Tidings Spring 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: Summer 7th November, Autumn 7th February, Winter 7th May and Spring 7th August.

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 Lesley Ferguson strumming her mother's guitar.

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CEO'S COLUMN

Graham Francis Provides the Latest News

IN THE KNOW

Support Services Updates

SWANCARE NEWS

News from around SwanCare

CARE APPRECIATION

SwanCare Staff, Committed to Care

Meet Jacqui Sherlock

Knitted starfish for Department of Communities' upcoming book launch

Cheryl Hicks enjoys keeping connected with her community

Executives give their thanks to staff

Happy 102nd Birthday Adele

Lesley's love for music runs deep

SwanCare's talented Pottery Group

Thursday night Bingo Club fun

CEO’S Column

Asanother season comes to an end, a new season begins. Welcome to the Spring edition of Tidings.

With the warmer weather on the horizon comes the opportunity to increase our fresh air and vitamin D intake, warming the bones and providing a greater sense of community as people get out and about a little more. There is a lot to look forward to and celebrate at SwanCare Waminda.

Firstly, I am pleased to advise that the SwanCare Board has approved the Waminda Refurbishment Project. This project will see a major refurbishment of Waminda including internal refurbishment of resident rooms/ensuites, corridors and communal areas, plus the introduction of dining and lounge options on all floors and the extension of the reception area to improve visitor accessibility. Additionally, there will be a new drop off area, ramp and landscaping to complement the internal improvements.

Currently the builder is expected to commence the first stage in September with anticipated completion around March/April 2024. Some may have noticed some preliminary works being undertaken in the lead up to. This first stage of the works will see the external improvements, reception extension and all resident rooms on the ground floor refurbished.

While we will do all we can to minimise stress for the Waminda residents as well as impacts on the wider SwanCare community, noise, increased activity and other interruptions typical for a works of this type are to be expected. Regular updates on the progress will be provided on a regular basis and we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this time.

In some more exciting news regarding our Waminda aged care centre, I have recently received the formal confirmation from the Aged Care Quality and

Safety Commission that Waminda has received its re-accreditation for a further three years. With Waminda now receiving its full re-accreditation, this now means that all our care centres are fully accredited. This is a wonderful outcome and a reflection of the high-quality care and tremendous clinical support that our team continually provides to our residents. We are all extremely proud of the wonderful work that our dedicated care staff provide to our residents within all our care centres, and they are to be warmly congratulated on this magnificent achievement.

On another note, with spring comes the recommencement of the very popular CEO Coffee Club outings. For those new to the village, the CEO Coffee Club operates during the warmer months where selected SwanCare staff and I take 10 -12 residents to a secret destination for coffee and cake. It is a great chance to have laugh, a chat, and generally enjoy an outing which is fully paid for by me. Bookings are essential, so stay tuned for details.

So, without mentioning the many missed opportunities that the 2023 AFL season brought for both of our West Australian teams, I wish you all a happy and healthy season ahead.

Graham Francis SwanCare CEO

In the Know

Support Services Updates

Life at SwanCare Bentley Park has many layers of service that collectively contribute to the betterment of our residents’ day to day life as well as the success of the organisation as a whole.

Our very own Paul Grzelec, General Manager of Growth & Support Services, takes us through several key support service tips and updates.

Quick Waste Diversion Tips

Mixed Recycling (Yellow Lid)

Follow the Australian Recycling Label available on most packaging Rinse containers before placing in bin to remove food residue Organic Waste (Lime Green Lid) Place all edible waste into a compostable bin liner or wrap tightly in paper towel Small bones are fine

Garden Waste (Dark Green Lid)

No sand Cut large and long cuttings into smaller pieces to allow others to use the bin

Clear Soft Plastics (Admin Foyer)

Scrunchable clear plastics only No colour or label on any part of the plastic

Containers for Change (Blue Bin with White Lid)

Check for the 10c mark on the container No wine bottles No white milk containers

Reduce Village Costs

Did you know that the village pays for each bin collected regardless if your bin is full or has a single item in it. Before you place your bin out for collection, think if it could wait until a future collection. For residents with shared bins, fill one bin at a time.

Now Available!

A locked confidential paper recycling bin is now available in the Administration foyer for resident use. As shredded paper is not recyclable, confidential paper placed in the confidential paper bin is destroyed by our waste partner, Veolia, before being recycled.

Coming Soon

The yearly junk collection will take place again in late spring/early summer. Keep an eye out for the notice with skip bin locations and accepted junk.

Three new dog waste bag dispensers will be rolled out to the village during spring. The bags are compostable which means the dog waste can be placed into the organics bin.

