Winter Tidings 2023

26 Plantation Drive

Bentley WA 6102

08 6250 0000

08 9470 2017

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Tidings Magazine is a seasonal publication produced and printed on behalf of the residents at SwanCare.

Deadlines for editorial and advertising are: Spring 7th August, Summer 7th November, Autumn 7th February and Winter 7th May.

To book advertising or for information regarding rates please contact SwanCare Marketing on 6250 0032. Editorial contributions including photographs can be emailed to tidings@swancare.com.au. Hard copies of articles and supporting photographs can be handed to reception in the Administration offices at Bentley Park and Australind Rise.

Disclaimer:

In good faith SwanCare accepts articles, a small selection of advertisements, and other content for Tidings. However, the opinions and claims expressed in articles and advertising materials presented in Tidings are those of the authors and the advertisers respectively, and do not necessarily reflect the views of SwanCare, unless stated. No responsibility is accepted by SwanCare for the accuracy of information contained in the articles or advertisements.

Cover image:

SwanCare Bentley Park resident Maureen Grickage showing us her favourite art piece.

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CEO'S COLUMN

SwanCare's CEO, Graham Francis, provides the latest news

ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

Update of the Environmental Sustainability Plan

SWANCARE NEWS

News from around SwanCare

VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS

A Driving Passion

GARDEN INTEREST GROUP

Wintertime Wonders

Meet SwanCare's Maintenance team

SwanCare's volunteer bus drivers

Local neighbourhood calming tree

Lewis

Doreen's life legacy

Dorothy's apple & sour cream slice

Maureen's love of painting

Line dance with Pam

Barry's life in the Royal Navy

CEO’S Column

Welcome to the winter edition of Tidings.

Much of our focus at this time of year is on the upcoming budget which promises to be another challenging one as we face rising costs, increased wages and a volatile revenue base as the Government continues to tinker with the way it provides funding to Aged Care providers. Despite these external challenges, SwanCare is still well placed to continue to deliver some exciting initiatives next year, such as:

• The major refurbishment to SwanCare Waminda, aimed to commence towards the end of August, will transform the centre internally and externally. It will include the introduction of dedicated nursing hubs and resident lounges on each floor, designed to improve the overall quality of life for residents through enhanced opportunities for connection to each other, their visitors, and the wider community.

• The construction of the new independent living apartment complex is being planned for construction on the land behind the grocery store and hairdressers. Our current waitlist is a clear demonstration of the fact many people want to join our community, and having new housing stock will ensure the transition is made more easily. There is more detailed design work to complete, but once finished, we hope to commence construction early 2024.

• We are continuing with the staged upgrades to Richard Cleaver Lodge including refurbishing units as they become vacant, prior to their reoccupancy.

• Spending on our Information Technology and data security will also be front and centre, as we continue to improve our data management and introduce greater efficiencies to our communication and information services.

• We will also be looking to continue the upward growth for SwanCare At Home as well as focusing efforts towards enhancing our overall hospitality service delivery to our retirement community.

Residents may have noticed a flurry of unusual activity during April as we had film crews, cameras and drones throughout SwanCare. This activity is all part of the major refresh of our corporate marketing material. There is a huge amount of planning, effort and thought that goes into our marketing which is aimed at creating positive messaging to enhance our brand, which will in turn enable us to maintain strong demand for our product and attract staff.

I’d like to remind you about the upcoming Influenza season and to be conscious that COVID-19 is still prevalent amongst the wider community. Keeping up with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are strongly recommended.

Also, a reminder that the very popular CEO Coffee Catch up Club will be entering its winter hiatus during June, July and August, returning in September. Keep an eye out for dates as places fill up fast.

And finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the status of the sad fate of my beloved West Coast Eagles and that of the other team down the road being the Fremantle Dockers. The struggles of both teams suggest that it may be a long footy season with not much to cheer about; all I can say to this is … bring on cricket season!

All the best, take care, and above all else, stay safe.

Graham Francis SwanCare CEO

Environmental Update

Paul Grzelec, SwanCare’s General Manager of Growth & Support Service,

shares an update on our sustainability initiatives and the many ways in which SwanCare aims to continue supporting and protecting our environment.

Food Organics & Garden Waste Trial

The Food Organics and Garden Waste trials were introduced around the Bentley Park village in March. Thank You to everyone participating in this new initiative to help divert resource rich food and garden waste away from landfill. We are responding to feedback on these initiatives and providing additional bins where required.

A reminder, food organics should be wrapped tightly in paper towel, newspaper or in a compostable bag and not contained in normal or biodegradable plastic bags.

Garden waste should be cut up to better use the space in the bin. No soil or large tree trunks.

Containers for Change

The Containers for Change program at SwanCare Bentley Park has now raised over $2,560 since commencement. The funds raised are used for village initiatives. Please remember that the containers must have the 10c mark on them to be eligible for a refund with caps removed. No white milk containers or wine bottles.

Garden Watering

As we enter the winter months, reticulation will be switched off. As always, hand watering should be minimised and only used where absolutely required such as under eaves and patios where plants do not get rain.

Electricity Use

During winter we all like to use our air-conditioners to warm our homes. Close doors to unused rooms and set your air-conditioner to 18-20 degrees Celsius. Each degree higher is said to use 10% more energy. This will help to save you cost and minimise your environmental impact.

