APRIL 2012 | ISSUE No. 145
Crichton Court: comfort, community and security
Contents
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ECHo! APRIL 2012 | ISSUE No. 145
Please share this publication with your family and friends. Opinions quoted in this publication are not necessarily those of the editorial team or the ECH Board of Directors. Cover photo: (left to right) Edith Weeden, Senior Coordinator Rhian Hogg, Hazel Campbell (seated), Olwyn Turner, Mary Weston, Mollie McQuin (seated), Ian Weston and Hospitality Worker Sue Sheehan at Crichton Court.
ECH Inc 174 Greenhill Road Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 08 8407 5151 Facsimile: 08 8407 5130 Email: admin@ech.asn.au Website: www.ech.asn.au Printed and certified to AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems. Printed on Pacesetter (FSC) stock using 100% vegetable based process inks.
Crichton Court: comfort, community and security
2
Breaking ground at Oakden
6
Site upgrade schedule
7
Teamwork in achieving outstanding results in accreditation
8
Introducing askECH
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Active lifestyles in residential care
10
Words and world travel: the life adventures of Helen Caterer MBE
12
Focus on Therapy Services
14
Enhancing your health and wellbeing
15
Smithy’s Place celebrates first birthday
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Love stories
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Perseverance, passion and positivity: the keys to success
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Seagulls, sand and salty sea air
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Stepping out for health
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Healing in water therapy
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Resident maintenance fees: what do they cover?
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Living Well in the north
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Valentine’s Day
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Social pages
30
Rob Hankins appointed as ACSA President
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Australians deserve to age well
31
National recognition for invaluable volunteer
32
Leadership development program celebrates first graduates
33
The holiday girls
34
Holiday unit booking form
35
Recycle right: some simple steps
36
Contact us
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Crichton Court: comfort, community and security An accommodation alternative for older people who wish to maintain their independence but who may need a little extra support with their daily activities.
Nestled among a pleasant courtyard garden setting, ECH’s Crichton Court features twenty semi-independent living units where residents are offered support with meals, cleaning and additional services if required. Crichton Court offers an ideal option for older people who are not ready to move into residential care but who may require some assistance with maintaining their independence. Residents can feel secure living in this small, friendly community environment which is managed by caring, professional staff with a commitment to enriching the lives of older people.
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Crichton Court is a supportive and responsive living environment where services can be individually tailored to best meet the changing needs of each resident. Each one bedroom unit features a living room, bathroom and galley-style kitchen, and is well equipped with air-conditioning, built-in robe, refrigerator and microwave oven. Laundry facilities are communal and within close proximity to each unit. A shared activities room complete with a fully equipped kitchen is available for residents to use and regular events are arranged for the community of residents.
COVER STORY
A main luncheon meal is served by our staff in the communal dining room at midday each day, including on Saturdays and Sundays. Provisions for breakfast and a light, easy to serve evening meal are supplied to residents to prepare in their unit. Tea, coffee, milk and condiments are also provided. Linen items including sheets, bath towels, mats and face washers are provided to residents and are laundered by our staff on a weekly basis. While residents are responsible for laundering their clothing, assistance with this can be arranged if necessary.
Each unit is cleaned weekly by ECH, with residents responsible for maintaining the daily cleanliness of their unit. Residents are further supported by dedicated maintenance staff responsible for the repair and upkeep of the units and grounds. A weekly residence fee is charged and includes unit rental, meals, cleaning, utilities and maintenance. For more information, please contact ECH Accommodation Services on 8407 5115.
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Olly’s story
Olly Turner has been a resident of Crichton Court for almost ten years. She remembers the move well as it was on the same day as the bombings in Bali in 2002. A true South Australian local, Olly was born in Goodwood in 1919, making her 92 years of age. “I wasn’t the best of children,” Olly says with a laugh. “I was a bit naughty!” One of her favourite memories from her childhood is exercising at the gymnasium her father ran at Semaphore. Starting work at 14, Olly first worked as a retail assistant at Charles Moore on Victoria Square. “It was a lovely big building with beautiful marble staircases,” she recalls. Olly then went on to work for Myer, Woolworths and Coles. She was always working in the wool department and in her spare time she would do a lot of knitting and crocheting. She was married in 1941, after meeting her husband “over the fence” at the side of her sister’s shop. Well travelled, Olly and her husband enjoyed adventurous vacations, including a seven week cruise around the world, and have been around most of Australia. Olly now enjoys her quiet time spent reading and doing puzzles, and feels secure in her home at Crichton Court. “I feel very comfortable. I like the food and I’ve got good friends here,” Olly says. “I feel very safe.”
Isabella’s story
Isabella Nixon was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 22nd October 1922. An adventurous child, Isabella enjoyed playing outdoors with her childhood friends and also occasional holidays with her mother and sister. During her working life, Isabella was a shirt machinist and also joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during World War II. It was during her time with the WAAF that Isabella met her husband, who was in the Royal Air Force. They were married in Edinburgh on 18th January 1947. Isabella and her husband moved to Ireland, then back to Scotland for a time before immigrating to Australia. Some of their adventures together include their caravan trips around the Blue Mountains, Victoria and also South Australia. Isabella now enjoys shopping with her daughters, keeping active by walking and also continuing her letter writing. She is new to Crichton Court, having moved in on 5th November 2011. She has found her new home to be easy going and pleasant, and enjoys these aspects of life at Crichton Court. “The residents here are friendly and helpful,” Isabella says.
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Edith’s story
COVER STORY
Edith Weeden is Crichton Court’s oldest resident. Born 26th November 1911, she celebrated her 100th birthday last year. In her younger years, Edith enjoyed an active and social lifestyle centred on church, friends and family. Some of her favourite memories include teaching at Sunday School, outings with friends, and travelling interstate with her brother. She had a varied working life, with her positions including florist’s assistant, waitress and sales assistant. Edith was married on 10th June 1942, wearing clothes that were either borrowed or acquired through ration cards. Edith and her husband enjoyed travelling, and one of her most memorable adventures was a two week holiday in New Zealand. They also saw most of Australia and enjoyed camping. “My latest big adventure was the celebrations for my 100th birthday, with several parties, interviews, visits from old friends and a wonderful morning spent with the Adelaide Crows football team,” Edith says. Always having enjoyed an active lifestyle, Edith still plays indoor bowls. Her interests also include reading, socialising and watching sport on television. Moving into Crichton Court in 1998, Edith loves her home, especially because it allows her to feel safe and secure, has pleasant garden surroundings, gives her close neighbours to chat to and offers her flexibility and support with maintaining her independence.
Mollie’s story
As a child, Mollie McQuin remembers living in a small community of units in Nottinghamshire, England. In the wintertime, the men would make sleighs and pull the children for miles. The summertime brought twilight, which meant more time to play after tea. Mollie’s family moved when she was seven to take over her grandmother’s shop in Beeston. They lived in the house behind the shop for about five years before moving out to Australia. Settling in Adelaide, Mollie missed the English wintertime and as a young adult she would go on several short trips to the Victorian snowfields. Mollie studied typing and bookkeeping, and worked for John Dring’s transport company for 21 years. She took two long breaks in between, one to get married and the other when she had her daughter. Later on, Mollie worked as a secretary to the general manager of Ellis and Clarke and was then offered a job at the Department of Social Security after topping the class in a typing speed test. Meeting her husband in Adelaide while he was working on cargo boats, they were married in his home town of Manila on 27th June 1965, returning to Adelaide after. Mollie is well travelled, having been all over Australia exhibiting her Shih Tzu dogs at agricultural shows. Moving to Crichton Court on 17th May 2005, Mollie enjoys knitting and crocheting, watching winter sports on television and also dabbles in a bit of photography. She enjoys the good company at Crichton Court. “You feel secure which I think is pretty important when you get to our age,” Mollie says. “It’s a very pleasant place to be.”