Locking Doors

Security frequently report that common areas are being left unlocked late at night in the Leisure Precinct, Auditorium and apartment emergency stairwells. For the security of all residents, please ensure you check all doors if you are the last one to leave and switch off lights and air-conditioning.

Maintenance Work Requests

Work requests can be made via our website. Simply go to swancare.com.au, click Maintenance Requests at the top of the page and fill out the form. Urgent requests such as burst pipes and major safety issues should be reported immediately to reception or security for priority attention.

Jarrah Café

The Hospitality team are currently working on a new café style menu for Jarrah Café in response to feedback and sales data. It is expected the menu will be in place at some point during spring with a focus on a smaller and more manageable menu, retaining key favourite menu items. New packaged takeaway options and an expanded display cabinet are expected to compliment the menu changes.

IT

Our IT team have been performing critical network updates during the month of August which will run into September. Areas include Drummond Apartments, Leeuwin Cres, Millstream Way and Talbot Pl. The IT team will continue to communicate when the outages will be closer to the estimated day. We expect a small outage for each area but will strive to be as quick as possible. For further information, please contact the SwanCare IT team at servicedesk@swancare.com.au or on 6250 0045.

SwanCare News

The Handicraft Group

The Handicraft Group continue using their love of art to make a positive impact on our community.

In June, the Handicraft Group donated to our residential aged care centres with surplus funds, providing aromatherapy diffusers, a reclining wheelchair, outdoor garden furniture, games, and more. This donation came to a combined total of $5,876! Thank you to the Handicraft Group for your kind and compassionate contribution to our residents in care.

In the meantime, they have also teamed up with the Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women on a creative project for the Department of Communities' new book. Titled ‘Wonky’s Yarn,’ the story follows a whale calf named Wonky who learns the value of listening to the advice of Elders and not letting distractions get in the way of following a positive path. The starfish they’ve created represent our ‘distractions’ and will be submitted for the artistic reef display featured at the WA Book Launch later this year.

A Drive for Change

In October, SwanCare’s Retirement Living Consultant, Matt Southgate, will join his best mate, Adam, in the Cancer Council’s Sh!tbox Rally. The rally challenges participants to drive cars worth no more than $1,500 across Australia in just 7 days to raise money for cancer research. The rally is not a race – it’s a fun, colourful, unpredictable adventure with participants travelling at their own pace in smaller groups. Vehicles often break down but they “never leave anyone behind” and each night is spent camping beneath the stars and celebrating the day’s achievements.

“We have both lost parents to cancer, and we always knew we wanted to do something to commemorate them. When we researched how to support the Cancer Council, we discovered the rally and it really resonated with us,” says Matt, “We talked about doing so for years, but when we both turned 50 it was a reminder that there’s no better time than the present. We’ve been fundraising ever since.”

SwanCare has proudly donated $1,000 to support their journey towards reaching over $20,000 for this great cause.

If you wish to make a donation, you can do so online via the QR code or through the donation box at Admin. Updates can be followed on their Facebook page: ‘Hec&The Geeze ShitBox Rally 2023’.

On behalf of the SwanCare community, we wish you the best of luck!

Valuable Volunteer

Retirement living resident, Judy Mackintosh, has been handwriting personalised birthday cards to Bentley Park’s independent living residents for 17 years. Her incredible volunteer work meant individuals across the village received a thoughtful message on their special day, however the time has come for her to put down her pen. We want to thank Judy for all her efforts in touching the hearts of our community each year.

CEO, Graham Francis, donating a cheque for the Cancer Council fundraiser

The Handicraft Group's knitted starfish

Adele turns 102!

SwanCare Australind Rise resident, Adele Sims, turned 102 this August, spending the day celebrating with fellow residents, friends, and family. This makes Adele our eldest retirement living resident so it’s only fair that we joined her in the celebrations, and while we were there, she even shared her secret to living a healthy, happy life.

Living an active life, Adele’s favourite memories are many, including family holidays, caravanning, farm life and sport. Adele played hockey, tennis, golf, croquet and Tai Chi, although today she keeps herself mentally fit with reading, sudoku and cryptic crosswords.

In her younger years, Adele saw most 14-yearolds leaving school. However, she went on to win a scholarship, graduating Year 12 and was accepted into UWA. She achieved a BA and Dip Ed to become a Maths and French teacher. She married a farmer and helped greatly to establish a successful sheep stud. During that time Adele wanted her two kids to have plenty of opportunity, throwing them into every activity possible so they never felt they missed out.

Adele is extremely proud of her family and now has five grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Adele’s secret to a long-life is to stay active, both mind and body. She advises to stay away from drugs, don’t smoke and limit alcohol. She says exercise and eating good foods will keep you healthy and out of mischief!

Thank you, Adele, for taking the time to chat with us and we hope you had a very happy birthday.

