Woodcote News Woodcote Retirement Village • Summer edition 2018
Antarctic Chills Residents get up and personal with polar conditions
Meet Isobel
Motorcycle show
Menzshed skills
Greetings from Liz... Kia ora everyone, and welcome to the summer edition of Woodcote News. As I reflect on the past year I am extremely proud of the beautiful gardens and the wonderful care and kindness our staff give to our residents. The feedback I receive from residents and their families is overwhelmingly positive. One highlight for us this year was a trip to the Weka Pass Railway. Oktoberfest was a lot of fun, our gardener Gavin looked spectacular in his lederhosen. Also we recently had our own Woodcote performance of The Nutcracker ballet. Congratulations to the winners of our Rose Bowl competition, with a big thank you to Ruth & Maureen our judges.
With our chef Robyn we’re looking forward to a fantastic Christmas dinner on December 20, and then a staff Christmas dinner and dance. In January we’ll host our annual children’s party and picnic. We are also looking forward to a cricket match at Orton Bradley Park in Charteris Bay in February with friends from one of our sister villages Margaret Stoddart. I would like to wish you all happy holidays. Please pop in and see me if you are passing. Kind regards,
Liz Hampton Village Manager
Searching for Charlie It was fantastic to see the village come together to search for Isobel Marsh’s cat, Charlie, earlier in the year. We have a fantastic community and we are really pleased to see Isobel and Charlie reunited. Thank you to everyone who helped with the search. Welcome back Charlie! Claire
Liz Hampton Village Manager Ph: 03 349 8788 Call Liz for general enquiries or for information about resthome care.
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Claire Poulsen Sales Advisor Ph: 03 338 7696 Talk to Claire for information about townhouses or serviced apartments.
Antarctic experience A big day out to visit Christchurch’s International Antarctic Centre enabled residents to experience the big chill. We started with a delicious bowl of hot soup and rolls in the centre café and then began exploring. Some were brave enough to experience winter blizzard conditions with the temperatures hitting minus 15 degrees celsius. Joy Miller, aged 95, was one of the first to put her hand up. But it was ‘no worries’ for us as warm jackets and shoes were provided. Others were keen to have a ride on the Hagglund vehicle. Everyone found it so interesting to hear stories of the great Antarctic explorers Scott and Shackleton. What a great day! Above: Serviced apartment and care residents enjoyed the chilly experience.
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RYMAN E H T
H E A LT H C A R E S E A S O
If you notice the Christmas decorations going up a bit earlier in our villages this year, it’s to celebrate our partnership with the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s season of The Nutcracker. We know our residents will enjoy being immersed in the whimsical story of the Nutcracker as our villages are transformed – think sugar plum fairies, gingerbread houses and toy soldiers. There will be a range of activities on offer – from appreciating Tchaikovsky’s beautiful
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musical score, to having a go at making themed-decorations for display. The ballet will be touring throughout New Zealand, opening in Wellington on 31 October, and finishing in Auckland on 15 December.
Want to see a show near you? Contact your village reception for exclusive Ryman discounts on tickets!
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Ryman chefs take top prize At the recent New Zealand Hospitality Awards, our in-house Chefs; Steve Iraia and Paul Korunic, took the top two prizes.
also pleased to go one better than last year. “We’ve got the two top positions in the country, which is a brilliant result.’’
Steve has been the chef at Princess Alexandra village in Napier for 10 years. He was named the winner in the senior lifestyle section.
Steve and Paul had 75 minutes to cook meals for eight people consisting of four hoki loin dishes and four dishes featuring beef cheeks.
Steve came second in last year’s competition.
Ryman Hotel Services Manager Andrew Gibson said he was proud of the chefs, as the dishes they prepared had to be practical and suitable for Ryman menus.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic, it was a bit like taking care of some unfinished business.”
Village chefs serve up more than 10,000 meals a day to our residents. Chefs prepare the food fresh on-site, with three main course choices, including a vegetarian option.
Both Steve and Paul’s classic recipes feature in Ryman Delicious menus. Paul, Chef at Anthony Wilding village in Christchurch for the last four years, was
myRyman rollout crosses the finishing line Our myRyman electronic care system has been rolled out to all our villages in New Zealand. myRyman is a robust electronic care system located in each resident’s room. It allows nurses and care assistants to view the full care profile of each resident at the touch of a button. Information is recorded in real time, dramatically reducing paperwork. In 2015, Chief Operations Officer Barbara ReynenRose went looking for an electronic care
system but couldn’t find one she liked, so Ryman decided to build its own version.