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Breaking ground at Oakden Work began in late March on ECH’s newest independent retirement living site at Oakden in the north-eastern suburbs. Oakden Estate will be located on Fosters Road directly across from the Northgate shopping centre. Residents will be within walking distance of a wide range of shops as well as medical facilities and bus stops. This is an expansion of ECH independent retirement living into an area in which it hasn’t previously been available. The location is roughly halfway between Rotary Village in Modbury and a number of smaller ECH unit groups in the inner suburbs of Prospect, Nailsworth and Collinswood. The unit development is a part of ECH’s strategic objective to build age-friendly, affordable housing in great locations for Adelaide’s growing retirement market.
Designed for the future The units have been designed by Studio Nine architects after extensive market research into the needs and aspirations of potential residents. They will have an energy rating of more than six-stars which will be achieved through energy efficient appliances, the inclusion of solar panels and solar hot water systems, and a rainwater recycling system on site. The selection of building materials and orientation of units will maximise light, ventilation, heating and cooling. Oakden Estate units have also been designed to meet the Federal Government’s Livable Housing Design Guidelines which were launched last year to promote housing designs that meet the changing needs of occupants across their lifetime by ensuring accessibility. The reasons for the new guidelines were outlined in an article on the Property Council of Australia’s website in December.
Fifteen units will be built by Sarah Constructions on a site of around 6,700 square metres at a cost of $3.2 million.
Left to right: ECH Projects Manager Michael Spehr, Justin Cucchiarelli and Andrew Vorrasi from Studio Nine, ECH Capital Works Manager Jeff Atkinson, and Richard Hough and Mike Sincock from Sarah Constructions.
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Site upgrade schedule
The family home also accounts for 62 percent of all falls and slip-based injuries. Given the overwhelming preference to age in place – in a familiar environment close to friends and relatives – more homes will need to be designed and built with ease of access as a core feature.” In response to the guidelines, new ECH independent living units will be open plan, have bigger garages and main bedrooms, wider doorways and no steps to facilitate ease of movement throughout. For more information, please contact Accommodation Services on 8407 5115 or email iluenq@ech.asn.au.
Below is a list of the sites at which refurbishments are currently underway and also a list of the schedule for the remainder of 2012. Site upgrades recently completed • • • • •
David Court, Underdale David Read Lodge, Lockleys Braested, Parkside McGregor Lodge, Parkside Lewis Court, Clarence Gardens
Site upgrades currently underway • Rotary Village (stage one), Modbury • Wilkinson Court, Victor Harbor • Clarence Gardens Estate, Clarence Gardens • Manson Towers, Glenelg • Moran Court, Fullarton • Norgrove Lodge, Leabrook • Little Adelaide Village, Prospect Site upgrades scheduled for the remainder of 2012 • • • • • • • • • • • •
2012 NOW
The following was reported: “As Australians age they’ll require dwellings that enhance mobility. The number of Australians with a disability will inevitably rise as the population grows and ages. One in five Australians currently has a disability of some type and plenty of us are temporarily incapacitated at some point during our lives.
Mervyn Graham Lodge, Victor Harbor Torrens Court, Evandale Rotary Village (stage two), Modbury Hill Court, Victor Harbor Arch Prime Lodge, Myrtle Bank Bowden Towers, Adelaide Davis Court, Walkerville Arthur Court, Edwardstown Kelvin Grove, Lockleys Arnold Court, Kurralta Park Leonard Court, Collinswood Ernest Court, Woodville North
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Projects Administration Officer on 8159 4700.
WIN! ke d n a d would li n k e i in r f h t a u o Refer e who y g unit at someon ent livin
ow end ut it? If If you kn o an ECH indep em abo t h t in ll e e t v t ning o to m , why no nd up sig e e t a y t e s h E t $200 Oakden me and u with a their na o y s u d r ll a e t you will rew unit we a r o f p u er! g vouch shoppin
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Teamwork in achieving outstanding results in accreditation
Five of ECH’s residential care centres recently underwent rigorous assessments by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. This major round of accreditation visits involved Smithfield, Marten, Ross Robertson Memorial, Carinya and Holly Residential Care Centres. Assessed as meeting all 44 expected outcomes at each site, the Agency identified no issues for consideration or recommendation. “The results have been consistent across all five sites and that does not happen without a concerted team effort, due attention to the complex issues associated with care and service delivery, and a clear vision of the model of care we want to be known for,” Residential Care General Manager Judi Coombe says. “Thank you to all ECH staff who have contributed to this outcome by offering support in maintenance services, human resources, finance, information and communication technology (ICT), risk management and any other issue or area where input was needed,” Judi says. “This organisation-wide effort and commitment to residential care is a reflection of our values and the great team spirit at ECH.” Some of the most notable feedback included high praise for the quality of care provided to residents and for ECH’s robust systems and procedures. Assessors saw countless examples of our Lifestyle Model of Care in action, especially of how care was provided in a way which enabled residents to be involved in making choices. There were also no complaints about food and residents expressed their appreciation of being able to
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collaborate with ECH Food Services on new menu items through feedback sessions involving taste testing. “To the staff of all five sites, you can be very proud of what you have achieved,” Judi says. “This is the result of a consistent and determined effort every day over the three year accreditation period to ensure we maintain high standards of care and services to our residents.”
What does accreditation involve? Aged care facilities receiving Commonwealth funding are required to meet certain standards of governance, staffing, health and personal care, lifestyle and living environment. There are four standards which are further segmented into 44 categories, referred to as ‘expected outcomes’. Accreditation visits involve reviews of procedures and documentation, observations of staff in action, and interviews with staff, residents, visitors and volunteers. For more information on this, please visit the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency website www.accreditation.org.au.
Introducing
ECH is pleased to introduce an exciting new service initiative called askECH. is an information service that will be available from July 2012 to those people on the independent living unit and residential care registration lists, community services clients who receive care services in their own home or visit our therapy service centres or day programs, and their families. Similar to the existing service provided exclusively to our independent living unit residents by Independent Living Services, askECH will be a flexible, responsive service that offers a free consultation to assist clients to understand and navigate the aged care industry. will provide information in an easy to understand way which considers each client’s individual circumstances and supplies an action plan with achievable goals. After the initial consultation, clients wishing to engage the services of askECH to assist them further can do so and a fee will apply.
Background The fragmentation of the aged care service system and the associated navigation difficulties for older people and their families is well documented. ECH conducted extensive market research and discovered that, beyond government funded services, there are many questions that confront older people and their loved ones. These questions range from how to access reliable financial advice through to where to find assistance with housing modifications and repairs or with improving and maintaining health and wellbeing. Our research revealed the following: • The wide range of products and services available is confusing and overwhelming. • Older people and their families do not know where to start in assessing their own needs and many lack the time, ability, energy or motivation to make a full assessment. • Many would like more information and guidance but do not know who to ask. • Even after there has been a clear identification of a specific unmet need, the process of registering, applying for or selecting a suitable product or service can be daunting and difficult. Many people would benefit from support and advocacy during this process. is being established to assist clients with these issues. As well as being a valuable service for older people and their families, this new initiative will provide market research for future service development within ECH and advocacy in relation to policy development for aged services generally. We will be providing further details about the service through direct promotion to the groups listed above and in our next edition of ECHo!
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Active lifestyles in residential care In ECH residential care centres our dedication to our Lifestyle Model of Care ensures we are flexible in our care delivery, allowing for individual preferences around daily activities to be met as often as possible. This extends to our lifestyle activities programs where staff are constantly evaluating the activities that are offered and responding to input and suggestions from residents.
Julie Joh
nson, Ra
ul Valenz uela Torr es, and Vivie nne Ayle s
Exercise classe s
Each residential care site devises its own schedule of outings, events and activities based on the individual and communal interests of residents. Our trained lifestyle teams are highly creative, working with care staff to ensure residents remain a part of the community and continue to enjoy their favoured activities or are given the opportunity to explore new interests and keep up with technological and social trends. While many residents are able to come and go from the care centres as they wish, some residents have complex health issues which make it difficult for them to remain engaged in their family or community life without assistance. ECH endeavours to be flexible and supportive wherever possible to be able to assist all residents to enjoy active and engaged lifestyles, especially at an individual level.