SwanCare News

WASO

SwanCare recently received a visit from the talented West Australian Symphony Orchestra. A string quartet graced our residential aged care centres and retirement village, treating residents and staff to a moving live performance.

“It was a pleasure to visit SwanCare and share our passion for music with the residents. The WASO in the Community program brings people together to connect, reminisce and have moments of respite through a variety of orchestral, popular and jazz tunes, and we were delighted to see the residents enjoy the performance,” said WASO’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Claire.

Foodbank Appeal

Over our four years supporting Foodbank, the generous members of our SwanCare community have continued to raise the bar every time, and 2023 has been no different!

We are extremely proud to announce that SwanCare has donated a total of 600kg; equivalent to 1,200 meals to Australians in need. A new Bentley Park record!

“Wow!” Said retirement living resident and village Foodbank volunteer, Pam Hind, “It’s wonderful to be part of such a caring community. I want to give heaps of thanks and gratitude to residents and staff for contributing to this excellent cause.”

Adele with fellow SwanCare Australind Rise residents

WASO's string quartet performing for residents

The Foodbank truck was back onsite collecting donations at Bentley Park

Care Appreciation

Committed to Care

The care and compassion that SwanCare’s residents receive takes a truly dedicated team. From our highly qualified RNs, ENs and Allied Health professionals right through to our Home Care assistants, Maintenance, Hospitality and Administration teams, everyone plays an important part in enriching the lives of our residents.

Tidings spoke to a few members of the executive team to get an inside view of what it takes to deliver quality care for over 1,100 residents every day.

Graham Francis Chief Executive Officer

“I’m so proud of the care we provide at SwanCare and the dedicated staff who provide it.

It’s not only tremendous, but it also ticks all the boxes in terms of quality and compliance.

I believe what truly sets us apart is our staff have a genuine desire to make a difference. They show so much compassion and treat the residents like an extension of their own family.

“We have a diverse employee mix at SwanCare, and a lot of people from overseas who are part of our team may not have their own families nearby, and because of this, many of our staff treat our residents as extensions of their own family. We have a simple culture of caring, but our main value is respect, both for the residents we look after and each other. When we’re hiring, we look for staff who have those qualities inbuilt.

“I’ve always thought that care is just a word... but it’s what it represents that is important. I can illustrate that with a story about one our staff members who was driving home after finishing her evening shift for the day, it was around 10pm at night when she noticed an elderly lady out walking who looked confused and maybe lost. Instead of simply driving past, she stopped to discover it was a new resident who was disoriented. The staff member

consoled the lady, and after a short time was able to find out where she lived in the village and proceeded to take her home, and ensure she was safe and no longer confused. In the simplest of terms, this staff member averted a risky situation and potentially saved a life because of the actions she undertook and her caring and compassionate nature.”

“It has been a tough time for the sector throughout the pandemic, but our staff remain committed to giving excellent care. They have a lot of pride in their work and give so much. From our carers to catering, maintenance, laundry, administration and across the board, we have a wonderful team.

“I’ve been part of this business for 18 years and it was evident from day one that what I love about SwanCare is that the focus is not on money, it’s genuinely about caring for people and making them feel safe and secure. This is a dynamic organisation, its constantly changing and evolving, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Duska Bodegrajac Clinical Operations Manager

“At SwanCare, resources are directly invested into the care of the residents and staff development. There are robust systems, processes and policies in place that inform the best care for our residents to ensure they are supported to live the best possible life.

“As an organisation we have long term staff and turnover is low, which says a lot. They all really want to work here. SwanCare provides the opportunity for a great work life balance which everyone is encouraged and supported to utilise.

“I want to thank every single team member from the bottom of my heart for the care they give every day. Staff go above and beyond here and really do help residents transition seamlessly into care. My staff are passionate, they’re skilled and they follow our clinical systems, policies, processes, and procedures by the book.

“The industry has gone through a lot of change lately and embracing it and having a can-do attitude is what I appreciate about them most. We have supportive management, and the staff are engaged, compassionate and in it for the long term.

Natalie Hodi General Manager Community Living

“I see so many examples of our staff going above and beyond on a regular basis. Recently a carer realised that a client she was caring for had no dinner in the fridge, so after her shift, she went shopping to make sure he was stocked up with the essentials.

“When someone moves into the village, they have two staff members that work alongside them as resident support to get them settled and answer any questions they or their family may have.

Care Appreciation

“We care for people in the independent living village and for clients offsite as well. Our staff are so engaged that they can quickly identify if needs change or if someone is struggling and requires additional support. Covering independent living, home care and working closely with residential care, my team is fully across the different levels of care and can provide relevant information to our residents which makes continuum of care seamless.

