Harmony Village

celebrating

21 years 14 bed wing in Shepparton and a brand new

officially opens exciting new wing A NEW state-of-the-art wing opened yesterday at Harmony Village Shepparton featuring new common areas such as a lounge, dining area and kitchenette, as well as three new courtyards and several large new bedrooms with their own private ensuites. There have also been several upgrades to many existing rooms in the building, with the cost of all upgrades totalling $4.6M, paid by Doutta Galla Aged Services.

The contemporary designs were tested with staff and residents to ensure the best results were delivered for the quality of life of all who are living at Harmony Village.

Throughout the building process, residents attended meetings to give their input regarding the design and colour scheme of the spaces.

Continued page 50

Doutta Galla Harmony Village We’re with you Join the Harmony Village Community Harmony Village offers an engaging and welcoming aged care environment where older people can live with confidence and friendship.

Residential Living • Permanent Accommodation • Dementia Support • Respite Care Services • An extensive individualised lifestyle activities program • Nutritious home-style meals cooked on site

Retirement Living

• 80 Independent Living Units • Two bedroom units, some with a small study option • Open plan living, enclosed courtyard • Automatic door, single car garage • Easy access to public transport

For all enquiries contact (03) 5831 7921 Harmony Village Aged Care Facility 20 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton Harmony Village Independent Living Units 34 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton

Close to Shepparton Marketplace Shopping Centre The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1435 Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – Page 49

celebrating

and a brand new

21 years 14 bed wing in Shepparton

Harmony Village officially Hairdresser’s opens dedication to Harmony exciting new wing CURLS, CUTS AND COMMUNITY… Harmony Village residents enjoy a curl and style from resident hairdresser, Bernadette Simcoe. Photo: Supplied.

Continued from page 49 In the new buildings, the latest technology has been incorporated to optimise the safety and security of all residents. Privacy and the ability to remain connected to the wider community was a central focus to executing the plan and the results certainly speak for themselves.

Doutta Galla’s general manager of commercial and corporate services, George Koulis said, “We would like to thank the local builder Crow Constructions of Shepparton and their sub-contractors for the build. It was very important that Doutta Gala Aged Services were able to give employment to local businesses so that they could contribute to the economy of the region. They did a wonderful job and delivered a superb product, while working with our residents and staff.”

Visit Harmony Villages and check out the new spaces for yourself at 20 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton. Give them a call on 5831 7921 to arrange a time.

Page 50 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1435 Wednesday, December 12, 2018

BERNADETTE Simcoe commenced as the official hairdresser at Harmony Village on April 7, 2003 and continues to provide an exceptional service to all the residents, both aged care and independent living ongoing.

The initial space allocated to Bernadette to perform her duties was a small room adjoined to the laundry, but with the development and expansion of Harmony Village in 2006, Bernadette gained a big and functional Hairdressing Salon that has been operational ever since.

The salon is open in the facility twice

weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Bernadette also accommodates individual residents with special appointments outside these days to cater for family events such as weddings or milestone birthdays. She really does go above and beyond the call of duty!

Bernadette’s dedication and years of service are a real testament to her commitment and relationships with the Harmony Village community. She is considered family by most and is an absolute treasure to have on board.

A message from Doutta Galla CEO

Vanda Iaconese “THE new wing will enrich the lives of both current and future Harmony Village residents.

Our people are important to us, which is why we want them to have the best experience possible at Doutta Galla.

We want people to feel comfortable to be themselves as well as being a part of the wider community of people at Harmony Village.”

Appointed as the chief executive officer of Doutta Galla in November 2013, Vanda has extensive experience working in executive roles in aged care, disability, local government and housing.

Her aspiration for the organisation is that it will be the ‘go to’ place for individuals and their families seeking to access the best possible care and support as they age.

Vanda believes that innovation, research and the promotion of the positive aspects of being older, are key to the organisation achieving this aspiration.

celebrating

and a brand new

21 years 14 bed wing in Shepparton

A harmonious life

enjoying the simple things MARGARET and Don Oakley moved to Harmony Village in 2012 and settled comfortably into an Independent Living Unit.

The couple has really worked hard towards creating their own personal touch on the transformation of their unit, in particular the front and courtyard gardens. Their space is a calm and inviting environment with lovely homely vibes and décor to reflect their individual personalities and likes.

Both Margaret and Don enjoy the simple things in life, reading the paper every morning with a coffee, sharing a chat in the community centre and attending Harmony

TRANQUIL HOMELINESS… Don and Margaret Oakley enjoying their peaceful private courtyard at Harmony Village. Photo: Supplied.

Village events and organised outings. They are active members in the Harmony Village community, with Don providing his cooking services at social Sunday barbeques and Margaret running the Thai Chi exercise classes twice weekly in the community centre.

Margaret and Don are thrilled and lucky to

live in a safe place that promotes kindness, ongoing friendships and is conveniently located within a short walking distance to the Shepparton Marketplace shopping centre.