Chair-based exercise classes are run twice a week for residents at Walkerville Residential Care Centre. Qualified personal trainer Raul, who is very popular with the residents, runs the classes which involve a series of gentle exercises and games designed to increase mobility and maintain wellbeing.
her
Linda Fletc
Elaine Mann
Mobile pancake trolley Every Tuesday afternoon, Linda and Elaine serve up freshly made pancakes to residents in the three high care areas of Marten Residential Care Centre. Topped with banana, honey and cream, the pancakes are stacked onto a trolley and delivered to residents in ‘room service’ style. Starting as a one-off event, it has developed into one of the most popular activities at the care centre.
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Skype and co mputer trolley Julie Johnso
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Val Co x Rosie Osborne
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wedding ’s n o s d n ra g is h s d n Bill atte Bill and his wife Irene both live at Smithfield Residential Care Centre. Their grandson’s wedding was coming up and it was very important to the family that both Bill and Irene were there to celebrate with them. However, Bill has dementia and being able to enjoy a night out isn’t as simple for him as finding something to wear and arranging transport. Bill’s family approached Kelly Geister, Residential Site Manager, to see what could be done to help him attend the wedding. In the lead up to the event, staff worked as a team to prepare Bill physically and psychologically. Staff rosters were rearranged to allow for Susan, a personal carer, to help Bill prepare for the wedding, support him for the duration of the event and then settle him back home again. At centre) Bill (seated the ceremony, Bill was able to share a moment with his grandson who was delighted his grandfather could attend and get such enjoyment from the special family occasion. “Without your help the memories we have would not have been possible,” Bill’s daughter Anne says. “You are a very special group of people.”
beach e h t t a s ip h c Fish and
Walkerville idents from s njoy re f o p u a gro rgs Bay to e , a y L a d to n n m w o tu au by bus d troll On a sunny a leisurely s tre travelled n k e o C to y re a e C th l er lunch, To view Residentia the sea. Aft ry seagulls. y g b n u s h ip e h c m o d fish an to feed s 22-23. th, stopping a p e th see pages n e w s a do le p , g this outin photos from
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Words and world travel: the life adventures of Helen Caterer MBE
A watercolour painting of Harrietville, Victoria, by Helen.
When Helen Caterer was twelve years old, she entered a competition in the paper to write about a recent film. “I won a prize of one guinea,” Helen remembers. “I was always writing.” Her passion and talent for words and communicating has stayed with her throughout her life, allowing her to have many amazing experiences. Born in 1914 in Adelaide, Helen was the last of three children, her sister and brother both several years older than her. “I think I must’ve been a bit of a surprise,” Helen says. Receiving her education at East Adelaide Primary School and Norwood High School, she studied at the local business college before she began work as a stenographer at the Savings Bank. “I would’ve liked to have gone to university but we didn’t have the money,” Helen says. “I always wanted to write but it was very difficult to get a position.” “Then the war came,” she remembers. Helen joined the local Voluntary Aid Detachment to assist the war effort. She wasn’t allowed to enlist at this time because her employer was already paying full wages to its male workers who had joined the armed forces. Later, in 1944, Helen enlisted in the Australian Army Women’s Medical Service and thrived on the experience. “It threw you together with women from all strata of society,” Helen says. She worked on the wards at the Bonegilla camp in Victoria before being transferred to Heidelberg Military Hospital where she worked for the Australian Army Education Service as a librarian providing resources to servicemen who were doing correspondence courses. Helen also studied via correspondence, completing journalism courses. The Savings Bank kept Helen’s job open for her during her time interstate and even paid her wages. By the 1950s, Helen had been an employee at the bank for 20 years and was
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eligible for long service leave. Helen says what she received would be considered a fairytale these days. “If you had worked for the bank for ten years, then you got six months long service leave,” Helen explains. “I had been there for 20 years, so I got 12 months.” Helen took off overseas for twelve months with five other girls (pictured above), working in England for half of the time and then touring the rest of Europe for the remaining six months. Also planning to do some backpacking with two of her companions, Helen was left stranded when they had to return home suddenly. “I met up with a Canadian girl who was in the same situation and we hitchhiked our way around Europe,” Helen says. Visiting many places, Helen found people to be very generous, offering transport and opening their homes. During her 12 months away, Helen took the opportunity to write about her experiences, even submitting an article for BBC Radio News. Returning home, Helen found she needed a change of occupation. “I came back to the bank after all I’d done and found it to be very limiting,” Helen says. Using her recent experiences, she began submitting pieces for the Saturday Advertiser’s travel column and also worked freelance for an interstate magazine. Leaving the bank to work for a publishing firm, she thought the experience would be interesting. “It turned out that it wasn’t, as I was the
secretary to the manager and it was very dull,” Helen says. The Advertiser then decided to start a Sunday paper and Helen managed to secure a position there in 1953. Without enough interest for two Sunday papers, they merged with The Mail and the Sunday Mail was created. Working for the paper for 27 years, Helen had some incredible experiences. “That was the most fulfilling time in my life,” she says. Her earlier years with the paper were during a time when rates of divorce and desertion had skyrocketed. Poverty was common for abandoned women. The Sunday Mail initiated the Blanket Appeal to assist these women and their children, and Helen became very involved, even starting up the Supporting Mothers Association in 1957. For her work with these projects, Helen was recognised as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1964. Some of the journalists would get together on weekends for picnics. On one occasion, a young man who nobody knew came along. “I ended up in the car with him,” Helen says. “He drove very fast!” It turned out to be Rupert Murdoch who had come over to run the paper. Helen says Rupert is one of two most important people she has met during her lifetime. The other was Billy Graham, who she met and interviewed in Berlin at a world congress on evangelism in 1966. Always having attended church, Helen’s Christian faith has been an important part of her life. She describes this trip as “one of the real highlights” of her adventures. “It was most inspiring and really made a difference in my life,” Helen says. Continually travelling for work and pleasure through the 1960s and 70s, Helen went on a further five overseas trips, visiting places such as Japan, the United States, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand. In 1966, she was returning from Europe and wanted to come back through Jordan. It was during a time when Jordan was having a ‘year of tourism’. When authorities heard that a journalist was coming to visit, they spared no expense to show her what their country offered. It was also during this year that Helen’s first book was published. About missionary work, the book was entitled ‘Foreigner in Kweilin’.
about whatever she wanted. In 1974, Helen was due to retire but was far from ready to stop working. “Women had to retire at 60, but the paper let me stay on writing my column and doing the Blanket Appeal for another five years,” she says. In 1979, a tour company asked Helen to be an escort for a trip to Europe and she took up this challenge. In 1980, Helen moved into an ECH independent living unit at Knightsbridge, Myrtle Bank, but didn’t slow down. She continued writing and also further explored her other childhood passion of art, which she had re-ignited with classes in the 1970s. “When I was a kid, I was always sketching,” Helen says. With less space in her unit, she began to paint small watercolours for cards (see image below). Retirement didn’t stop Helen from continuing her busy, adventurous life, nor did it stop her from writing. It was during 1980 that Helen wrote her second book entitled ‘Australians Outback: 60 years of the Bush Church Aid Society’. Her third book, an autobiography, followed in 1990 and was called ‘People, Places and Blankets Galore’. Helen continued to travel, returning to England for another holiday after corresponding with a cousin she had recently discovered. She also assisted in setting up the Burnside Ladies’ Probus Club, and was their inaugural president. “You can keep on living,” Helen says. “You don’t have to stop enjoying all the things you love about life.” Long life is not uncommon in Helen’s family. “It’s in the genes,” she says. Recently celebrating her 98th birthday, Helen remains as active as she can, despite her declining eyesight and hearing loss. She is still a member of the Burnside Ladies’ Probus Club, attends a low vision group and enjoys local council events and visits with friends. Helen is very grateful for the assistance she receives from two home support workers, who help her around the house and with shopping, enabling her to stay in her beloved unit. Helen never married but feels extremely fortunate with the life she has led and the amazing experiences she has had. “I’ve had a very full life,” Helen says.