Our Food Organic bins getting use from residents & staff

SwanCare News

Senior Citizen Partnership Program

Would you like to help train the next generation of doctors?

The Curtin Medical School’s Senior Citizen Partnership Program has been established since 2017 with great success and helps medical students to better understand the life of an older adult. Through a series of visits, you will have the opportunity to meet with your two allocated student partners a number of times throughout their fiveyear course. The students will get to know more about your daily life, health ageing and wellness issues you might face, as well as your interactions and experiences with the healthcare system.

If you’re interested in taking part, please reach out to one of our Community Living Coordinators, Matthew Upston or Ashleigh Fitzgerald.

SwanCare Charity Golf Day

The 2023 SwanCare Charity Golf Day will be held on Friday the 6th of October at Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club, and we are looking forward to another exciting event. A total of $19,064 was raised at our 2022 Charity Golf Day to bring our overall fundraising efforts to an impressive $204,295 over the last 15 years. Preparations are already in place to do it all again for 2023 with Expressions of Interest for event sponsors now open.

Each year, SwanCare receives overwhelming support from our sponsors and suppliers who all generously contribute in a multitude of ways to make the annual SwanCare Charity Golf Day a success. This support goes a long way in delivering on SwanCare’s vision of enriching lives of everyone in our community, as all funds go directly to benefit our residents.

International Nurses Day

The past few years have unquestionably been tumultuous for nurses. In May, we held a special morning tea to celebrate them on International Nurses Day. It was an opportunity for us to reflect, acknowledge and connect with those whose hard work, selflessness and compassion enrich the lives of our residents each and every day.

CEO Graham Francis & his team at the 2022 Charity Golf Day

Resident Sue Lewis at the graduation ceremony of her three SCPP students

Residents gifting flowers to staff on International Nurses Day

Board Development Day

In March SwanCare’s Chairman, Kim Hocking, hosted the Annual Board Development Day. Following this half day session of connection and open conversation, the members of the Board and the Executive Team joined residents for an afternoon of lawn bowls, because, of course, it wouldn’t be an afternoon at Bentley Park without a game of lawn bowls!

SwanCare takes purpose-driven board leadership seriously and believe the only way to ensure we make the best decisions is to hear directly from our residents in the very environment we govern - their home and community.

Did you know, according to Stanford University, only a third of boards (32%) place a high priority on “knowledge of the community served,” and even fewer (28%) place a high priority on “membership within the community of their consumers”? We are proud at SwanCare to have a close and collaborative team, including two consumer representatives on the Board.

Kim said, “Everyone really enjoyed each other’s company, and we enjoy learning from one another on and off the green. It was a great opportunity to come together in this way and as Chair, I was especially pleased to be invited to be a regular on the green by SwanCare resident, Heather!”

SwanCare News

National Receptionists Day

In May we celebrated National Receptionists Day for the friendly faces who help our village and care centres thrive.

Our receptionists gathered for an afternoon tea hosted by SwanCare, as a small token of our appreciation for the many ways they go above and beyond for our residents, visitors and wider community, every single day.

Lights, Camera, Action

We were pleased to welcome a professional film crew to SwanCare this past month to capture all the big and little things that make up our beloved community. The Marketing team and production crew have been working on putting the final puzzle pieces in place before all is finally revealed. The videos will be available to view on SwanTV, Channel 101, our website and will even appear on catch up TV in the coming months.

SwanCare would like to thank all our residents for your cooperation and support as we embarked on this exciting new project which would not have been possible without you!

The SwanCare Reception team

SwanCare Board, Executives & residents gather on the green

Valuable Volunteers

A Driving Passion

When Geoff Pointon first moved into SwanCare Bentley Park in 2021, he was excited to learn he could leverage his experience and qualifications as a career bus driver for the village. Geoff not only volunteers his time as a driver, taking residents on various excursions, but also provides new driver training.

With 34 years in the public transport industry, a HR Heavy Vehicle Driving Instructors License, and a Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment, Geoff mentors our growing team of drivers. This team includes our latest volunteer’s, retirement living residents Annette Lennerts and Ricki McPherson.

Ricki became curious about driving after reading about the bus driving role in the weekly notice. While she had never driven a bus previously, Ricki explains it was the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill which inspired her to give it a go, “To me, it was an adventure,” she said.

After her first driving lesson with Geoff, Ricki found her confidence, “I became alive behind the wheel. I felt no fear, only excitement. It’s so much fun.”

Once she heard the village had a shortage of bus drivers, it didn’t take Annette long to join either, “I wanted to help out,” Annette explained, “When we’re older and frailer, we hope that others will do the same for us. I know there will come a time where I will no longer be able to, but why not help while I still can?”

Annette was familiar with driving longer vehicles after caravanning across Australia. Although a bus was new to her, she felt quite comfortable behind the wheel. Giving herself just two and a half weeks to master the skill, Annette proudly passed her test this May.

Like Annette, Ricki says she also enjoys being able to give back to the SwanCare community and says that becoming a bus driver is the best thing she’s done since moving to Bentley Park nearly five years ago.

“I absolutely love it!” Ricki says, “It’s enabled me to meet new, wonderful people and it gives me this sense I’m contributing to the village. I would encourage anyone to give it a go.”