“I like to think we provide an extra level of care, comfort and support for both residents and their families. I believe my staff are doing this job because they love it. Care isn’t just in their job title, it’s what they deliver through every interaction, every day.”

Thank you to the over 600 SwanCare employees for making a difference in the lives of our residents, and each other. It is evident that this is much more than just a job, it’s a passion, and we appreciate you!

Graham Francis, Natalie Hodi & Duska Bodegrajac commend SwanCare staff for their ongoing care

Resident Story

Our Local Music Enthusiast

Like a lot of us, retirement living resident, Lesley Ferguson, has a deep love for music, however not many of us can say we made it into our career. Reflecting upon her life on the stage, Lesley attributes a lot of it to her childhood.

“Both of my parents were professional entertainers, mum as a singer and guitarist, and my dad as a mandolin player,” Lesley says, “Additionally, both sides of the family were musical, so there was a variety show and singalong at every family party!”

Being raised in a music-filled home played a significant role in developing Lesley’s talent, so much so that by the young age of four, Lesley was already singing along to her mum’s harmony.

Upon discovering her vocal talent, Lesley later began exploring musical instruments starting with classical guitar at age ten.

“I began building a repertoire and had my first paid performance at 11 years old.”

While she certainly felt the butterflies in her stomach on this day, Lesley says the support from her family made all the difference in making the stage a happy place to be, “I was nervous of course, but this was eased by an encouraging smile and wink from my dad.”

Shortly after Lesley found comfort and joy from being on stage, and with a newfound burning

passion for performing in front of a crowd, she felt inspired to reach a much wider audience.

‘Stars of the Future’ was a Channel 7 television show which showcased musical performances of talented, young Australian’s. Lesley was first featured on the show at age 12 and then again at 14.

“I won a Vox-Adeon music store voucher and a tape recorder,” Lesley explains, “Winning the tape recorder was most exciting because I’d been saving my 50c weekly pocket money and birthday money to buy one! It meant I could record my singing, play it back and hone my skills.”

Up until then Lesley’s singing teacher had been none other than her very own mum, although at age 15 she decided to invest in professional lessons with a trained vocal coach, determined to further perfect her craft.

“Although singing was a hobby of mine, I’d always planned to have a musical career.”

Lesley’s experience goes beyond being a solo artist, starting with a pop band at age 16 and later joining an acapella group. Now she is one half of a harmony duo with guitarist, Tom.

The pair met after Lesley saw his band perform and they decided to work together, “I really enjoy creatively collaborating and having a laugh with fellow singers and musicians,” she says.

Retirement living resident, Lesley Ferguson, with her mother's guitar

When discussing what it is about singing that she loves so much, Lesley refers to the powerful impact music can have, describing it as a physical and emotional experience both for her and those listening.

“Being able to ‘tune in’ and feel the story within a song is incredibly moving. I’ve sung at many wedding ceremonies during which the parents or grandparents of the couple get teary as the bride walks down the aisle, this can make it difficult for me to keep my empathy in check so that my voice doesn’t falter.”

“At other times it’s so much fun when people are dancing or singing along, sometimes I notice people quietly enjoying themselves while reminiscing to a favourite song.”

“I also love the feeling of vibrations from my chest to my throat when I’m singing, the sounds created – especially when harmonising. For me, it’s all such a joy to see and feel.”

Now in her retirement, Lesley continues to embrace her love for singing with the support from fellow residents at SwanCare, “Not long after moving in I was asked to sing at a neighbor’s party, and I’ve

since sung at a number of events in the village, including Melbourne Cup lunches with a pianist and our Christmas street parties for example.”

“When the weather is nice, sometimes Tom and I will do an outdoor concert in the village. Together we sing a wide variety of songs, but we’ll play whatever we expect will suit the ages of the audience and type of event.”

When it comes to her personal taste in music though, Lesley is not picky, “I enjoy so many types of music – pop, ballads, rock, love songs, some types of jazz and blues. I’ll typically choose from those for my repertoire.”

As for life at SwanCare, Lesley says there’s a lot to love, “I moved in on my 55th birthday, the biggest birthday gift ever!”

“There is such a happy, friendly vibe in the village, and I love the wide variety of activities. I like feeling safe, supported, and building friendships too. I also love that I can enjoy the social lifestyle but when solitude is desired, it’s respected.”

Thank you, Lesley, for sharing your story with us and filling the Bentley Park village with joyous tunes.

Lesley during her 'Stars of the Future' performance (1975)

Lesley with other performers on the set of 'Stars of the Future'

Sandy Baker hosting 'Stars of the Future' next to Lesley (top left)

Meet the Staff

Work Health & Safety in Focus

receiving a lot of support from teams I’ve worked with so far,” Jacqui said.

“Every team is embracing wanting to make things better and safer for their staff.”