Later on, Helen was given her own personal column in the paper and was allowed to write
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Focus on Therapy Services Dietitians: assisting older people to maintain their wellbeing by ensuring their dietary needs are being adequately met. Kacie Dickinson knew early on which direction she wanted her career to take. “I was always interested in getting into the healthcare industry,” Kacie says. After observing health professionals at local hospitals for work experience, she got a taste for what was involved and this further encouraged her. Choosing a specialty was easy for Kacie because there was one which combined her passion for food and cooking: dietetics. “A dietitian is a university qualified health professional specialising in dietary assessment, therapy and education for individuals and groups for the prevention or management of a variety of health conditions,” Kacie says. Her work involves assessing people’s diets and counselling and educating them about dietary changes to help manage their health conditions or to prevent health conditions from developing. Dietetics is a very diverse field of healthcare. Kacie also works with people who have had surgery affecting their ability to get the right nutrition and with people who require texture modified diets so they can still eat the food they would normally enjoy. Furthermore, dietitians provide advice to the food service industry for healthcare. “This can involve looking at whether meals and menus offered to groups are, on average, sufficient to meet their nutritional requirements,” Kacie says. Dietetics also extends to the areas of sports nutrition, public health promotion and research, and dietitians can be employed and/or work for themselves in private practice.
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Kacie is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian. This means that she is recognised by the Dietitians Association of Australia as meeting professional development standards and a code of ethical practice. Initially studying for four years to attain a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kacie also completed an honours course and remains active in research. She is currently researching whether modifying people’s salt intake can impact on their cardiovascular disease risk. After finishing her initial degree, Kacie worked in Pt Augusta for six months as the only dietitian at the local hospital. “It was a really exciting job for me,” Kacie says. While she encountered many interesting cases at the hospital, she was also involved in providing outpatient clinics with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in remote communities such as Oodnadatta and Leigh Creek. “I really enjoy being able to assist people with making changes, big or small, to help with better management of health problems or to prevent them from happening,” Kacie says. “I also like being able to reassure people that they can still enjoy a healthy diet and that it’s never too late to make changes that can often improve quality of life.” Kacie is very active in her chosen field. Apart from her PhD studies, Kacie works across two ECH Therapy Services, Greenacres and Western, and is involved with the local committee of the Dietitians Association of Australia, helping to organise continuing professional development (CPD) events and supporting local dietitians. She has even had her research published in scientific journals and has presented it in Australia and overseas.
Enhancing your health and wellbeing ECH Therapy Services has a range of allied health services and group education and fitness programs for older people to enhance their health and wellbeing. Allied health services offered include: • • • • • •
physiotherapy occupational therapy podiatry speech pathology dietetics exercise physiology
ECH can help older people manage a range of health conditions or achieve their wellbeing goals through services including but not limited to:
Older people can access dietetic services through ECH Therapy Services at our Greenacres or Henley Beach locations. Self-referral is accepted, however, to access services under Medicare a GP referral is required.
• • • • •
general health and fitness classes falls prevention continence management water therapy chronic conditions self management
Whether you have a health condition you would like to better manage or you simply wish to increase your mobility and fitness, ECH Therapy Services can tailor a program to meet your individual needs.
For more information, please contact Greenacres Therapy Service on 8369 3393 or Western Therapy Service on 8356 3169.
For more information, contact your nearest ECH Therapy Services location: Greenacres 1/1 Rellum Road Ph: 8369 3393
Morphett Vale 126 Pimpala Road Ph: 8322 5700
Henley Beach 168a Cudmore Terrace Ph: 8356 3169
Victor Harbor 33 Cornhill Road Ph: 8551 0617
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Smithy’s Place celebrates first birthday Our newest day program, Smithy’s Place, celebrated its very first birthday on 8th February 2012. Day program participants, along with their families, joined staff and volunteers in commemorating the occasion with a luncheon. Everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and participant Ruby Dawe, who has the longest affiliation with the program, cut the cake.
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They reminisced about the year that had been and all the things they had achieved together. Some of their most memorable highlights include: • winning two first prizes for craft work at the Gawler Show • finding pink fish for their aquarium • completing difficult 3D puzzles of the London Bridge and Taj Mahal
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• setting up the garden and outdoor area • hosting a visit by the Central Districts Football Club • enjoying live performances from visiting musicians • Daytripper outings to see a collection of 5,000 souvenir spoons, the Adelaide Gaol and a primary school choir competition at the Festival Theatre If you would like to know more about Smithy’s Place, please call 8254 2992.
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1. Activity Assistant Sue Bland with Ruby Dawe 2. Ruby Dawe with Cecil Davies 3. Ann Brown with Norma Starr 4. Ruth Barlow (far right) with son Ken and daughter-in-law Georgie 5. Smithy’s Place staff team 6. Bill Veraart with Team Leader Susan Kath
Love stories Separated by the war soon after they were married, Bernard and Millicent Rose only had 20 days together in the first four and a half years of their married life. Now they are celebrating a milestone that many do not achieve: their 70th wedding anniversary. Bernard and Millicent initially met when they were 12 years old at a holiday farm for children. As teenagers, they started going out as a couple just after World War II began. In 1940, a bomb destroyed Bernard’s home. Bernard and his father were taken in by Millicent’s family. Bernard joined the Royal Air Force when he turned 18 and was trained as an aircraft electrician. Millicent began volunteering with the Manchester Fire Service, assisting with clerical duties. Wanting to get married, they complied with Millicent’s mother’s one condition, which was that they wait until they were both 19. So the day after Bernard turned 19, they were married. Twice! They couldn’t be sure of when Bernard would be given leave, which made it difficult to book a church. So they arranged to get married at the registry office and planned to hold a church service for family at a later date. Luckily, they found a minister who offered to marry them whenever they were ready so the church service was held that same afternoon. “We only had two days together before I had to go back,” Bernard says. They had a quick holiday at Mobberley and didn’t have a honeymoon until six months later. Whenever Bernard had a weekend off, they would spend it together, often having interesting adventures. One time, they couldn’t find accommodation and stayed at the local police station in a cell. On another weekend, they were asked for directions at a deserted train station by an American officer. “It turned out to be Clark Gable,” Bernard says. Bernard was then transferred to India and wasn’t able to return until 1946 due to a lack of shipping.
Bernard and Millicent R ose
While Bernard was away, Millicent attempted to secure rented housing. She had terrible trouble as housing was scarce. Millicent ventured out to Stockport where she met with an agent about a house. The keys were on the table and Millicent placed her hand over them. The agent told her the house was spoken for. “Ah, but I’ve got the keys!” Millicent remembers replying. Securing the property, Millicent began setting up their home and Bernard returned in August of 1946. Looking for greener pastures, they decided to move to Canada. Not fans of the climate there, they only stayed two years before moving to New Zealand. After five years, they travelled to England for a holiday, fully intending to return to New Zealand. “We couldn’t get a ship back,” Bernard says. “Everyone was travelling to Australia.” So they moved to Australia, only intending to stay for the required two years on the House Purchase Scheme. Their plans to leave were changed when Millicent fell pregnant with their firstborn Steven and they decided to stay. Two years later, their daughter Helen came along. Now they are settled in their ECH unit at Branston Court where they have been for six years. They celebrated their anniversary with a family outing as well as an afternoon tea with their neighbours.
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Love stories
When Bob was a teenager his health was so poor that doctors told him he wouldn’t live past the age of 15. Living out in the Nullarbor, Bob was transferred to Adelaide for medical care, suffering from pneumonia, measles and rheumatic fever. Now 83, Bob has certainly proved the medical experts wrong, celebrating many more milestones than ever expected. At the age of 23, Bob was working for a canister maker at Albert Park when 17 year old Shirley was offered a job at the same place. Hitting it off instantly, they went out a few times before Bob proposed only six weeks after they’d met. On 19th April 1952, they were married at the Port Adelaide Presbyterian Church and they honeymooned on Kangaroo Island. Marrying in a leap year, they set a precedent for future important dates, which all seemed to occur four years apart. In 1956, they had their first child and their second came along in 1960. This has grown to include five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
k Bob and Shirley Tras
Some of their best memories come from their travels together. Avid caravan adventurers, they travelled around Australia three times, with their longest trip lasting ten months. With treasured memories from every day they were away, they met many people and made many friends. On one particular night, they were rudely awoken when their caravan started to rock. Thinking someone was trying to steal their car, Bob jumped out of bed and raced outside to find a cow scratching itself on the caravan. Exmouth was their favourite of all the places they visited because of the fishing opportunities. They would go out waist deep into the water to fish. However, after being circled by a shark at one point, Shirley began fishing closer to the shore.