When asked about what they love most about Harmony Village, Margaret and Don said, “It is perfect in every single way!”

Community club connection THE Shepparton East Bowls Club has successfully been operating as a privately owned establishment for 30 years. When the decision was made to build an Aged Care Facility followed by Independent Living Units - Harmony Village, across the road in Zurcas Lane, it was the start of a wonderful relationship between the two.

In the early days, the Shepparton East Bowls Club was able to obtain a sports grant through Victoria Health. The grant funded an initiative for regular social bowling sessions catered to the needs of the aged care facility residents at Harmony Village. Since then, Harmony Village has annually utilised this space to host Christmas parties, market stalls and larger gatherings along with having access to the facilities in the event of emergencies and facility evacuations.

Volunteers play an essential part of the day-to-day operations of the bowls club, with many of the volunteer committee members also residing in Independent Living Units at Harmony Village. Highlight fundraisers and events are the Oaks Day Lunch, Xmas in July and Twilight Bowls.

New residents to the Independent Living Units at Harmony Village receive the first 12 months membership to the bowls club

BRILLIANT LOCATION FOR BOWLING… Harmony Village Independent Living Unit resident and long serving Shepparton East Bowls Club member and volunteer, Robin Squire enjoying a day out on the green. Photo: Supplied.

completely free of charge, with many renewing their membership yearly. Given the convenient location, many Independent Living Unit residents venture across to the club several times a week and many Harmony Village residents have been named club champions and tournament winners.

KRUEGER’S

Fin ods e Me o g l l ats & Sma

Proud suppliers to Harmony Village

Congratulate

them on their 21st Anniversary and the opening of their new wing!

22 Colliver Road, Shepparton Ph: 5821 5414 kruegersfinemeats@gmail.com

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1435 Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – Page 51

celebrating

and a brand new

21 years 14 bed wing in Shepparton

RARE SIGHT CAPTURED… Harmony Village resident, Jan Maude is proud of her photograph of this green hooded orchid’s rare flowering. Photo: Jan Maude.

Compelled to capture pictures JAN Maude’s interest in taking pictures was first introduced to her by her sister, who gifted her with a camera in her semiretirement years; this was the beginning of a long-lasting passion and love for photography.

Jan Maude lives with her husband, Ron at Harmony Village in an Independent Living Unit. Initially she was drawn to Harmony Village simply because of its tranquil Australian native garden and vast variety of plantings, little did she know at the time that it would play a vital role in aiding in the development of her photography skills and act as centre stage to her brilliant native pictures, all accessible to her just outside her front door.

In the very beginning, Jan committed to a daily journal of pictures that she shared to online social media platform Blipfoto.

This encouraged Jan to get out amongst the garden every single day and take a new picture that she would post for the Blipfoto community to view and comment on.

Jan has always been fond of the bush setting and its wonderfully diverse range of native flora and bird life unique to Australia.

She was very adamant that this would quickly become the focus of her vision and Jan continued her attention to detail when photographing birds, bees and native plants.

Jan specialises in macro photography, Page 52 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1435 Wednesday, December 12, 2018

which relates to get ting up close and personal with the subject being photographed and then enhancing and sharpening the photos to view a remarkable and clear image of something truly beautiful.

Jan’s favourite photograph would have to be this pictured image of a green hooded orchid. Extremely rare and no bigger than the size of a fingernail, she was so happy to stumble across the flowering plant during her many adventures in the local bush settings of this region.

Since the very beginning, Jan has gone on to build and improve her talent.

Her pictures frequently appear on the front pages of the monthly Independent Living Unit newsletters and were featured throughout the Harmony Village 2018 calendar. Produced for all residents as a lovely keepsake, the calendar serves as a reminder of the stunning surrounds within the Harmony Village gardens.

Jan has enrolled in a photography course with U3A and set a goal for 2019 with a quest to capture the pursuit of birds in flight, aiming for that one perfect shot.

Jan believes what makes a good photographer is an eye for detail and the ability to focus, setting your own level of involvement, seeing elements of composition and following your natural instinct.

Affordable Living at Harmony Village Shepparton

20 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton

Join the Harmony Village community where older people can live with confidence and friendship in an engaging and welcoming aged care environment Features: • Permanent Accommodation • Dementia Support • Respite Care Services • An extensive individualised lifestyle activities program • Nutritious home-style meals cooked on site

34 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton

Harmony Village is nestled in a picturesque Australian native garden in a quiet street within close walking distance to the Shepparton Marketplace.

Features: • Two spacious bedrooms • Open plan living, enclosed courtyard • Automatic door, single car garage • Easy access to public transport • Adjacent to Harmony Village Aged Care • Access to daily living support, activities & outings

For all enquiries contact 5831 7921

Harmony Village Aged Care Facility 20 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton Harmony Village Independent Living Units 34 Zurcas Lane, Shepparton

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1435 Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – Page 53