Since she’s been in the role Jacqui has expanded the number of safety reps to 14 and has also been involved in rolling out a new reporting system, Donesafe, which will make hazard and incident reporting much easier across every part of the business.

SwanCare’s WHS, Risk & Compliance Manager, Jacqui Sherlock is in the business of safety, and it’s something she feels wholly supported in at SwanCare.

Jacqui is the newest member of the People & Culture team and said a typical day can involve a myriad of safety and compliance issues.

“I’ve been working in safety for the past 25 years,” Jacqui said.

“I originally got my nursing degree and have always worked in the healthcare field, whether that’s at major teaching hospitals, at medical labs, in disability services or in aged care.

“I love the team at SwanCare, the culture here supports people looking after and caring for one another, whether that’s employee to employee or employee to resident.

“I joined SwanCare in June, but already the way everyone looks out for each other is evident. The fact that everyone has each other’s back makes my job a whole lot easier.”

A typical day for Jacqui might involve incident and accident investigation reviews, problem solving hazards, reviewing unsafe situations and coming up with solutions.

“There is really good consultation with teams across the business at SwanCare which is great, I’m

“The purpose of the safety rep is to provide that consultation step between managers and employees; we consult with them and utilise them as our safety champions. They’re really important eyes across the business, and integral to improving SwanCare’s safety culture” she said.

“I’m excited for Donesafe to roll out, it will make reporting incidents and hazards much easier for staff and managers and will help us to implement better solutions.

“I’m very impressed with the support I’ve achieved from other managers here, and I want to continue to create a positive safety culture where people feel comfortable reporting unsafe situations they’re worried about.

“SwanCare’s staff is already in that safety mindset... all I’m doing is encouraging them to be more aware and to make sure safety is always a priority.”

Jacqui Sherlock, WHS, Risk & Compliance Manager

Introducing our new Work, Health & Safety representatives

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Community Connection

Keeping Active & Connected

Retirement living resident, Cheryl Hicks, has always lived an active life, and after hanging up her tennis racquet and hockey stick, the search for a new form of exercise led her to discover a unique sport with a powerful community behind it.

“When I moved house to South Perth, I found my local senior citizens group which offers a range of social and physical activities, including Ballroom Fit,” says Cheryl. Ballroom Fit is a dance school with a vision to create a healthier and more inclusive world through Dance.

They specialise in classes for seniors and people living with a disability, including Chair Dancing for seniors, Ability Dance for people living with an intellectual disability, classes for vision impaired people and wheelchair dancing, known as Para Dance.

“I started dancing there in 2018 but was unable to continue due to back pain from my osteoporosis,” Cheryl explained.

Whilst health issues meant dancing was no longer an option for Cheryl, her newfound passion for the Ballroom Fit community was not something she was willing to give up. After realising she could remain involved in the sport without having to step onto the dance floor, Cheryl jumped at the opportunity.

“I started volunteering by doing some reception work and administrative tasks where greeting dancers was a key part of my role. I found I was able to relate to them and if they felt upset and ever needed support or a helping hand, I could provide those services,” she said.

Cheryl has now been a valuable volunteer at Ballroom Fit for over five years as the schools meet and greet person, leading her to achieve a City of South Perth Volunteer Award and Department of Communities Volunteer Award.

“I’ve had a fairly fortunate life and was given advantages not everyone else had. I’ve volunteered

for most of my life as I think it’s important to give back and ensure the next generation have that kind of support within their community.”

“Seeing the change in people is my favourite part about volunteering at Ballroom Fit,” says Cheryl, “At first, they come along and they’re nervous. Quite often they say, ‘I don’t think I want to do this,’ because it’s something different, it’s a new challenge in an unfamiliar environment, but it doesn’t stay that way for long.”

“There are dancers who have spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism, but that’s not something we usually get into. We don’t need to ask; our focus is on bringing joy to their lives through dance.”

Darryl Davenport, Principal of Ballroom Fit, says Cheryl’s volunteering has enabled greater community participation for many dancers, helping to make their classes accessible and inclusive for all.

“Her empathy and compassion to assist those that require additional time has helped students to feel comfortable and welcome in the classes. She has assisted dancers that would otherwise find keeping up with the rest of the class too difficult, feel comfortable to be included in these community events,” says Darryl.

Cheryl Hicks & Peter Mastrantonio

Community Connection

Recently Ballroom Fit made history after some of their dancers were selected to compete at the Tokyo Para DanceSport International Competition this year.