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Living in the same house at Largs Bay for 52 years, they moved to ECH’s Baker Court in 2003 where they formed close friendships and have enjoyed many social outings with their neighbours. Always an active couple, they were also involved in many volunteering roles. Shirley was even a volunteer at ECH’s Marten Residential Care Centre for 11 years. Always doing things together was their secret to a lasting marriage. They were to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year but sadly Shirley passed away on 28th February 2012, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2011. Before she passed away, Shirley expressed a wish to publicly thank her neighbours and friends for their support and friendship.
Celebrating two special anniversaries – 70 years since the Darwin air raids and 65 years of marriage. When 19 year old Kevin Beer looked up and saw the Japanese planes flying over Darwin on 19th February 1942 he thought, “That’s good, the ‘Yanks’ have come”. Then it got chaotic as the explosions began. “It was all over in about an hour but there were soldiers running around giving everyone five bullets each to defend themselves!” Kevin says. “A lot of the boys I was with had come from the city and didn’t have that much life experience, but I’d been working in the country since I was 14, so I was in charge of our group and was given a bit more ammunition. Fortunately there were no injuries in our lot, although one chap had only just left the post office before it was bombed – he was very lucky,” Kevin recalls. “The ships in the port were the main target and there were a lot of people killed or injured.”
Asked if it was hard having to wait six years for Kevin to come home, Mary replied, “We were brought up having to be patient. We lived through the Depression and the war. It was just how life was.” The Beers had three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and enjoyed 57 years in their home and community at Ascot Park before moving into their ECH independent living unit at St Peters which they agree was a “great decision”. Mary has always been a keen gardener and Kevin was Greens Manager at the Ascot Park bowling club for nine years, so they’re especially pleased that the gardens are well maintained and they enjoy sitting on their front porch which looks over the central garden.
Kevin had been in Darwin since November 1941 and was established in the Winnellie Camp at the time of the Japanese air raids. Darwin and its nearby airfields were raided about 60 more times. “Many of the raids were at night, but we just carried on,” Kevin says. “Every time a siren went we sought shelter quick smart.” “When the war ended, married personnel received two points per month of service and singles only one point per month, so the singles were left to clean up,” Kevin remembers. The more points a serviceman had the sooner he was allowed to go home. “I applied for an occupational release so that I could take care of the harvest for a sick friend in my local district back home. I managed that for another 12 months before marrying Mary.”
Kevin and Mary B eer
Kevin had met Mary at country dances before he was called up for military service when he was 19. Even though they’d kept in contact by mail and had caught up on the two occasions that Kevin had leave, they had to wait until January 1947 before they could get married. So 2012 already holds much significance for the Beers who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on 4th January and attended a service at the Repatriation General Hospital on 19th February to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin.
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Love stories
First meeting in 1956 when they were working for the same builder’s merchant, 16 year old Edith decided to call things off after only one date with 21 year old Ron.
“I took her out on the Monday and on the Tuesday she said she wanted to finish with me,” Ron recalls. After returning from a brief holiday with her parents, Edith decided to give Ron another chance and asked him to meet her under the Cooperative Hall clock. He did as Edith requested and now they are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Becoming engaged in 1960, they were married on 3rd February 1962 at All Saints Parish Church in Newton Heath, Manchester. They remember it being a cold, wet day with Edith arriving to the church late. This was a planned late arrival because Edith’s driver said it was tradition for the bride to be late. They didn’t have time for a honeymoon. “We had bought a house and were too busy settling in,” Ron says. With two young sons in tow, Ron and Edith came out to Australia to live in 1969. “I wanted a better life for our children,” Ron says. Travelling with another family, they landed at Adelaide Airport on a rainy day and were transferred to a hostel in Smithfield. Not realising there were several locations for settling, their companions were sent to Glenelg and it took Ron and Edith two weeks to get a transfer to the same hostel. They were allocated a property to rent, and Ron remembers the landlady being concerned that the $15 per week she was charging was too much. Their third son came along in 1970 and, after renting, Ron and Edith bought a house in Morphettville.
Ron and Edith Hope
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Ron loved Australia from the minute he set foot here, but it took Edith a little longer to warm to living so far from home. Ron remembers that, compared to England, their new home was more open and the cost of living was much more affordable. One time he stopped at a fresh fruit and vegetable store that was having a ‘one cent sale’. He filled the back of his station wagon with produce for only ten cents. Ron and Edith both worked, with Ron spending 19 years as a correspondence supervisor for Mutual Community and Edith working for Flinders Hospital as a cleaner, where she referred to her position as ‘scrubologist’. She also worked part time for Avon. In 1989, Edith was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and, at the same time, Ron was retrenched from his job. So in 1991 they decided to go on a 14 week holiday back to England, including a 17 day tour around Europe and a side trip to Spain. After they returned, Ron cared for Edith at home right up until 2002. Ron has been amazed by Edith’s positivity, saying she thought herself lucky when considering the ailments that other people were dealing with. “She’s the bravest women I’ve ever known,” Ron says. Edith went to live at ECH’s Carinya Residential Care Centre in 2002 and was transferred to Bellevue Residential Care Centre to be closer to Ron. Soon after, Bellevue was closed and Edith moved into the newly built Holly Residential Care Centre. Ron has been a volunteer with ECH since 2002. He now volunteers at Holly, running bingo, rap ball and skittles games, quizzes, film afternoons and also provides companionship for residents. Ron and Edith celebrated their anniversary with family and friends in the hall at Holly. They say a lasting marriage needs love and trust, and also involves caring for each other and a sense of humour.
Perseverance, passion and positivity: the keys to success Three years ago, Veronica Aguilera was facing homelessness when a marriage breakup left her and her young son with almost nothing. “Everything went downhill,” Veronica says. With no home and no experience with managing finances, Veronica and her son were taken in by her parents. Instead of giving up and seeing her situation as permanent, Veronica was determined to turn her life around. “I thought about my son,” Veronica says. “I thought, he is here and he needs me. I will do everything for him, no matter what.” While Veronica was extremely grateful to her loving family for their support, she wanted to make a life for herself. “I wanted to become something for my son,” Veronica says. “That pulled me up to continue.” A friend told Veronica about the assistance she could access through UnitingCare Wesley Bowden and this was a vital turning point for her. Through this organisation Veronica was able to access affordable rental housing and received financial support and counselling so she could begin her journey towards independence. She learnt how to budget and how to live on very little money. “I ended up with nothing and had to build everything from scratch,” Veronica says. It was around the same time that Veronica discovered she had a passion for working with people and she made a career change from dental assistant to community carer, working across several sectors. “I decided I needed to continue my journey along this path,” Veronica says.
Despite having to manage work and look after her son, Veronica took up full time studies in enrolled nursing. Looking through the job advertisements online as she was nearing the end of her course, Veronica responded to ECH’s call for carers at Smithfield Residential Care Centre and secured a casual and on-call position. “I was so excited to be offered a job at ECH,” Veronica recalls. Now she couldn’t imagine not working at Smithfield Residential Care Centre, viewing her colleagues and the residents as part of her family. “I go home happy every day and come back to work happy,” Veronica says. “I’m really passionate about my job.” On 14th March 2012, Veronica received the news that her enrolled nursing registration had come through. Another achievement to add to her list, Veronica hopes to begin working as an enrolled nurse for ECH with plans to study for registered nursing qualifications in the future. With her life back on track, Veronica wants to share her story to inspire others. “If you want to succeed in something, you have to put all your energy into it and think positively,” Veronica says. She also says not to look back and to set achievable goals so you don’t create a sense of impossibility for yourself. “Don’t give up. Life has ups and downs,” Veronica says. “When everything goes downhill, there is always a door for you to walk through.”