Both ladies say they love being part of SwanCare’s retirement village, especially when it comes to its people.

“My husband and I looked at a lot of other villages but none of them felt as happy as Bentley Park. Everyone is so lovely, we’re lucky to live here,” Annette said.

Ricki agreed, adding there is always something for everyone, “There’s lots of activities on offer but if you’d rather do your own thing, there is space for that too. I love the community here.”

SwanCare would not be the same without our valuable volunteer bus drivers. Thank you all for providing our residents with the opportunity to explore beyond our own campus.

L-R: Austin Gillanders, Ken Power, Annette Lennerts, Ricki McPherson & Geoff Pointon (Absent: Frankie Comstive, Jim Leavy, Brian Mutzig, Anne Parker)

Garden Interest Group

Wintertime Wonders

Late autumn showers have given us a taste of cooler weather heralding winter and bringing changes of colour in the village gardens.

Chrysanthemums brightened May with their beautiful blooms. Cut and crush the ends of long flower stems to ensure blooms in vases draw up water.

After blooming, remove stakes and cut back close to the ground to rest the plants. Keep weeds away and protect from slugs and snails. Fertilise in August and spray with fungicide to prevent rust and other diseases.

Camellias and azaleas will also flower in the coming winter. Once they have finished, give them a light feed and prune to shape and to promote new growth.

June is a suitable time to feed our bulbs and get our gardens ready for a spring show of colour. Pansy, dianthus, linaria, viola, gerberas, iris, and alyssum, are always dependable to put on a good show.

Nasturtiums, if you have room to let them ramble, are not only bright and cheerful but the flowers and leaves are edible and can be added to salads.

July is the traditional time to prune roses by cutting new growth back by half to an outward facing bud. Remove any dead growth, open-up the centre to aid air flow, and clean up any fallen leaves which can harbour thrip and fungus spores.

Spray with lime sulphur or a quality rose spray to control scale, black spot, and mildew.

White oil will also control scale and chilli thrips. Make sure you spray under the leaves and the soil around the base of the plants.

Lift dahlia tubers once they have died down and store them in sawdust to prevent drying out.

Winter seedlings to plant out in the vegetable patch include broccoli, broad beans, cabbage, leek, onion, silver beet, beetroot, capsicum, lettuce, and spinach. Replant plump shallot offsets and split clumps of chives.

Pet, lizard, and frog safe snail pellets which have an iron base will keep slugs and snails under control. You can collect them by hand and put them into salt water, which will also kill any eggs.

Chrysanthemums Iris

Resident Story

Life’s Legacy

Doreen Langoulant has been part of the Bentley Park retirement village for 10 years. Now, at 93 years of age, she reflects proudly on her family life and their contributions to our communities.

Born in 1929, Doreen grew up in the small WA country town of Yorkrakine in a bustling farming household.

As one of four siblings, milking cows were part of everyday life, “We would help our father to separate the cream and gather the dairy produce to put on trains headed to Perth, but mum would always have a bowl of her own to put on the stove. There was nothing nicer than having sponge on the weekend with our fresh cream on top!”

Doreen’s father eventually went from farmer to politician, and in 1975 Sir Leslie Charles Diver was knighted for his service.

All four kids went to the state school in Yorkrakine where Doreen fondly remembers getting on the horse drawn sulky to get to and from school. On rainy days, they would use wheat bags from home held above their heads and wagga for their knees to stay dry, “Things were certainly different back then!” She said smiling.

At age 16, Doreen knew she wanted to help others and became interested in nursing, “I started my training at the Kellerberrin hospital, where I was born. I later transferred to Fremantle Hospital where I completed my general training and begun midwifery at King Edward Hospital.”

Good friends of Doreen’s shared a house together in North Perth, which she would stay at from time to time, “One week I went over to celebrate a 21st birthday and at the party I got chatting to one of their cousins, Peter.”

Peter and Doreen fell in love, and later married in 1951.

Subsequently, Doreen ended her time in the workforce, “In those days once you got married,

you were no longer able to work, so I sadly had to finish nursing. But I’m proud to say that I delivered 100 babies over the course of my career.”

Doreen’s father gifted the couple 200 pounds which bought themselves a block of land where they built their family home. Peter remained working as a successful accountant, while Doreen stayed home to raise their three children, Bruce, John and Julie.

Today, Bruce is the father of three daughters including Ashley, who contracted meningitis at three months old, “Bruce is now an advocate for helping other parents in the same position,” Doreen shared, “He started a foundation at Fiona Stanley Hospital and is Chairman of the Meningitis Centre Australia.”

As life has it, Bruce’s eldest daughter, Jess, now lives in North Perth with her husband, on the same street where her grandparents first met!

Doreen’s other son, John, found his way into Commerce, later becoming the WA Under

Doreen proudly holding a photo of son, Bruce & her granddaughter, Ashley with Dr. Fiona Stanley

Treasurer. Now John is the Agent General for WA in the United Kingdom.

Following their grandmother’s footsteps are Julie’s two children who both landed roles in the medical field, “My granddaughter now works as a highly trained nurse and my grandson studied to become an anaesthetist, now working at a hospital in Sydney,” Doreen said.