Para DanceSport originated in Sweden in 1968, however only found its way to Australia five years ago. The sport is widely practiced in 30 countries with Western Australia being home to some of the finest Para dancers in the nation, including Ballroom Fit dancers Danielle and Amanda, who are part of the first Australian team to compete in this International Paralympic Committee event. “This competition is a major opportunity for Australian Para dancers to showcase Para DanceSport as an adaptive sport for people with disabilities,” Darryl explains, “This trip is going to be a tremendous experience and an event that will propel Para DanceSport further in Australia.”

Cheryl says she is also extremely proud to be part of the community that made it possible and hopes this paves the way for future dancers with disabilities.

“It’s incredible seeing the difference dancing makes to people’s lives, it provides a sense of belonging and leaves everyone with a smile on their face,” says Cheryl, “Hopefully there will be many more dancers like Danielle and Amanda to follow.”

When she isn’t busy volunteering, Cheryl can be found enjoying her retirement at Bentley Park. “I love the lifestyle, it’s very quiet here but there’s also so many things I can participate in. It’s a joy to have choices because as you get older, you don’t always have them, there’s plenty of choice here!” Thank you, Cheryl, for allowing us to shine a light on the great work you do for the wider community.

We believe that these types of connections both inside and outside of our own village are beneficial for everyone at all stages of life. We wish the many dancers at Ballroom Fit every success in their upcoming competitions!

Amanda Smith & Peter Hegarty

Daneille Stitfall & Darryl Davenport

Village News

Bingo Club Matinee

Bingo is held every Thursday night in the Auditorium and is inviting new residents to come on down for a fun night and your chance to win! Doors open at 6:00pm with eyes down at 7:00pm. There are break-open tickets for sale, as well as tea and coffee available for a small fee, alternatively feel free to bring along your own snacks and drinks to enjoy throughout the evening. Please keep your eye on the Bentley Park Bulletin for more information.

- Silvia Walton

Fish N Chips with Friends

Over the past few months, it has been nice to see quite a few new residents join our popular monthly event. The entertainers that we have had over the past three months have been well received. In August we had ‘The Evergreen Melodies’ who were extremely popular with the residents. Mark the below upcoming dates and entertainers in your diary:

• Friday 1st of September will feature the ever-popular Paul Robinson.

• Friday 6th of October we will have a new entertainer named Jerry Salonga.

• Friday 3rd of November is the popular Adam Penn.

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

- Lesley Foster

The Matinee Club took an adventure to the Pinnacles at Nambung National Park this August.

Numbung National Park is situated on the Swan Coastal Plain approximately 200km north of Perth. The Park contains one of Australia’s most fascinating landscapes, the Pinnacles Desert.

Out of the shifting yellow sands rise thousands of huge limestone pillars which rise to 4m standing in stark contrast to the surrounding low heathlands, typical of this coastal region.

The limestone came from seashells that were broken down into lime-rich sands and were carried by wind to form high mobile dunes.

This most fascinating journey took residents to these wonders.

The experience of Ricki and Shane to navigate the bus was amazing, allowing residents to enjoy the winding landscape drive from the comfort of their seat.

Our knowledgeable Brian gave informative information during our adventure, also Ron made sure we never left anyone behind at the Pinnacles.

The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre was a wealth of information relating to the area, also the gift shop with souvenirs from Indigenous artists was impressive.

On our journey home we admired the wildflowers and all the pine plantations, plus stopping at the tavern in Lancelin for lunch made this such a memorable trip.

Many thanks to all my passengers it was a pleasure to have you aboard.

- Kaye Leeuwenburg

Matinee club on their trip to the Pinnacles

It's all smiles at Thursday night Bingo

SwanCare Centres Auxiliary

Wow, time for some sunshine! Well, we have four months of the year left.

We were happy to donate $700 to our care centres, SwanCare Waminda, Kingia and Tandara, in the first five months of 2023.

There is no meeting in September and October due to the special outings we are having including the Dolphin Cruise in September and Aqua Aquarium at Hillary’s in October.

We will also be selling our tickets in the Christmas raffle from the shop on Saturday the 4th and 11th of November.

The upcoming AGM is on November 28th, and we are still desperately looking for a new President and Treasurer so feel free to ask around or perhaps consider it yourself. The Auxiliary is a great club and runs the risk of folding if we can’t get volunteers to fill all positions.

Anyone looking to book or pay for tickets to Aqua in October can do so by ringing me. Tickets are $50 for bus trip entry to aquarium and fish and chip lunch, or calamari salad. Please see your Bentley Park Bulletin for more information.

- Sandie Holmes

Village

Swan Village Bowling Club

By the time you are reading this the club's last outing for winter will be over and everyone will be ready for the AGM on September 7th.

Club annual subscription of $15.00 is due from September 1st and if you wish to nominate or vote at the AGM this must be paid. Nomination forms will be available in the Pavilion.

