NIKKI’S CORNER Welcome once again to our new residents who have made Garden Villages their new home and to our prospective residents whose journey has just begun. We launched Round 5 of our lifestyle program, Activate, in July which has already brought much enjoyment to our village residents, celebrating Christmas in July with all the trimmings, winners taking home fun prizes from ‘The Price is Right’ game, and reliving the 50s, 60s and 70s which a memorable game of ‘Name that Tune’. Congratulations to all our winners! Australian Hearing has also attended many villages, delivering an informative presentation on hearing loss and prevention as well as conducting hearing checks. We are about to move into another busy period of Open Days and Open Homes across half a dozen villages, opening up their doors to invite prospective residents in to see what living in our rental retirement villages is really like.
Garden Villages enjoy a cuppa for Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea! Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is an annual event held in May, and raises funds for cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. Nine garden villages participated and added to a total contribution of over $3,100! Residents were happy to share a cuppa and some delicious food, and help those affected by cancer. Horsham Gardens (VIC) and Chatsbury Gardens (NSW) raised $200 and $320 respectively by hosting a fabulous morning tea with gold coin donation. Grovedale Gardens (VIC) held a raffle and games to raise over $180. Claremont Gardens (TAS) teamed up with Glenorchy Gardens (TAS) and the Gardens Nursing Home, Roy Fagan and the local indoor bowls club to contribute a grand total of $630. Elphinwood Gardens (TAS) and Launceston Gardens (TAS) joined the Kingsmeadow bowls club in an ACTIVATE blind auction event to raise over $500. Taloumbi Gardens (NSW) used their ACTIVATE Poetry Competition to generate interest and participation. They raised over $480 and everyone had a great time. Wheelers Gardens (NSW) involved the local radio station and newspaper, and the residents sold some beautiful handmade items to raise over $830. A big thank you to all participating villages for hosting fun, innovative events, raising money for cancer, and engaging with local community groups.
A big thank you in advance to our wonderful residents who so willingly welcome prospective residents into their village community. All the best and enjoy this edition of Garden News.
Above: Julie Cornale (left) and Marie Finch having Devonshire Tea at Taloumbi Gardens (NSW).
Warm regards,
Right: Brian Pinnell from Glenorchy Gardens (TAS) happy to win a basket of prizes.
Chief Operating Officer
gardennews | Spring 2015
THE MORAL OF THE STORY A doctor, a politician, a young mother and a priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble and started to go down. The pilot grabbed a parachute and yelled to the passengers that they better jump, and he bailed out. Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining. The doctor grabbed one and said “I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live,” and jumped out. The politician then said, “I’m a politician and politicians are the smartest people in the world, so I deserve to live.” He also grabbed a parachute and jumped. The priest looked at the mother and said, “Children need their mother. Take the last parachute and live in peace.” The mother handed the parachute back to the priest and said, “You can use this Father. The smartest man in the world just jumped out of the plane with my nappy bag”.
MOVIE REVIEW
Mr Holmes MR HOLMES is a new twist on the world’s most famous detective. 1947, an aging Sherlock Holmes (compellingly played by Sir Ian McKellan) returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days tending to his bees, with only the company of his housekeeper and her young son, Roger. Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love – before it’s too late. There’s nothing about the film that Conan Doyle fans won’t relish. This is Holmes intentionally slowed down to a hobbling, reflective pace: dare we call it refreshing? It’s a film to rummage around in, picking up old clues, considering their meaning, and turning them in your palm.
Wheelers Gardens celebrates 10 years in style! Wheelers Gardens (NSW) celebrated their 10 year anniversary in June with colourful decorations, delicious food and a huge slab cake. The dining room was decked out, ready for the party to begin. Ingenia Communities Chief Executive Officer Simon Owen joined the residents and Village Manager Pip Downey in cutting the cake and enjoying the occasion. Entertainment was provided by singer Barry Joseph. It was an extra special occasion for Mrs Elizabeth Barclay who has lived at Wheelers gardens for over 9 years, and shared lots of memories. Congratulations on this special milestone!
MORAL: You may not be as smart as you think!
Above left: Ingenia Communities CEO Simon Owen and son Dashiell, Village Manager Pip Downey, Operations Manager Simon Illingworth and village residents celebrate 10 happy years at Wheelers Gardens (NSW). Above right: Simon Owen helps Pip Downey to cut the cake.
gardennews | Spring 2015
Santa arrived at several Garden Villages, celebrating Christmas in July. The festivities started with a three course lunch featuring classic Christmas treats such as roast ham, prawn cocktails and plum puddings. The residents were entertained by local singing groups, and enjoyed the opportunity to dress up in Christmas costumes and admire the decorations. 3
1. Adaline Johnson (right) and her daughter Val Good from Taloumbi Gardens (NSW). 2. Village Manager Martin Higgins, and village cook Lisa Cowan from Ocean Grove Gardens (WA) help Santa check his Christmas list. 3. Jeanette Lehmann and Gloria Sewell from Launceston Gardens (TAS) tuck into a traditional Christmas meal.