While most of Doreen’s extended family have made it to Perth and beyond, her siblings have kept their ties to their beloved country town.

“My eldest sister, Diana, still lives there and at 99 years of age, does all of her own housework! And my brother, Fredrick, took over the property from our father.”

Reflecting on all the years of life she has experienced; its clear family has been at the heart of it all. Seeing the Langoulant name be passed from generation to generation has been one of Doreen’s proudest pleasures in life, and seeing the similarities in her family’s individual journeys speaks to the strength of their bond and connection.

Resident Story

“My family is just wonderful, we’ve always stayed together,” Doreen says.

Before SwanCare, Doreen first heard of our founder, Richard Cleaver, when he was running for parliament, “There were posters in our front yard and pamphlets in our letterbox. Fortunately, he got in. Now, here I am at SwanCare!”

“Bentley Park has everything you need. We’re very lucky to have the shops and hairdressers, as well as the library. I also enjoy the clubs and groups; I’ve made some great friends playing cards, lawn bowls and being in the choir. I think for 93 I do pretty well!”

Just like her family, Doreen says the support and sense of community in the Bentley Park village is very important to her, “I would tell anyone to move to SwanCare, it’s the place to be.”

Thank you, Doreen, for sharing your family stories with us. We’re proud to have you part of our family, here at SwanCare.

Doreen's father being Knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth Doreen as a young girl

Meet the Staff

More than Meets the Eye

When Facilities, Assets & Capital Works Operations Manager, Antonino Abad joined SwanCare in April last year, he knew he could make a positive difference.

“I work with a talented team and was able to quickly identify areas in which efficiencies could be made, with the primary focus on streamlining our processes,” Antonino said.

“It’s been a year of positive change, where we are learning from each other and growning as a team.”

An average day for the Maintenance team involves meetings, reviewing outstanding issues, consulting with the residents, contractors and prioritising workflows for the day and week ahead.

“We meet weekly on a Monday morning as a team to prioritise jobs and we have monthly safety meetings, so we all know what’s required and are all on the same page,” Antonino said.

“It’s really important to communicate with each other and make sure we all understand what’s required to get the job done.”

The Maintenance team is responsible for the entire Bentley campus including all independent units within the retirement village as well as all four residential aged care centres. Working on one of the biggest aged care campuses in Australia means there’s always a lot to do.

“We have a fleet of Maintenance Officers, a Refurbishment Coordinator, a Procurement

Coordinator and contractors, and within that, there are a lot of follow-ups that we need to do,” he said, “We schedule and manage all the requests and feedback that we’re getting from residents and staff regarding anything maintenance related.”

“Since I joined, we are making improvements to increase maintenance efficiencies through revising our processes, and taking advantage of technology such as QR codes, mobile communications and client management software systems.

“Our collective job is to ensure safety and provide better outcomes for our residents and staff.”

Antonino says his aim is to make SwanCare the safest possible place for residents, with a friendly and approachable maintenance team there to help them whenever they need it.

“I’m also collaborating with my team to make them more visible and I’m encouraging them to strive towards nominations for our SwanCare Feathers program as this recognises exceptional service and those who go above and beyond,” he said.

“We have a strong maintenance team and together we will continually pursue improvement. It’s an exciting time to be part of it and I have big plans for my team.”

A big thank you to you and your team, Antonino, for the great work you do for everyone at SwanCare!

L-R: Antonino Abad, Manfred Scharlach, Cheesarie Mendez, Graeme Lauler, Willem Kotze, Scott Arkwright, Jake Francis, Vincenzo Surace, Zoran Pusaric, George Palmer

Community Connection

Creatively Connecting Communities

Imagine if as a child, there was a special place you could go when your worries felt too heavy and when you left that place, your worries stayed behind. For the children of Orana Catholic Primary School in Willetton, this beautiful dream has become a reality thanks to the kindness of SwanCare’s Handicraft Group.

Wendy Paull has always had a love of crafts and knew she wanted to join the Handicraft Group before even moving into the village. She has since been living at Bentley Park for 15 years and has spent majority of her retirement as the group coordinator. They work on a number of different artistic projects, some individually and others collaboratively, “With us, there is no pressure, people can do what they want. Some of us like patchwork, knitting, the list goes on. We’re always looking for new ideas and enjoy learning skills together,” Wendy explained.

Aside from having fun creating and socialising, they also enjoy helping others, “We hold two stalls a year and funds go towards the residential aged care centres here at SwanCare,” said Wendy, “We also like to get involved with the community outside of the village.”

A majestic tree known as the ‘calming tree’ sits near the OSHC building at Orana Catholic Primary School has been wrapped up in love with knitted squares made by members of the Handicraft Group. The idea behind the tree is that children can write their worries on a piece of paper anonymously, then hang it on a branch and leave their troubles with the tree.

Supervising Officer for the OSHC program at Orana, Caresse Lenzo, said the students love their calming tree and what it signifies.

“We run before and after school care, so we’re here from pretty early in the morning, to quite late in the day. We can have up to 85 kids, so we’ve done a few projects with the community which helps keep them all engaged,” Caresse said, “For example, back in

2020 our students made some beautiful bookmarks and donated them to SwanCare. That was the start of our relationship with the Handicraft Group.”