As the weather is improving, numbers participaing on club days Monday, Wednesday and Saturday are increasing and a few new members have been welcomed. Day bowls will continue until the end of November when we will commence evening bowling. I am going on a holiday for 6 weeks and the Swan Village Bowling Club Vice President, Jim Leavy, has agreed to take over for September. Jim is a former President so I am sure things will operate smoothly with none of my less than deliberate mistakes.

Our first competition of the year is the Patrons Shield in mid September and hopefully our CEO, Graham Francis, will be able to defend his trophy. Entry form will be on The Club notice board. Ron Leeuwinburg is also trying to revive a scroungers competition probably on a Tuesday morning at 10:00am. Scroungers is a competition for individual bowlers as opposed to the 3 or 4 member team games we usually play on other days. An expression of interest sheet is in the Pavilion although games may start before the publication of this Tidings. Just come along to the events as new members are always welome. Any queries, please refer to your Bentley Park Bulletin for my contact details.

- Stan Barclay, President

SwanCare Centres Auxiliary fashion parade Resident enjoying a game on the green

Passions & Pastimes

Potting Around SwanCare

30 years ago, a resident named Betty Snell expressed interest to SwanCare’s founder, Richard Cleaver, about building a village pottery studio. Now sitting under the Richard Cleaver Lodge, the space continues bringing joy to some of our most creative residents.

Gwen Simms was among the Pottery Group’s first members, and like Betty, was passionate about getting the studio up and running. This led to her own daughter and professional potter, Margaret Frew, joining the group.

“I was a full-time potter in Chidlow but when my parents made the move to SwanCare in 2002, the long drives taking them to and from medical appointments became quite draining,” explains Margaret.

“I sold my house and all my pottery, as well as four kilns, a slab roller and pugmill, so I could move to SwanCare and be closer to mum and dad.”

At this time Margaret decided to hang up her apron for good, although things soon changed when Gwen talked her into lending the Pottery Group a helping hand.

Margaret has since spent the past 20 years sharing her extensive skills and knowledge with fellow residents.

“I have taught a number of people about pottery throughout my life, both formally but also socially, and I like that if someone wants to know something, I can share my knowledge,” she says.

“We no longer have a President but initially that was my title. It was great because I could use my connections to get the group more tools while teaching them new skills.”

Three decades later the group has welcomed a range of new members, each with their own story on how they found their passion for pottery.

Dot Keals is one of the longest standing members, first joining the Pottery Group alongside Margaret and Gwen after moving to Bentley Park in 2004, “I first started potting at 21 years old after my sister-inlaw introduced me to it, and now I’m nearly 95!”

For Margaret Forsyth, it was seeing the group listed on the Bentley Park Bulletin which sparked her interest, “Pottery was something different and completely new to me, but I thought to myself ‘why not just give it a go?’”

Mary Manning had a similar thought when she stumbled across the studio on a wander around the

Kathleen Hudson sharing a laugh & painting her project

Margaret Frew & her recent pottery creation

village with her husband, “I decided to pop my head in and have a look, that’s how it all began!”

Previously working in a brick yard, Shane Annert would often fire clay products as part of his role, now exploring it as an art form in his retirement, “Since joining I have made gifts for my family which either way, good or bad, they have enjoyed.”

Whether you argue there’s not a creative bone in your body, or perhaps you’ve done some art sporadically throughout your life, resident potter Ellen Clair assures it can be enjoyed by all.

“What I love most about pottery is how varied it is. There’s such a range of things you can do including different techniques and styles of work, it’s about finding what feels right for you,” Ellen says.

Mary agreed, saying there’s no pressure to create perfection, “With modern art these days anything can be beautiful! In fact, I believe everything is more beautiful when it’s made with your own hands.”

Although if there’s one virtue a potter must have, it’s patience.

Kathleen Hudson explains there’s a meticulous process before getting your hands on the finished product, such as cleaning, painting, and glazing your item, as well as firing it in the kiln multiple times.

“You then have to wait to see how your creation turns out. It’s rather exciting because you don’t know until

it’s out of the kiln for the final time,” says Kathleen, “You may have an idea on what you want to create but it doesn’t always turn out how you’d expect.”

“One time I made a lovely turtle, and I was so sure it would turn out beautifully, except the kiln wasn’t working properly. The turtle ended up covered in little bubbles which burst, leaving white specks all over it - it’s leg even fell off!” She laughed.

However, it’s these happy little accidents which for some, can be their favourite part about the potting process, “I glued the leg back on and now it sits out on the table in my garden. The white specks actually made me like it more,” says Kathleen.

When asked what they each enjoy most about the Pottery Group, words like ‘companionship’ and ‘community’ came to mind, as well as their mutual joy of bonding over art.

“Everybody has such diverse life experiences and I like that we all use our hobby and coffee times as an opportunity to learn more about one another,” says Shane.