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4. Santa (Craig Spriggins) the Relief Village Manager at Launceston Gardens (TAS) pipes a Christmas tune. 5. Glenorchy Gardens (TAS) cooks Erin Alderson and Phil Lovett. 6. Patrick Ashe and Margo Kesler from Taloumbi Gardens (NSW) get into the Christmas spirit. 7. “Cheers!” Glenorchy Gardens (TAS) resident Madge Elliott.
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8. Beryl Edgar from Grovedale Gardens (VIC) enjoys a festive drink. 9. Wheelers Gardens (NSW) residents.
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AROUND THE VILLAGES 1. Launceston Gardens (TAS) resident Jeanette Lehmann and her “muse” husband Fred enjoy the prize for submitting the winning poem “Winter” in the ACTIVATE Poetry Competition. 2. Residents from Chatsbury Gardens (NSW) play a round of indoor golf as part of the ACTIVATE program.
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3. Brooklyn Gardens (VIC) Village Manager Julie Hedley has a close encounter with a huge carpet python during a visit from the Roo Keepers wild animal show. 4. Joy Butcher from Seascape Gardens (WA) and her grandson enjoy a day at the zoo.
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5. Village Manager Martin Higgins from Ocean Grove Gardens (WA) serves up the ACTIVATE Greek themed meal in traditional toga. 6. Brooklyn Woolley serves Maureen Penneyston from Claremont Gardens (TAS) a healthy snack as part of the Jamie Oliver school lunch program.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
As part of the ACTIVATE program, residents were invited to “Come on Down” and guess the price of everyday items in the Price is Right June activity. A range of items were on offer, including household goods, toiletries, treats and novelties. If the price was correctly guessed, the winner took home that item. Morning or afternoon tea was also included, and everyone enjoyed the event. “Great day was had by all. Lots of fabulous prizes and good afternoon tea to follow” said Relief Village Manager Craig Spriggins at Grovedale Gardens (VIC). Bottom: Claremont Gardens (TAS) residents show off their Price is Right prizes. Below left: Beatrice Forster from Grovedale Gardens (VIC) happy to have won a bathroom accessories set. Below right: Village Cook Jenny Leijen from Hertford Gardens (VIC) served up a selection of treats for the contestants.
Meet Donna Mackrell, Village Manager at Devonport Gardens (TAS) Donna joined the team in September 2014; a hairdresser by trade with previous experience as an assistant hotel manager. She is very involved with sprint car racing and travelled to tracks around Australia. Donna has 4 four-legged babies (2 Arabian horses and 2 boxer dogs) and a two-legged husband, Macka. Q. What inspired you to become a Village Manager & what do you enjoy most about the job? A. I have a lot of respect for the seniors community and the position appealed to me in that I would be there to help people. If I can be a positive and happy influence in my job, it makes me smile.
Q. If you had a spare room in your house what would you use it for? A. We did offer our spare room to a Dutch backpacker once for 3 months, who then ended up staying. He is now engaged to my cousin and living in Australia. So I would do that again for sure.
Q. What Activate activity do your residents enjoy the most? A. Name That Tune: music takes us to many memories in life, and it creates sing-a-long and laughs.
Q. People would be surprised to know … A. I’m a petrol head and I love sprint car racing, V8 supercars and enjoy going out with my husband in our ’68 and ’69 Camaros and on our Harley.
Q. What is your residents’ favourite meal? A. We have two fantastic cooks in Ruth and Karen, so every meal is a favourite, but who can beat a roast with golden syrup dumplings! Q. Who would be one person that you would like to have a conversation with and why? A. Nathan Buckley; he is awesome and so is Collingwood! Q. What is one of your memorable experiences since becoming a Village Manager? A. My puppy was sick recently and the care and love my residents have shown me has meant so much. I’ve received lots of hugs, and they are all very much my extended family.