The tree is a popular spot for children to sit, read and meditate. It also lets them enjoy a quiet, safe space after a long day of learning.

Caresse said the children feel strong ownership of the tree and often like to decorate it with bird feeders and wind chimes, “It’s a beautiful thing for the children to have; A place where they can literally leave their worries behind.”

“The tree was already special to the children, but what we really wanted to do was set it apart from the rest,” Caresse explained, “One of our teachers who was at that time a student, Ruby Mavrick, had the idea to ‘yarn bomb’ it. None of us could knit, so we instantly thought of the gorgeous Handicraft Group who might be able to help us.”

The 'Calming Tree' at Orana Catholic Primary School

Community Connection

Yarn bombing involves crocheting or knitting patterns onto a public structure or form, such as a bench or a tree. It helps reclaim and beautify public spaces, and it’s a great way to draw attention to or add meaning to an otherwise ordinary object.

“The project first started during COVID-19, and our intention was to invite some of the residents who were involved in the project down to the school to see the tree and meet the children, but the pandemic unfortunately put an end to that idea,” Caresse said.

After some long-awaited years, Wendy finally visited Orana this year to see the creation with her own eyes and meet the friendly faces behind the idea.

“I love interacting with members of the local community and being able to play a part in bringing their vision to life,” Wendy explains, “I think we all get a lot out of it.”

Like the Handicraft Group, many children at Orana enjoy being creative and learning new craft skills, “We know that lots of our children would like to learn to knit and crochet. It would be wonderful to have a craft class with some cross generational learning from the residents at SwanCare.”

Caresse appreciates the relationship the primary school has with SwanCare and says she hopes this is the first of many collaborative craft projects, “We really appreciate the ladies giving up their time to create these knitted squares with so much love. We cherish our friendship with SwanCare and would love for our children to continue making connections with more residents, I’m sure it would be wonderful for both parties.”

Thank you to the Handicraft Group and Orana Catholic Primary School for allowing us to share this beautiful story of creativity, community and connection.

SwanCare resident Wendy with Caresse & Rhorie from Orana Catholic Primary School

Resident Story

The Discovery & Expression of Self

When Maureen Grickage’s beloved husband Rod passed away 10 years ago, she knew that she didn’t want to stay living on her own in the family home. Her family started looking at alternatives for their mum, and wanted to know that not only would she be safe, but also well cared for and part of a vibrant community. They stopped looking as soon as they found SwanCare Bentley Park.

Maureen said she loves living in the village, and through the Art Group, has managed to rediscover her passion for creativity.

“When I first moved to SwanCare, I was grieving for the first year, so I didn’t want to take part in anything,” Maureen explained, “But when I felt ready, I joined the Art Group. I’ve always painted but it’s different when it’s with such happy people, it really saved me.”

From the second her paintbrush hits the canvas, Maureen says her mood can completely change, “When I start to paint, it’s uplifting; I go to another place. It’s very calming and must be good for your heart,” she said.

Now as the Art Group’s Coordinator, Maureen helps to organise outings and experiences for the whole club to enjoy, “We’ve taken trips to the WA Art Gallery and WA Water Colours in Fremantle. We’re all very passionate about art so we thoroughly enjoy our tips, especially when we get to talk and paint with other artists,” she said, “You lose track of time when you’re doing something you love.”

When reflecting on how her artistic flair came about, Maureen said that she can’t remember a time when she didn’t paint or draw, “I was always that little girl who asked for a paint box or colouring in pens for Christmas, and I was oh so happy with that.”

After studying art and landing a role as a sign writer, which was unusual for a woman at the time,

Maureen eventually went back to university and achieved a degree in Art Therapy, later working as an art therapist for the MS Society.

“It was wonderful to help people express themselves through art. When you’re helping someone paint and they’re holding a paint brush in their mouth, it’s hard to not be amazed by that and what people can create. Art is wonderful therapy.”

Maureen moved to Australia with her parents in 1962, they lived in Cloverdale but originally haled from Liverpool.

“My dad was a bricklayer, so he found work easily here. I was one of seven children and mum was a

Maureen with one of her incredible paintings

talented seamstress who made all of our clothes, we never had hand me downs,” she said.

“I’ve been back to the UK a number of times, but always when it was wet and cold, that’s when I knew Australia was home. I also met my husband Rod in Australia a few weeks after we landed. We both had the same holiday job.”

Maureen and Rod have three children, Peter, Natalie and Kevin, “They all live fairly close and they look after me, I’m very lucky. I also have four grandchildren and two great grandchildren, they are wonderful.”

“One of my granddaughter’s, Lauren, is a great artist, we’ve painted together. I also have a great granddaughter who is four and loves putting colours together. I think she’ll be a talented artist, she’s got a brilliant eye.”

When she isn’t busy coordinating the Art Group, she can also be found running the SwanCare Allsorts Choir. Maureen says there is something really special about being part of these groups, “Although they’re old-fashioned words, it all comes down to fellowship and companionship. You’re doing something you enjoy, with people who share your interests.”

Maureen encourages everyone to get involved with the hobbies they enjoy at SwanCare, explaining how it can give you a renewed purpose and sense of belonging, “There’s a strong community here and if you’re going through something, you feel like you’re in a safe place to get through it and make good friends.”

