gone into the construction of the village, 582,000 bricks had been laid and 20,000 perennials, trees and shrubs had been planted.

“It is an enormous amount of work and commitment –including coping with COVID-19 and all the challenges that posed,” Cheyne said.

“So many people have put their hearts and souls into this place. It is a tribute to them.’’

Cheyne had a long list of thank yous for team members, but she saved the biggest thank you of all

for the residents who had made William Sanders their home.

“Thank you for putting your trust in us, and for your patience as we have worked through the challenges of COVID-19.

“William Sanders Retirement Village is all yours now. It is your home, your place. We want it to be a home you can be proud of.”

Royal New Zealand Navy band member Rebecca Nelson entertained the guests with a beautiful set of songs, rounding off a wonderful evening.

Pictured: WO Darren Crosby, SLT James Olsen, LT Rebecca Nelson, village resident and great niece of William Sanders, Glennys Adams, CDRE Andrew Brown, OMTO Matthew Leith, and CPO Katrina Stevens.

RYMAN WINS BIG AT ‘OSCARS’ OF AGED CARE

Ryman Healthcare has shone on the international stage after winning a swag of awards at the ‘Oscars’ of the elder care industry.

Ryman won four categories at the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore.

The company’s award-winning COVID-19 response was named ‘Innovation of the Year-Response to COVID-19 (Infection Control)’.

Ryman Healthcare Australia was named ‘Operator of the YearAgeing in Place’ for its unique continuum of care model.

The trans-Tasman Active Ageing ‘Walking for Wellness’ initiative won the ‘Innovation of the Year-Social Engagement Programme’ category.

And Weary Dunlop Retirement Village was crowned ‘Facility of the Year-Residential Aged Care’.

The Eldercare Innovation Awards recognise organisations in the Asia-Pacific who foster innovative approaches to ageing which enrich the quality of life for older people.

Ryman is the designer, owner, and operator of the ‘continuum of care’ model, which incorporates independent retirement living integrated with serviced

apartments, home care services, and aged care centres providing low care, high care, and specialist dementia care.

Continuum of care, which is commonplace in New Zealand, but only emerging in Australia, allows residents to remain in the same community while meeting their care needs as they change.

The win recognises the outstanding health and wellbeing outcomes the model provides for residents by creating communities in which residents have known one another and staff for years before needing aged care.

Ryman’s award-winning COVID-19 response was praised for its innovative response to the pandemic, which resulted in two years without a single aged care resident contracting the virus.

The company’s proactive response to infection control and resident and staff wellbeing included moving staff at a higher risk of contracting COVID into their villages, developing a digital contact tracing tool, and being the first aged care provider in Victoria to introduce rapid antigen testing of staff and visitors.

The win adds to the growing list of accolades for Ryman’s pandemic response, following awards from Leading Age Services Australia

and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ryman Healthcare Australia CEO Cameron Holland said the company’s awards success reflected the outstanding care and support offered to residents.

“We’re absolutely blown away to win four awards at the most prestigious aged care event in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Holland said.

“This is no small feat and is a true testament to the industryleading approach taken by our village teams.

“It’s easy to say that we put care and kindness for our residents at the heart of everything we do, but when COVID arrived we showed that wasn’t just a slogan.

“The result was a world-leading response that literally saved countless lives, and was a defining achievement for our company.”

Pictured: Ryman Healthcare General Manager of Operations Australia Rami Kamel with Ryman’s trophy haul at the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore.

RESIDENTS CELEBRATE KING’S CORONATION

Royalty-loving residents began their coronation celebrations early with themed happy hours and all manner of high teas in Ryman villages up and down the country.

There were special happy hours at Edmund Hillary and Grace Joel, fantastic high teas at Bert Sutcliffe and Evelyn Page and at Keith Park a hardcore group stayed up watching the proceedings in the lounge until 2am!

But top marks and tiaras must surely go to Auckland’s Bruce

McLaren village who went all out with their Coronation Celebration Variety Show, which even attracted a TV One camera crew to capture it for the 6pm news.

Village Manager Chantelle Hand, who hails from Northern Ireland, said there was a large number of British people living in the village, but the Kiwis there were just as patriotic.

“We wanted to do something really special to mark this historic occasion and this was a chance for both residents and staff to get involved.

“I want to thank everybody for their incredible effort, it really was a day to remember,” she added.

Chantelle said people arriving at the village could see the level of royal appreciation was strong from the moment they walked into reception because of the fantastic floral arrangement by Buds and Bows which used the king’s purple cloak and crown as inspiration.

The wow factor didn’t end there, with the lounge fully decked out in ribbons and bunting, a cake

decorated with the king’s new motif made by staff member Kailas Bhana, and union jack flags at every turn.

Proceedings kicked off with piper Lex Calder playing the bagpipes before resident Peter Arnott played familiar tunes such as We’ll Meet Again on the piano.

There were staff performances, including receptionist Georgia Taylor dressed as a court jester who did a jawdropping acrobatic display, and Activities Coordinator Karin McDonald singing I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You accompanied by Kailas Bhana on piano and Thomas Zaugg on triangle, which prompted much hilarity.

And then there were more resident turns, such as the Bruce McLaren Singers performing a rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory, Alison Sutcliffe ballet dancing to Chopin, Celia Martin dressed in crown and cloak reading out a poem about the King, and Rev Ann McLean, a vocational Anglican deacon, with a thoughtful coronation-inspired closing prayer.

There were renditions of both the New Zealand and British National Anthems to open and close out the village’s very own version of a good old British variety show which put a smile on the faces of even the less patriotic.

Pictured left: Bruce McLaren residents celebrate in style.