“It makes us excited about what’s possible, and where we can take it next.” Chief Executive Gordon MacLeod said the project would keep Ryman Healthcare at the forefront of aged care. “What we have achieved is very, very rare. To take a concept that involved a complete change in how people work and make it into a system that is operable 24/7 in a care operation is incredible. “It makes us excited about what’s possible, and where we can take it next.’’
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Resident Profile
Meet Isobel
I was in the marching band and I use to play the piano by ear. This talent gave me the opportunity to provide music for students, learning old fashioned dancing. I also played the piano in a four-piece band which was great fun for a teenager at the time. My first job after I left school was as a Roxburgh Post Office telephonist. I was soon promoted, trained in Dunedin, as a teleprinter operator. Then I was transferred to Christchurch, to do the same work. It’s there I met my husband. We got married in 1964 and we have three children, Steven, Dallas and Jodene.
I was in the marching band and I use to play the piano by ear. This talent gave me the opportunity to provide music for students.
I also worked delivering telegrams on my bicycle and I worked for Tegel foods for 13 years.
Hi, my name is Isobel Marsh. I came to live in Woodcote as a care resident at the end of October 2017. I was born in Central Otago, Roxburgh, the third of four children. I went to Ettrick Primary School and finished high school in Roxburgh, aged 15.
Later on, I worked in healthcare, which I really enjoyed. I also worked as a bar person for Hoon Hay Working Men’s Club as well as Hornby Working Men’s Club. I loved to play pool at the working men’s clubs. I love music and I have a great love for cats. I enjoy my time here at Woodcote very much. I like being cared for and the friendship that I have with a group who love playing cards as much as I do.
Motorcycle fantasy Our Men’s Club enjoyed an afternoon viewing a motorcycle collection built up by Christchurch real estate identity Mike Pero. The men were very interested with his talk and walking around admiring each motorcycle. The machines, including Yamahas and Triumphs, were on display both inside and
outside. Mike Pero’s gallery is designed to take enthusiasts on a stroll down memory lane. The residents had a great afternoon ending with a beer and a chat. Pictured: Village resident Alan Taylor with a row of bikes at his fingertips.
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Menzshed skills
French meets Pacific
Maurice McKee and Rob Waldron have been among those putting their carpentry skills to the test. A crew of men have been enjoying Tuesday outings to the Menzshed in Halswell. They have been exploring ways to be creative both for the benefit of themselves and others.
When our resthome celebrated International Month, residents were keen to participate by dressing up. Our Pacific Island queen Pat Kennard enjoyed chatting with resident Frenchman Graham Saunders. Everyone also had the opportunity to taste some of the international foods on offer.
Pictured: Care resident Maurice McKee and independent resident Rob Waldron in the midst of creating woodwork masterpieces.
Above: Pat Kennard and Graham Saunders.
Staff Profile
Introducing Gavin
I really enjoy working with the team, and there’s never a dull moment!
Hello, my name is Gavin Lucas and I’m the gardener at Woodcote.
years. I travelled all around the Pacific, including Kiribati, Palau and Micronesia.
I live with my partner Adrienne at Springston. We both have adult children from previous marriages.
I met Adrienne at work, and we’ve shared great experiences, including living in Timor-Leste.
I was born in Hari Hari, a small town on the West Coast, and I had a wonderful childhood growing up in the bush. We moved to Christchurch so that my brother, sister and I could attend high school without boarding.
I later studied horticulture and landscape design, helping me to transition into my Ryman job. Having my own mother in resthome care and being of “mature” years myself, gives me some empathy with our residents. I really enjoy working with the team, and there’s never a dull moment!
My first job was as a clerical cadet with the Department of Statistics, where I stayed for 30
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Flower arranging A village presentation by Court Florist’s Kristine Durie was a great success according to residents and staff. We learnt how to create a colourful bouquet of flowers, with a lot of laughs along the way. Our serviced apartment and townhouse residents were hands on, selecting their flowers and greenery, and doing their best to create appealing displays.
Some of the residents were real naturals, and others needed a helping hand from the visiting florist. Everyone left with a lovely bouquet. Pictured: Residents Madeline Casey, Beryl Anstiss, Thelma Branthwaite and Joy Millar in the flower arranging workshop.
Upcoming events November
December
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Stroke Foundation presentation
Christmas happy hour
29 Woodcote Avenue, Hornby
www.woodcote.co.nz