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Seagulls, sand and salty sea air
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Stepping out for health Audrey Weigh has danced all over the world. Starting lessons at the age of three, she has continued her passion for dancing throughout her life. “I started off as a classical dancer,” Audrey says. “Then I got the travel bug and, as I went around, I picked up folk Audrey W dancing.” Involving a eigh wide range of dances, folk dancing varies greatly from culture to culture and is a reflection of traditions and customs. Originally from England, Audrey joined the police force after she left school. “Even while I was working with the police force, I was still dancing,” Audrey says. “It kept me fit.” She began travelling five years later, her adventures including setting up a women’s police force in the Bahamas. Audrey first visited Australia in 1960 and became a permanent resident in 1969. Here she taught at regional schools near Uluru and at Woomera. She has now settled in an independent living unit at ECH’s Burnard Court in Collinswood.
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Having lived a very active and adventurous working life, Audrey has carried her commitment to dancing through to her retirement. For five years now, Audrey has been leading a folk dancing class at the North Adelaide Community Centre. She also assists with another class run at the Glenelg Community Centre. Audrey says that folk dancing is a great way for older people to improve their wellbeing. New research is finding that folk dancing improves general health, balance and memory. Folk dancing is a fun, social way to keep fit and active and you don’t need a partner. Many of the dance steps are easy to learn and are not high impact. Audrey breaks down the steps to every dance and can modify them for people who have health problems which limit their movement. Classes are held weekly in both locations. For more information, please contact Audrey Weigh on 8269 4948.
Healing in water therapy Aurelio Scarabotti was standing at the bow of the Italian naval escort ship Procelaria when it collided with a mine off the coast of Algeria. The resulting explosion caused the ship to break apart and Aurelio was forced to jump overboard. It was the early 1940s and Aurelio was serving as an artillery canon operator with the Italian Navy. Previously stationed on a battleship, he was transferred just before it was destroyed during warfare, killing most of its crew of 4,000. Managing to escape from the Procelaria with his life, Aurelio was left to stay afloat in the ocean for half an hour before being rescued. The shock of this stayed with Aurelio, and he never went swimming for the next sixty years. In 2011, Aurelio overcame his aversion to water when he joined ECH Greenacres Therapy Service’s water therapy class with his wife Elena. A completely opposite experience to his wartime days, Aurelio thoroughly enjoys the time spent in the warm, calm pool water and finds that the gentle exercise loosens his muscles, enabling him to walk more easily. Elena says that, after water therapy, her husband has more of a spring in his step, finding the walk back to the car not so difficult. Elena also finds benefits in water therapy, saying she can feel the difference it makes. Having completed their first ten week term of classes, they are so happy with the results of the water therapy that they are Rhonda Naismith and Mary Goodliffe continuing for a second round. feeding a lazy kangaroo
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Resident maintenance fees: what do they cover? Do you know someone who
prefers their ECH publications in large print or on audio CD?
This can be arranged as the Royal Society for the Blind kindly translates our publications into your preferred format. For a copy contact: Publications Coordinator ECH Inc Reply Paid 83158 Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 8407 5160 Email: publications@ech.asn.au
Residents in ECH independent living units pay a weekly maintenance fee. This fee covers a range of expenses including: • utilities such as council rates, water rates and building insurance • repairs and maintenance (including general repairs to fixtures and fittings, grounds maintenance, preventative maintenance and building repairs) • salaries, wages and associated administrative costs
Profile 2010/11
ECHo! E No. 144
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• operating costs of vehicles, equipment and the maintenance depot • provision to the Maintenance Reserve Fund If you have any questions about maintenance fees, please contact ECH Accommodation Services on 8407 5115.
Want to be on the ECH mailing list? it
Please no te that the old Mainte Services p nance hone num ber is no diverted. longer be ing
To contac t Mainten ance Ser please ca vices, ll 8159 47 00.
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residents
Independent Living Units Community Services Residential Care
If you would like to be added to the ECH mailing list please contact: Publications Coordinator ECH Inc Reply Paid 83158 Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 8407 5160 Email: publications@ech.asn.au
Living Well in the north Ray and Helen Roe have always led active, social lifestyles. Ray enjoyed a busy working life, travelling the world and holding positions of authority in the community through his union and council roles. He has been a Justice of the Peace for 40 years and is also a retired marriage celebrant. Helen has led an equally active life, always having worked full time, while raising three children and also caring for three of her family members. Helen and Ray got together later in life and continued with this theme, becoming involved in a local Probus club. Ray also became a keen lawn bowler, and was elected chairman and president of the club. “After having worked a very strenuous type of employment, when I retired I found it difficult,” Ray says. Playing lawn bowls made it easier for Ray, but when his health went downhill, he was unable to continue playing. Both unsure where to go from this point and unable to manage everything on their own, Helen started looking for support from local services. It was through her enquiries and the resulting visits from support agencies that Helen and Ray came to meet Ashling O’Boyle, coordinator of ECH’s Northern Living Well Program. Ashling met with Ray and Helen to discuss what options there were for them to get back to being involved in the community. “She came up with some really good ideas,” Helen says.
“She encouraged us to try other things, to think outside the box, instead of just sitting looking at each other.” Ashling put them in touch with the Jack Young Centre, a local hive of community activities, assisting Ray to reconnect with the social aspects of life he had been missing. “When Ashling showed me around, I saw how friendly everyone was and I thought I’ll give this a try,” Ray says. Ray is now involved in carpet bowls, and both Helen and Ray spend every Friday at the centre. Helen is part of a genealogy group which meets at the centre, where she has been encouraged to continue her mother’s passion for family history. “It has resurrected the potential I could achieve,” Helen says. Helen now also attends computing lessons, and both she and Ray are beginning to get involved with group outings which the centre organises. All of this is bringing them back to the active lifestyle they enjoy. “We’re really enjoying the company,” Ray says. “It broadens our lives.” They both speak highly of Ashling, saying she provided for their needs in a creative way, but also with genuine care. “She was honest and sincere,” Helen says. “You really get the sense that she cared about what happened to you.” Ray also appreciated that she treated them with respect. “She looked at you and spoke to you,” Ray says. “I found her to be a woman that I could trust immediately.”
“The best thing I ever did was get involved,” Ray says. “When you get older, you go for a quality life, and this program gave me that added quality.”
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Murray and Elinor Watts first met at the Alberton picture theatre, where they used to enjoy nights out with friends. “I thought she was really good looking and we both had the same interests,” Murray recalls. Murray was 18 at the time and Elinor was 16. Four years later, in 1951, they were married at Alberton East Baptist Church. Having twin daughters and a son together, some of Murray and Elinor’s best memories are of when their children were young and they enjoyed a family vacation at Port Elliot each year during the school holidays. They now have five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Murray and Elinor
Murray and Elinor say that a lasting marriage is built on being able to “give and take” and also on being respectful of each other. Elinor now resides at Marten Residential Care Centre. Murray comes to visit each day and they always wander down to the kiosk. “A milkshake in the summer and a coffee in the winter,” Murray says.
Valentine’s Day
Ivan and Freda
Marten Residential Care Centre celebrated Valentine’s Day by arranging a couples’ lunch for residents and their partners. Below, four of the couples who attended share the story of how they met and other memorable moments from their lives together.
Ivan and Freda Lohmeyer used to attend weekly church youth meetings together and became very close. “We were the best of friends,” Freda says. At one point, Freda left to go on holidays for several weeks and Ivan recalls feeling downright terrible. “I didn’t know what was happening to me,” Ivan said. “Then I realised that I loved her!”
“See, I couldn’t resist her,” Ivan says, when showing their wedding portrait. They were married on 20th December 1954 when Freda was 21 and Ivan was 24. “It rained,” Freda recalls. “And it was stinking hot too,” Ivan adds. They didn’t own a car, so with their luggage they caught a train from the church to Bridgewater for their honeymoon. They had to walk from the station to the house that they had been loaned. They had five children together, and Ivan remembers switching jobs for more conventional working hours so that he could help with the children. “Home life was more important,” Ivan says. They now live at Marten Residential Care Centre, after they both suffered from separate health issues at the same time and ended up in hospital. Every day, Freda can be seen wearing a beloved string of pearls given to her by Ivan on their 60th wedding anniversary.