Pictured top: Lex Calder.

Pictured bottom: Residents Graeme Leggat and Joan Williams.

THE ACCIDENTAL ARMY MAN

Ron Turner thought his life was already on track to become an engineer.

Born on 17th April 1945 in Auckland, he was schooled at Wesley Primary and Wesley Intermediate before boarding in south Auckland at Wesley College.

After school he got a job with Alex Harvey Ltd and had been doing that for a few years when, as Ron describes it, ‘National Service caught up with me!’

As part of the 17th intake, ahead of him lay 14 weeks of full time service followed by part time for the next three years.

“We were on the train leaving Auckland to take all these 18-yearolds and the vast majority did not want to go. But on the train that left Waiouru, the vast majority said how they’d thoroughly enjoyed it, they were much fitter than they were, they’d met a lot of nice people and we all had skills that we retained for life.”

In Ron’s case, after the aptitude tests they selected him for officer training and near the end of the 14 weeks he was invited to join the regular force for a short service commission.

This was one year of training, one year in Vietnam and one year in New Zealand before going back into Civvy Street.

On 3rd January 1967 Ron was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal

Regiment of NZ Artillery and was mixing with men who’d trained at Duntroon and Portsea in Australia and Sandhurst in England.

A year later and he was off to 161 Battery in Vietnam, which he described as periods of boredom and periods of intense activity and danger, ‘like every conflict’.

Back home in New Zealand, he was invited to stay on in the regular army and he decided to do just that.

As Adjutant for 3 Field Regiment, a territorial regiment at Burnham Military Camp, he met people that he still sees to this day.

Next, back up to Waiouru, he was appointed as the officer commanding the Officer Training Unit, this time for the regular force and enjoyed another great posting, this one groundbreaking.

“I ran the first male/female course. Prior to that it had been totally separate, and it was great to see the combination of men and women.”

Ron’s manner clearly lent itself well to training others, and his next posting saw him as part of the Training Directorate which organised courses for army staff to complete.

He continued this with a three year posting to Canberra enjoying diplomatic status and then returned to NZ as Commandant of the NZ Cadet Corps, which included Sea, Navy and Army cadets in units up and down the country.

After 20 years, and by then a Lieutenant Colonel, Ron was ready for a change and left the Army to be CEO of a child healthcare provider that saw the merging of seven children’s health camps into one organisation.

“That was the great thing to see kids with behavioural or physical problems and spending time where you could fix the problems or at least get them on the right track.”

Adapting to civilian life was a non-issue for Ron: “I don’t reckon

there’s a hell of a lot of difference except for the method of getting people to do things!”

Helping children became a theme for Ron, with a sideline as a JP leading to work as a judicial JP and being called upon as a nominated witness to support under 16-yearolds who’d got into trouble with the police and whose parents couldn’t or wouldn’t support them.

As a veteran, Ron was a member of the Wellington RSA, becoming president, a role which led to him being featured on the back of a bus!

His leadership coincided with the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 2015 and the various commemorations included a special Chiefs v Hurricanes rugby match which was advertised on public transport.

Even more significantly was the dawn service that year.

“It was held at the National War Memorial and it was the then Governor General of NZ, Jerry Mateparae, Peter Cosgrove, the Australian Governor General, and me leading the parade!

“It was the biggest dawn service in New Zealand for a long time, with an estimated 40,000 people. That was special.”

Ron is now a member of the Devonport RSA since moving there to be near his daughter, whose youngest son is named Gunner in his honour.

Pictured above: Ron Turner with his wife Jocelyn (Jo).

HONOURING OUR NURSES

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, and for Ryman it is particularly important.

The day is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. She was born in Italy and known for her nursing near Constantinople during the Crimean War.

Ryman is an internationally-staffed company and nursing is at the core of its being. And our nurses love sharing their stories of how they arrived into the busy world of our villages. In turn we all really appreciate the hard work and commitment shown by these professional care teams, who are forever in the front line.

Recruitment advisor Ashley O’Brien says Ryman has recently been extra busy recruiting nurses from overseas. “From mid-2022 to date, we have recruited 45 overseas nurses from a range of countries, such as Philippines, South Africa, Fiji, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Qatar with many having arrived in

New Zealand... the rest are in the process of relocating,” Ashley says.

Paul Ponce, a Unit Coordinator in the care centre at Charles Brownlow village in Australia, has nursed in two countries. He says it was an advantage to have been at Charles Brownlow since day one, and has been part of the Ryman village developing a good team.

“I’ve tried to make sure we communicate. Teamwork is good, really good in my (dementia) unit and the care centre. It’s a very good culture – we help each other, and they care for the residents... when I chat to other staff members I can tell that they care for the residents.”

Anthony Wilding Clinical Manager Jeannie Sales says while nurses arriving in New Zealand may have good experience, sometimes that relates to training for nursing in other areas such as intensive care or paediatrics. Developing skills for aged or ‘longterm’ care, rather than in an acute setting, is a further step, she says.

Ryman also works with those training as nurses with other institutions. For example, Anthony Wilding is hosting a couple of ‘tech’ students from Wesley Institute of Nursing Education doing their Competency Assessment Programme (CAP), giving them exposure to aged care.

“So before they’re registered, we then put them to work with the caregivers so they get that understanding of what we do and the fact that it’s not an acute setting... ”

Her career and nurse training stretches back 50 years and while the care and compassion needed remain the same, some of the educational methods have changed, Jeanne adds.

Pictured: Anthony Wilding Nurse Honey Bautista, Wesley Institute students Naveen Aravind and Chinchu Tom, and Jeannie Sales.