Live well at home

Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) is a leading not-for-profit aged care provider that has been caring about people for more than 50 years.

We want to support you to stay living at home, active and connected within your community. If you’re aged 65 years and over, or Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander aged 55 years and over, why not enquire about how home support services could assist you.

Our trained, local staff will guide you through the services available and create a flexible, personalised plan that helps you live life to the full at home.

“We have a fairly big yard, I’ve tried to keep it nice. The Southern Cross Care team have organised mowing the lawns for me. Gardening makes me feel a lot better. It keeps the mind active.”

– Home Care Client Bill

“I like going to the pool. I’ve noticed it’s easier for me to get up and down, and I’m walking a bit easier.”

– Home Care Client Judith

By Samantha Elley

Late last month a very special lady celebrated 100 years on this earth and 74 of her family, friends and former students gathered to enjoy the day with her.

Dympna Agnes Sheehy

(nee Ryall) was born of Irish heritage in Glen Innes in 1924 and it was where she grew up on the family sheep station. The Great War was over and Australia was experiencing a resurgence economically and socially.

For Dympna, although into her second century, has a good memory for the early years.

“(My frst memory) was sitting on my father’s knee,” she said.

“It was before I could read as I remember saying ‘what’s that?’.

“I learnt to read all the capital letters and I could read before I went to school.”

In 1937 Dympna passed the Armidale Roman Catholic Diocesan Examinations with the highest marks in the whole diocese for history and geography. For this she received the Gold Medal Award.

With a bright mind and a deep faith, Dympna entered the convent to become a Sister of Mercy in 1940 after she left school.

Two years later she took her fnal vows and was professed as Sister Mary Gemma.

Throughout her time in the convent, Sister Mary Gemma taught at a number of different primary schools around Grafton, Macksville, Yamba and Kyogle and even in Sydney.

“I taught any subject, mainly sixth class,” she said.

“Mainly in (St Brigids) Kyogle, but I taught in St Michael’s in Sydney and South Grafton.”

The impression she made on her students has stayed strong throughout the