“I think the name says it all at SwanCare, they care and it’s more than a job. I worked for 30 odd years in the health industry and the health staff here are incredible, they’re beyond good. The staff are never rushed and if you need anything, there’s always a follow up.”

Maureen loves living at SwanCare and says she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, “I have friends living in other villages and when I tell them of all we have access to here, they think I’m lying because it’s so good!” Maureen laughed.

“I feel safe and supported here, which is so important. It gives me peace of mind and it gives my children peace of mind, and that’s worth so much to all of us.”

Thank you, Maureen, for sharing your story with us. We love having you part of our SwanCare community!

Maureen holding a photo of her & Rod on their wedding day

Maureen with her family

Village News

Fish N Chips with Friends SwanCare Centres Auxiliary

Over the past three months we have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day. We have also had some terrific Entertainers including Patrick O’Hooligan, Lesley Ferguson and Tom, and the ever-popular Jay Weston.

Mark the below upcoming dates and Entertainers in your diary:

• Friday 2nd June is Lucy, Rob and Terry from ‘2 Tenors’

• Friday 7th July is Ros from ‘Eklipz’

• Friday 4th August is ‘The B-Sharps’

All residents, and especially new residents, are most welcome to join us at our monthly luncheons in the Auditorium, however bookings are essential. We are a happy bunch, and you will meet new friends and reacquaint with old friends. We have a variety of Entertainers each month with raffle tickets on sale and prizes to be won.

- Lesley Foster

Well, this year is moving along at a fast pace! To date, we have enjoyed our first outing to York for a luncheon and shopping spree at Sox. We always have special thanks for our drivers, Jim and Ken, who do a great job getting us there and back safely. Dates for our diaries are as follows:

Our Zoo trip is coming up on Tuesday, June 27th with the bus departing at 10:00am. We have buggies to transport everyone around the Zoo and food trucks are available for late morning tea as their restaurant is not yet finished. Cost is $40.00 and the last day for payment is the 18th of June. Our next meeting is on the 25th of July in the Auditorium, where we will have Daniel Shaw speaking on wills and elder abuse. We will also be having our Bakeless Cake stall at this meeting. For our new residents, that’s a large fake cake you donate money into instead of home baking.

Kind reminder our new meeting time is 1:00pm every 4th Tuesday of each month.

Thank you to all our members and non-members for your support as the year goes by so quickly.

- Sandie Holmes

Fish N Chips with Friends Mother's Day luncheon

Fish N Chips with Friends committee members

Guest speaker Stephen Scourfield at the March Auxiliary meeting

Swan Village Bowling Club

So far this year the weather has been good to us and at least a few members have bowled every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 1:00pm. On one day only four members played but most days at least two rinks have been in use. The Hazel Lancaster Shield was however fully subscribed, and was won by myself ably assisted by Geoff Pointon and Kay Leeuwinburg. The game was followed by a celebration of Cecil Cahill’s birthday as he joined the growing ranks of members over 90 who are still enjoying a game of bowls.

Our triples event for the Keith Withers Shield was held on the 27th of May. Keith Withers was President of the club for three years from 1986. All our tournaments celebrate the great contributions made to the village, not just by the bowling club, but the original members. Things like bingo, canasta and bus tours were originally started by the club, although they now operate completely independent.

During the winter months we have fewer competitions but hope to have a soup day and a joint game with Rowethorpe. September will see the AGM and the President’s Cup. Hopefully, the weather will continue to be kind but if not, you can always enjoy a game with our friends in the undercroft of Richard Cleaver Lodge on Saturday or Monday mornings at 9:00am. Many of the

Village News

members of Bentley Park Bowling Club are also members of the Swan Village Club.

If you are new to the village and fancy trying a game but do not want to embarrass yourself at our official game days, just give me a call and we can arrange a bit of a trial or some tuition.

New members are always welcome.

- Stan Barclay

Bentley Park Social Club

The Bentley Park Social Club held a lunch this month to recognise the committee and team of helpers for all their hard work over the past year.

Among the volunteers is retirement living resident, Margaret Frew, who was also celebrating her birthday. Margaret is the Op Shop Coordinator and has been volunteering since 2007.

Thank you to the Op Shop for their ongoing support towards the Social Club and thank you to all Social Club volunteers for your contributions to SwanCare residents.

- Jan Irvine

Board Game Group

Board Games are played every 1st and 3rd Friday at 6pm in The Club. All are welcome to attend. We have lots of laughs and fun. BYO drinks and nibbles if you wish.

- Sandie Holmes

Resident enjoying a game on the green

Margaret Frew celebrating her birthday at the Social Club Volunteers Lunch

Resident Story

Adventures on the High Seas

72-year-old retirement living resident, Barry Morgan, and his wife Maxine, have lived in the Bentley Park village for the past four years. While he is very much enjoying his retirement, Barry’s past life was one of adventure, experiencing life on the high seas as a submariner in the Royal Navy.

“I joined the Royal Navy in 1966 when I was just a boy, I was 15, and when I think about that now, I really was just a kid. I definitely went into the training as a boy and came out as a young man,” he said.

He grew up in Southeast London and while he said he didn’t have much navy history in his family, his uncle was part of the navy when he was born.