Thank you to the Pottery Group for sharing your passion with us. We love having you and your creativity part of our village.

Some members from Pottery Group (L to R): Bevan Heelan, Shane Annert, Kathleen Hudson, Margaret Forsyth, Ellen Clair & Dot Keals

Penny’s Book Review

I Follow You | By Peter James

The author, Peter James, was born in 1948 and educated at Charterhouse, one of the UK’s leading independent boarding and day school providing an outstanding education for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. He lives in Sussex near Lewes. While he has a very popular Roy Grace series on the go, I have chosen to do a review on one of his stand-alone novels, ‘I Follow You.’

It is well written, and I found it hard to put down. While the chapters are reasonably short, it is a page turner. It’s a case of obsession, taking over the mind of a physician, Marcus Valentine, who is smart, charming and a successful doctor with a wife, three children and a job he loves.

That all changes, when driving to work one day, he almost runs down a female jogger crossing the

road. Marcus cannot take his eyes off her; she is identical to a girl he has never forgotten.

Lynette had dumped him harshly and for years Marcus fantasized about seeing her again. Might that jogger be her or just an incredible coincidence?

Marcus is consumed with thoughts of this woman, and when events take an unexpected turn, his obsession threatens to destroy them both, however he just cannot stop.

While ‘I Follow You’ has been popular with many of our readers, I hope this review may encourage others to give Peter James a go.

Yours in books, Penny

Penny Felder SwanCare Bentley Park Librarian

Garden Interest Group

Spring Into It

Spring is here with bursts of colourful flowers to see around the village and with that, the list of jobs to do in your garden also grows.

As all the weeds appear after the winter rains, try to remove them before they go to seed so they do not smother your plants and there will be less work to do next year.

I would recommend giving your camellias and azaleas a trim to keep them tidy and fertilise them as they finish flowering. Native shrubs can be pruned in September to keep them compact and encourage flowers.

Lightly fertilise your roses and annuals as they start producing their beautiful blooms.

Control aphids and thrip on the new growth of all plants with pyrethrum or white oil sprays if the temperature is under 28 degrees Celsius.

Deter cabbage moth caterpillars with Dipel spray and bait for slugs and snails to keep them under control.

Dead head bulbs as they finish flowering but keep feeding the leaves to strengthen the bulbs and promote next year’s flowers.

Flower seedlings to plant over the next few months include ageratum, aster, celosia, cosmos, linaria, lobelia, nemesia, petunia, portulaca, salvia, and zinnia. Most of these plants will self-seed to give you years of mixed colour in your garden.

Sow mixed lettuce, radish, capsicum, beetroot, tomatoes, and Lebanese cucumbers for a colourful salad. It is also a suitable time to plant herbs although wait for the warmer weather to plant basil. All these vegetables will grow in pots if you do not have a garden bed.

Happy gardening!

Cattleya Orchid

Hibiscus

Chorizema-flame Pea

Brain Teaser

Pair's Puzzle |

By Susan Lewis

USE TWO WORDS FROM THE LIST BELOW TO MATCH THE CLUE ON THE LEFT.

1. A FLOWER

2. HIGHLY EMBARRASSED

3. WWII WEAPON

4. ILLNESS

5. CHILDHOOD PASTIME

6. MYTHICAL BEAST

7. USED ON A TABLE

8. CAN LIGHT A FIRE

9. WWII AIRCRAFT

10. A COMPUTER DEVICE

11. AN AMPHIBIANS EGGS

12. A THIRST QUENCHER

13. LAND HERE

14. KNOWLEDGEABLE

15. KINDNESS

16. GOODS CARRIED

17. SWINDLE (SLANG)

18. MEDIEVAL WEAPON

19. A STRUTTING OLD FASHIONED DANCE

20. FIRST PART OF BIBLE

USE TWO OF THESE WORDS TO FIT THE CLUES ABOVE:

FACED CAKE DOODLE OLD SCOTCH TESTAMENT RED FEVER NATION FIRE STICK HOP ON BOARD UP AIR TABLE SEVEN MAT CAR BUG STRIP CAR KEY FROGS WILL BOW DRAG READ GO WALK MATCH SCARLET OFF CROSS SPIT WELL PAWN GOOD RIP

Out & About

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser

SwanCare Allsorts Choir performing their midyear concert

The Bentley Park Trefoils celebrate their 24th anniversary SwanCare's Garden Interest Group

Staff celebrating Aged Care Employee Day with morning tea

Administration building receives updated signage

Residents enjoying a game of Indoor Carpet Bowls

Bentley Park & Rowethorpe residents meet for lawn bowls

The Town of Victoria Park Mayor, Karen Vernon, speaking at the Bentley Park Residents Council meeting