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With a passion for dancing, it was no surprise that Edward and Nancy Hall met at a dance hall in Hackney in 1944. Nancy was due to leave the next day on a trip and Edward thought she might not come back. However, he was relieved to receive a card from her while she was away and they got together when she returned. Avid dancers, they would go dancing four times a week. “Every minute we had we’d go dancing,” Edward says. They were married on 15th June 1946 at the Pirie Street Methodist Church, during a time when weddings were “happening every half an hour”. Edward and Nancy both agree on what has been the best part of their life together so far. “Having children,” Edward says. “You’ve got it right there,” Nancy agrees. They had two daughters and a son, and now have five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Edward and Nancy
Edward is originally from Hiltonia and Nancy is from Largs Bay. They have lived all over, from Tickera to Allenby Gardens, and also travelled the world for eight months after they were semi-retired. Edward now lives at ECH’s Ernest Court and Nancy has returned to her roots, moving to Marten Residential Care Centre at Largs North. “We’ve got a lot in common and we’ve never had an argument,” Nancy says. “We’ve had a good married life. It’s always been a happy marriage.”
is r o D d n a n h o J John and Doris McEwen were friends for many years, but it wasn’t until later in life that they got together as a couple. Originally meeting over 50 years ago, they both worked at the same factory. John got on well with Doris and her husband, and they stayed friends. Then John moved to Broken Hill and they lost contact. Twenty years later, John visited Adelaide and tracked them down. After Doris’ first husband passed away, John and Doris remained friends. When Doris had relatives visiting from England, she took them to see Broken Hill and John showed them around. Doris’ relatives were older and retired early, leaving Doris and John with time to go out dancing together. “That’s how it started,” John says. John moved back to Adelaide to be with Doris and they eventually bought a house together. They starting moving things in on a Monday, were done by Wednesday and were married in the back garden on the weekend. The day was 27th January 1990. They enjoyed many overseas holidays together, travelling every second year. Previously residing at ECH’s Baker Court for nine years, they are now both living at Marten Residential Care Centre.
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Social pages Torrens Court welcomes in 2012 Boxing Day at Merrindie John Nixon at the barbeque.
The Torrens Court Troubadours who stayed up to see in 2012.
Leabrook residents Sheila Robinson, Sylvia Kellett and Helen McFarlane enjoying the group Boxing Day celebration held at Merrindie, an ECH independent retirement living site.
Tucker Lodge reside nts ta
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Some time ago the subject came up with our neighbours Kay and Tony to have a New Year’s Eve get together for the residents here at Torrens Court. Nothing like this has been done in the six years we have been here so we thought what a jolly good idea and decided to give it a go. Saturday 31st December 2011 was an extremely hot 38 degree day and we wondered if anyone would turn up in this heat. At 6pm the first people to brave the heat arrived and others arrived soon after. By the time the sun went down more people had arrived and we fired up the barbeques and started cooking. As the night progressed we had about 25 people turn up and a few even stayed till midnight to see the New Year in. It was a very enjoyable evening and everyone said what a lovely party it was. We hope to do this again and see more people at our next New Year’s Eve party.
Residents from Tucker Lodge enjoyed a bus trip to Chateau Tanunda and Virginia Nursery. They are pictured with volunteer bus driver Alf Boyle (standing).
Barry and Carole Gall, Tony and Kay Martin Torrens Court residents The year 2011 can be considered an eventful year for the small community at Torrens Court, Evandale. We became socially active after a lull of many years. In April, there were two successful bus trips to Beerenberg Farm strawberry fields followed by lunch at the Old Mill Hotel. The first trip saw Alf Boyle at the wheel of the ECH bus. The second trip was captained by Barrie Malpass. Both these drivers are ECH volunteers.
Seascapes of Brighton
Thanks to the initiative of two neighbouring couples, Kay and Tony Martin, and Carole and Barry Gall, New Year’s Eve saw a gathering of more than twenty residents, some of whom stayed the course and saw in the New Year. A fine barbeque was overseen by ‘master chef’ Barry Gall. A very commendable first time effort. Dennis Cripps Torrens Court resident
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ECH resident and amateur photographer David Burgess has been taking some photos around Brighton, capturing some stunning scenes.
Rob Hankins appointed as ACSA President At the ACSA Annual General Meeting held in November 2011, Rob paid tribute to Mr Zimmerman’s contribution to ACSA, saying he had been a champion of the aged care sector and was largely responsible for ACSA now being one of the most respected peak industry organisations in Australia.
ECH Chief Executive Rob Hankins was elected as the new National President of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) in November 2011. Rob has been a board member of the national ACSA group for four years as well as Chairman of Aged and Community Services SA&NT for the last five years. He retired as SA Chairman to take over the national role from Klaus Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer of Eldercare, who served for the preceding four years.
Rob says he is looking forward to further building on this good work in advocating for the aged care industry to ensure Australia has a sustainable system that is able to deliver quality services and care to enrich the lives of our older population. ACSA is the national peak body representing not-for-profit providers of residential and community care, and housing and support for older people, people with a disability and their carers. ACSA is a federation of state associations which provide direct support, advocacy and training for members. Some 700,000 older Australians depend on care and support provided by ACSA members in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote regions across the country.
Australians deserve to age well
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The National Aged Care Alliance prepared the Blueprint for Aged Care Reform report which was recently launched at Parliament House and which can be viewed on the agewell website. It is a well-balanced plan on how Australia should reform aged care for the benefit of all Australians, and particularly older Australians.
Thanks for your support. This reform is very important for you and your families, and for our organisation.
This agewell website is part of the campaign to influence Government to adopt the Blueprint’s recommendations. Please join the campaign and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Rob Hankins ECH Chief Executive
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In my role as the ACSA National President I have been working with the National Aged Care Alliance, a group of 28 national organisations connected to the aged care sector, to drive forward the aged care reform process with the Federal Government.
We need to send a strong message to all parliamentarians (government, opposition and independents) that this May’s Federal Budget is the time to start the reform process. It must not be delayed any further.
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Join the campaign to improve Australia’s aged care system and drive forward the aged care reform process by visiting the agewell website at agewellcampaign.com.au.
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National recognition for invaluable volunteer In December, Walkerville Residential Care Centre volunteer Jean Wright was awarded the Long Term Commitment to Community Service Award as part of the National Volunteer Awards Campaign. These awards were held to mark the tenth anniversary of the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers and to recognise those volunteers who make an outstanding contribution to their local community. Presented by The Hon Kate Ellis MP, the award is recognised by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Minister for Human Services and Social Inclusion Tanya Plibersek. The campaign involved the presentation of ten special awards by Members of Parliament to local volunteers in their electorate who have made an extraordinary contribution to the community.
Each Member of Parliament was encouraged to organise and promote a ceremony to thank local volunteers for their outstanding contribution and to recognise innovative and inspiring approaches to volunteering. Jean Wright started volunteering with ECH at Walkerville Residential Care Centre in February 1987, 25 years ago. She has been involved in many different elements of the care centre including holding the position of President on the care centre’s Auxiliary and working at the White Elephant ‘op’ shop which is open every Thursday morning. Jean also currently volunteers for the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Camp Quality and her local Neighbourhood Watch committee, and in the past has volunteered for St Johns. For many years now Jean has volunteered her time as a make-up artist in both the Credit Union Christmas Pageant and the Norwood Christmas Pageant. We also can’t go without mentioning her husband Derick who has been by Jean’s side over their many years of volunteering. Jean is a truly amazing inspiration and we congratulate her on this extraordinary award. If you have a few hours a week to volunteer, whatever your interests, talents or skills may be, ECH can assist you with a rewarding volunteer experience. For further information, please contact your local ECH residential care centre or Danielle Lewis in Community Relations at the Corporate Office on 8407 5151.