“Apparently my mum took me to meet him when he was docked in London, so I’d been on a warship before I was even one year old,” he said.

Barry recognises there were a lot of life lessons learnt from his time at sea, “The discipline is something you keep for life. You learn a lot about yourself through the process of training and you meet a lot of great people. One of our mottos was ‘If you want to do something, do it the best way

you can’ and I still live my life that way even to this day.”

When Barry was on his first surface ship, they were doing trials, “Part of the trial was to see if some of us wanted to spend a night in a sub for 12 to 15 hours,” Barry explains, “I was young at the time, and it all seemed like a big adventure. My first posting was on a surface ship in Singapore and then I ended up on the subs. I loved it.”

Barry recalls his time during the Cold War, which found him in some dangerous situations, “Once we were going up and down the Russian Northern fleet and we had to be very skilled at taking stealth pictures of their propellers, it all could have gone terribly wrong if the sub had resurfaced in rough weather.”

“I also fell off the sub into a floating dock up in Scotland, and I was incredibly lucky that the water broke my fall as I could have been killed. The last sub I was on in the navy was nuclear, so that was quite exciting too,” he shared.

Being part of the navy meant Barry did a lot of

Retirement living resident, Barry Morgan, inside his home at SwanCare Bentley Park

travelling, and says it was a great chance for him to see the world, “We went to a lot of different places. I spent some time in Singapore and in the Pacific Islands, I also went to California. It was the early 70s and the music scene at that time was like nothing else, it really opened my eyes.”

Sydney really piqued his interest though, so in 1977, Barry decided to leave the Royal Navy and join the Royal Australian Navy as they were short on Naval Policeman at the time. It was also there where he met his wife, Maxine.

“One of the boys on the boat had met a girl in Sydney, she had a cousin that she was pestering me to call, I said I would, but I couldn’t promise anything... and the rest as they say, is history.”

Barry loved his life on the sea but left the navy in 2003 and remained a reserve until he retired in 2005.

As far as SwanCare goes, Barry said he is loving this stage of his life and enjoys being part of the community, “It’s the best move we ever made,” Barry said.

Resident Story

Barry and Maxine decided to downsize when his mother-in-law was on her own and Maxine and her siblings started looking for somewhere she could live, “We realised at that time that it was a lot of work finding the right place and we didn’t want the onus to be on our kids when the time came for us to move.”

Barry said one of his favourite things about SwanCare is the flexible lifestyle, “The good thing is, there’s so much to do here, and if you want to do it you can, but you also don’t have to. It’s always there when you feel like being part of it.”

“We love using all the amenities. I’m part of the Photography Club, I play snooker, I also enjoy driving the SwanMobile on Monday mornings where I can meet interesting people and hear their stories,” he said, “I’d honestly recommend SwanCare to everybody. It’s a wonderful place to live.”

Thank you, Barry, for sharing your story with us. We appreciate your service and love having you part of our SwanCare community.

Barry on his final day of the Royal Australian Navy

Barry in his first month after joining the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges

Passions & Pastimes

Box Steps & Ball Changes

Retirement living resident, Pam Hind, said for as long as she can remember she has loved to dance, and at 82 years of age, she also credits her love of dance for keeping her fit, maintaining her balance, and feeling healthy and strong.

Pam’s passion for dancing started when she first moved to Australia from the UK at eight years old. She began with ballet before moving on to ballroom dancing, then discovered Rock n’ Roll in her teens.

“Rock n’ Roll dancing was very exciting to me, so I quickly dumped ballroom and made the switch,” she said.

When Pam became a mother to her two sons, dancing took a back seat, but it was in her retirement when Pam found she could spend more time doing what she loved, and thus rediscovered her passion for dance.

“When I first moved into SwanCare 14 years ago, my dear friend Pam, who has since passed away, asked if I might like to teach a class for a few weeks just to see how it went,” she explains, “Until then, I had never taught dancing before. It makes me laugh now, but that was 10 years ago and we’re still going strong!”

Pam teaches the beginners and intermediate line dancing classes at SwanCare Bentley Park, which

regularly attracts up to 40 fellow residents, some of whom are in their early 90s.

“We have people who’ve had hip replacements and knee surgeries who can’t wait to get back into the class and learn the new dances,” Pam said, “I’ve met such lovely people teaching dance at the village. Some of my students are a real inspiration and I know it gives them a boost to be part of it,” she said.

While she teaches a number of routines and new moves each week, Pam says it’s not just about the dancing, “Although dancing is lots of fun, the classes are also about staying active and social. We always have a lovely morning tea at the end of class where everyone gets to spend some time together, it really does give people a lift.”

Pam loves all styles of dance and incorporates a variety throughout her class such as Waltz, Cha Cha, Latin and Irish dancing.

“Dancing is great for your coordination, your balance, and for your concentration, and it’s great to see how people progress. I often gravitate towards the slower music, and I take a few of the full turns out because I don’t want people losing their balance, I just want them to enjoy it.”

Retirement living resident, Pam Hind, feeling at home by the stage

Passions & Pastimes

Pam says one of the great things about line dancing is that it doesn’t require a partner, “It’s the perfect style for residents to try solo. I always say, come and learn what you can, you don’t have to remember all of it, just have fun! If you learn the dance that’s great and if not, you’re still staying active and making friends.”