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Walkerville Residential Care Centre
Leadership development program celebrates first graduates ECH has made a significant investment into the development of a comprehensive Leadership Framework for its management staff. Over the last 18 months all ECH senior managers completed a leadership development program tailored to the needs of our organisation and the aged care industry to further enhance their existing skills and qualifications. An additional benefit of the program was the achievement of a Diploma of Management for participants. As senior managers were completing the course last year, ECH’s first line supervisors were beginning a leadership program with a competency framework tailored specifically to their needs.
The first graduates of ECH’s leadership development program received their diplomas during a small ceremony held on 16th February 2012. This group is due to complete their learning, which will include a Certificate IV in Management, later this year. “It is very important to ensure we have high quality and effective leaders to meet the challenges of the rapidly growing aged care sector,” said Risk Management General Manager Mike Blake. “This Leadership Framework is an ongoing investment into the skills development of our staff that will ensure consistency in terms of skills, behaviours, knowledge and attitudes across the organisation as a whole. There is a strong alignment of all learning modules with ECH’s values and each module contains up to date best practice theory and research as well as highly practical content.” To support the program which has been created by Insight International, ECH successfully applied for funding from the Federal Government’s Productivity Places Program.
Top image – (left to right) Cos Lamberto, Hannah Murphy, Wayne Fabbro, Rosanne Collins and Mike Blake (part of the first group to graduate) with ECH Chief Executive Rob Hankins and trainers Michelle Mills and Daryl Pedder. Bottom image – Rob Hankins presents Wayne Fabbro with his diploma.
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The holiday girls Alaine Atkinson and Beth Pritchard have been friends for more than 40 years, meeting through a shared interest in tennis. Now both are residents of ECH independent living units, Alaine at Lewis Court and Beth at Clarence Gardens Estate, and they have found another hobby to share: holidaying. Beginning their travels together after they moved into their units, Alaine and Beth have been away several times. “It’s so easy when you’re living here,” Alaine says. Beth agrees saying, “You just shut the door and go.” Having been to the ECH holiday unit in Ardrossan twice together, they praise the accommodation and the location. “It’s a lovely place to go and have a holiday,” Alaine says. “We’ll likely go back.” Their other source of travelling stems from auction holiday offers, which allows them to get some great deals on accommodation. One of their memorable auction holidays includes a trip to Barmera, which involved sightseeing in neighbouring towns, dining at Banrock Station and relaxing on the Renmark river cruise. Alaine and Beth are spontaneous when it comes to holidaying, often making last minute bookings. “We go whenever we feel like it,” Alaine says. “We don’t like staying home too long.” They both say they’re just enjoying living life while they can and making the most of their time. “We just drop everything and go,” Beth says. However, they acknowledge that it is easy for them to go wherever they please as Alaine has a reliable car and doesn’t mind driving. This is especially handy at Ardrossan where there is no taxi service. They’re both ready for their next trip now but are not making any solid plans. “Something will come up,” Alaine says.
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Beth Pritch
ard and Ala
ine Atkinso
n
ECH provides two well appointed holiday units at Ardrossan and Victor Harbor which are available to independent living unit residents.
2012 Holiday unit booking form
Please complete the form below and return it to: Corporate Office Reception ECH Inc 174 Greenhill Road Parkside SA 5063
Making a booking is as easy as completing the form opposite, cutting it out and returning it to Reception at ECH’s Corporate Office in Parkside. The holiday units at Ardrossan and Victor Harbor are two bedroom, catering for a maximum of four people (one double bed and two singles). A few things to remember: • The holiday booking is for seven nights. • Your week commences on a Thursday with check in after 2pm and check out prior to 10am the following Thursday. • You will receive a phone call upon receipt of your booking request. • You will also receive a confirmation letter one month prior to your holiday with all the relevant information about what you need to take with you.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call us on 8407 5151.
ECH wishes you a happy and enjoyable holiday!
BOOKING FOR
Holiday unit bookings
NAME ADDRESS
PHONE MOBILE
ARDROSSAN Unit 14, 32 Oval Terrace Fee for seven night stay 1 person/per night $20 = $140.00 2 people/per night $30 = $210.00 3 people/per night $45 = $315.00 4 people/per night $60 = $420.00
Note: No taxi service is available, bus service arrives at Ardrossan in the evening.
VICTOR HARBOR Unit 13, 7 Acraman Street Fee for seven night stay 1 person/per night $20 = $140.00 2 people/per night $30 = $210.00 3 people/per night $45 = $315.00 4 people/per night $60 = $420.00 BOOKING PREFERENCES 1. 2.
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Recycle right: some simple steps Using your kerbside recycling bin is a great way to save resources, water and energy. The key to its success is ensuring that only the right items are placed in the recycling bin. Below is a list from Zero Waste SA of the materials that CAN and CANNOT be placed in your recycling bin.
What CAN go in my recycling bin?
What CANNOT go in my recycling bin?
P glass bottles and jars P tins and cans including empty aerosols P milk and juice cartons P paper and envelopes P newspapers, magazines and junk mail P egg cartons and cardboard boxes P empty, dry paint tins P pizza boxes without food scraps
O no food scaps O no plastic bags O no clothing, shoes or fabric O no batteries O no nappies or incontinence pads O no mirrors or light globes O no crockery, oven-proof glass or drinking glasses O no garden waste O no polystyrene foam packaging, meat trays or cups
Tips for recycling right • • • • • •
Give bottles and jars a quick rinse before placing in the recycling bin. Remove lids from bottles, jars and containers. Metal lids can be recycled by placing them in a metal can and squashing the end to ensure they don’t fall out. Plastic lids can be placed in a plastic milk bottle. Place items loose in the recycling bin, not bundled or in a plastic bag. Don’t mix recyclables (eg putting cans in boxes).
Unsure about which bin to use? Zero Waste SA has an online search engine which can provide details specific to your council area. For fact sheets and more information, visit zerowaste.sa.gov.au/recycle-right or call 1300 137 118.
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This article was provided by Zero Waste SA.
Corporate Office Community Relations
174 Greenhill Road Parkside Volunteering - bequests - donations
5063
8407 5151 8407 5151
Independent Retirement Living Accommodation Services Independent Living Services Maintenance Services
8407 5115 8407 5111 8159 4700
Retirement unit enquiries for ILU residents for ILU residents
Community Services Community Programs North/East South Southern Regional West
598 Lower North East Road 433 Goodwood Road 33 Cornhill Road 358 Findon Road
Campbelltown Westbourne Park Victor Harbor Kidman Park
5074 5041 5211 5025
8337 2334 8271 2166 8551 0617 8159 4740
Ross Robertson Day Program Smithy’s Place Southern Day Program Sundowner Plus Walkerville Day Program
19 Cornhill Road 1a Warooka Drive Corner Jade Cres and Hay St 168a Cudmore Terrace 160 Walkerville Terrace
Victor Harbor Smithfield Happy Valley Henley Beach Walkerville
5211 5114 5159 5022 5081
8551 0600 8254 2992 8381 4901 8356 3169 8342 8367
Greenacres Southern Victor Harbor Western
1/1 Corner Rellum and Fosters Rds 126 Pimpala Road 33 Cornhill Road 168a Cudmore Terrace
Greenacres Morphett Vale Victor Harbor Henley Beach
5086 5162 5211 5022
8369 3393 8322 5700 8551 0617 8356 3169
5064 5043 5163 5016 5211 5114 5081 5025
8130 6444 8350 3600 8392 6700 8248 9555 8551 0600 8254 4700 8342 8300 8159 4780
Day Programs
Therapy Services
Residential Care Centres Carinya Charles Young Holly Marten Ross Robertson Memorial Smithfield Walkerville Food Services
39 Fisher Street 53 Austral Terrace 16-24 Penneys Hill Road 110 StrathďŹ eld Terrace 19 Cornhill Road 1 Warooka Drive 160 Walkerville Terrace 358 Findon Road
Myrtle Bank Morphettville Hackham Largs North Victor Harbor Smithfield Walkerville Kidman Park