Pam believes that music is a great mood lifter and memory prompt, with her favourite song being ‘When I Grow Too Old to Dream,’ a classic which has been performed by the likes of Vera Lynn and Doris Day.

“When you’re having a flat day, a beautiful piece of music can really lift you, and when you’re feeling more upbeat you might want to listen to something faster,” Pam said, “I have eclectic taste, I love everything from classical to the Beatles, country and Western too.”

“Music is so attached to our memories; it can take you back in time to a special moment. I always choose music that will resonate with our generation, and I adapt some of the dances slightly so people in the class get the most enjoyment out of it.”

Aside from dancing, everyone who comes to Line Dancing contributes $1 for morning tea, and when the profit builds up, the dance class donate the funds to charity.

“We’ve donated to Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, Telethon, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Flood Appeals. It’s nice to feel that while we’re enjoying ourselves, we’re also helping others who are less fortunate,” she said.

Pam said she loves being part of the vibrant community at SwanCare because of how much it enriches her lifestyle, “There’s so much to do here, there’s more than 40 clubs, plus we have a gym, a pool and morning exercise group, I also do a yoga class. You can get to the stage where you’ve almost committed to too many things!” Pam laughed.

“I feel safe and supported here. It’s a lovely, friendly atmosphere and you’ll always find someone you have something in common with.”

Thank you, Pam, for sharing the joys of dance with your SwanCare community.

Pam dressed & ready to dance the night away

L-R - Pam's oldest son Ian & his son Christiaan, Pam's younger son Alistair holding his son, Leo

Penny’s Book Review

Fifty Fifty | By Steve Cavanagh

The author Steve Cavanagh was born and raised in Belfast, before leaving for Dublin at the age of 18 to study Law. He currently practices Civil Rights Law and has been involved in several high-profile cases. In 2010, he represented a factory worker who suffered racial abuse in the workplace and won for him the largest award of damages in Northern Ireland’s legal history. Besides being an author of mysteries and thrillers, Steve Cavanagh also lectures on various legal matters.

‘Fifty Fifty’ is the fifth book in the Eddie Flynn’s series but can be read as a stand-alone.

It is about two sisters on trial for murder, both accusing the other. It is left up to the jury to work out who is the liar and who is the killer.

It is a real page turner, and you will be kept guessing right up to the very end.

I found it unpredictable, daring and totally compelling.

This book can be found on our shelves in the Bentley Park library.

Yours in books, Penny

Felder

Penny Felder SwanCare Bentley Park Librarian

Apple & Sour Cream Slice |

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter

• 200ml sour cream

Legendary Recipe

By Dorothy Kostera

• 400ml tin apple pie fruit

• 1tbsp of sugar

• Nutmeg

• 1 packet vanilla cake mix

• ½ cup coconut or rolled oats

Dorothy’s mum later decided to run her own catering business, providing meals and desserts for formal functions such as balls, dinner parties and weddings, “Everyone loved mum’s food, she was a great cook,” said Dorothy.

Method

1. Melt butter and mix into vanilla cake mix and coconut or oats. Press into lamington tray lined with baking paper.

2. Bake in oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.

3. Remove tray from oven, mix sugar with tin of apple pie and pour over base then spread sour cream on top.

4. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cook in the oven for a further 15 to 20 minutes.

5. Serve warm or cold.

Apple can be replaced with any fruit e.g. rhubarb, apricots or berries, and a biscuit crumb base can be used.

Retirement living resident, Dorothy Kostera, has offered to share one of her favourite desserts to help make our winter a little sweeter.

She has been making this delicious Apple and Sour Cream Slice for 20 years now and says it’s the perfect sweet treat to keep you warm and smiling throughout those stormy winter days.

Dorothy’s earliest memories of baking is in her childhood kitchen alongside her mother. Dorothy deeply admired her mother’s creativity and range of skills growing up, both inside and outside of the kitchen.

“Before she was married, my mum started her career as a tailoress. She was good at everything, from cakes to crafts. She also taught me how to knit,” said Dorothy.

When this Apple and Sour Cream Slice recipe was passed onto Dorothy by a close friend, it quickly became a crowd pleaser among her circle, “Everyone I show this recipe to loves it, all my friends and all my family. I think it’s great for afternoon tea in winter when you can enjoy it warm with a hot cup of tea.”

After moving into the Bentley Park village three and a half years ago, Dorothy says she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, “There is a family atmosphere around the place. We all look after one another here,” she said, “I love living at SwanCare.”

Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing this delicious winter warming recipe with us. Happy baking, everyone!

We’d love our residents to come forward to present us more recipes and stories behind them. If you have one you can share, please contact Marketing on 6250 0000 or email it through to tidings@swancare.com.au.

Brain Teaser

How are your -ologies?

|

By Susan Lewis

Join the -ology word to its meaning, then find the twelve -ology words in the word sleuth.

New Bentley Park residents welcomed over morning tea

The Heart Foundation Walking Group

Happy residents at the Fish N Chips Easter luncheon

Residents enjoying themselves at the CEO Coffee Catch Up Club

Browsing at the village Op Shop

Residents shopping at the Handicraft Group Mother's Day stall

National Puppy Day fun

Plantation Apartment's big night in

Friday Night Chase fun