Q. Who has been your most memorable village entertainer? A. A school choir performed at our Christmas luncheon. There was one little girl that went above and beyond and had everyone laughing. It was great to see the old and young connect. Q. How do you make the transition for a new resident smooth and enjoyable? A. It can be a huge move for some people who are probably moving from a house they have been in for 50+ years. So showing them understanding and compassion, and making them feel welcome in their new home. A good hug never goes astray either.
gardennews | Spring 2015
HEALTH & WELLBEING – NUTRITION NEWS
Food Fun Facts Fear of cooking is known as Mageirocophobia and is a recognised phobia. We are eating 900% more broccoli than we did 20 years ago. Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C and fibre.
Celebrating in Scottish Style Ernie Brady celebrated his 98th birthday at Yakamia Gardens (WA). Ernie came from Scotland 50 years ago to work in the woollen mills. He became one of the village’s first residents when it opened 10 years ago. Ernie enjoyed a few drinks with family and friends, and listened to traditional Scottish bagpipes and a local accordion group.
Biting a wooden spoon whilst chopping an onion will stop your eyes from watering.
Top right: Ernie Brady celebrates with daughters in law Lyn Brady and Monika Male.
Turnips are high in fibre, vitamin C, calcium and potassium.
Rita’s knitting helps hundreds through Trauma Teddy program
The average Australian eats 15kg of bananas each year. Bananas contain tryptophan, a protein that is converted to serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is known to elevate moods and promote relaxation, which means banana nutrition is the perfect ingredient for improving a bad day.
Above right: Pat White played the bagpipes for the birthday festivities.
One of Warrnambool Gardens (VIC) most senior residents has knitted her way to helping hundreds of people in need. For the past four years, 94 year old resident Rita Marr (pictured right) has been part of a small group of knitters that has contributed more than 700 Trauma Teddy bears to the Australian Red Cross for gifting to adults and children experiencing traumatic times.
The pumpkin originated in Mexico about 9,000 years ago.
Rita knitted more than 300 of the bears herself, only hanging up her yarn when poor eyesight began to impede her ability to knit.
A row of corn always has an even number.
“I have always had a passion for knitting and as I got older, it was one of the things I would do to keep me entertained at home,” Ms Marr said. “I am proud that I have been able to provide comfort through my knitting to those who have gone through tough times.”
Canadian neurosurgeon Dr Wilder Penfield, while operating on epilepsy patients, discovered the Toast Centre of the human brain, which is wholly dedicated to detecting when toast is burning! The M’s in M & M’s stand for ‘Mars & Murrie’, the co-creators. Hundreds and Thousands are small round balls of brightly coloured sugar used as decorations on cakes, cookies, trifles and other desserts. Their use dates back at least to the early 19th century.
gardennews | Spring 2015
While Ms Marr may no longer be able to knit, she continues to crochet and says she doesn’t see herself stopping anytime soon.
Free groceries for a year for Ivan! We recently drew the winner of the ‘Win Groceries for a Year’ competition ($2,600 value), and the lucky winner was Mr Ivan Goodman from Dubbo, who attended the Dubbo Gardens (NSW) Open Day. Ivan was invited back to Dubbo Gardens for afternoon tea, country music, and the prize presentation by a group of happy residents. Congratulations Ivan.
A RESIDENT’S STORY
Minties!
I recall an incident involving good old Aussie Mintie chewing. Whilst playing the electric keyboard one morning in the lounge community room, I remembered I had some Minties, and popped a couple in my mouth to get that fresh feeling. What a rush! Wow! Suddenly … Munch! Crunch! Wooh! I felt a sharp pain at the back of my mouth. I reached in and pulled out a glob of Minties and noticed a massive filling embedded in it, staring at me. I calmly got up in excruciating pain, wrapped and pocketed same and drove to my dentist. He took one look at me, noticed my discomfort and exclaimed “What seems to be the problem?” I reached in my pocket and handed him the glob of Minties, “No thanks” he said “I’ll have some later”. “The Filling!! The Filling!!” I said. “Ohh, I see. Nasty!” Thank you to Joseph (Josh) Neutzer from Hertford Gardens (VIC) for his entertaining story. Do you have a story to share? We’d love to hear from you! Best submission receives a $50 gift card.
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A painting tutor was also on hand to give Margaret assistance with the finer details of the artwork. Margaret was able to achieve her goal and completed her lovely painting which hangs on the wall of her unit. She also enjoys card making and has recently completed her second painting! Our free Ingenia Care Assist service connects residents with the care they need to live independent and active lives. You can access a wide range of services such as nursing care, chronic disease management, personal services, transportation, allied health plus many more. Call our Ingenia Care Assist team on 0418 698 694 to arrange an assessment of your needs.
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Q. What do you call a fake noodle? A. An Impasta
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Margaret contacted Ingenia Care Assist to arrange additional help with her hand movement, and a support worker was arranged to assist Margaret in creating her landscape painting. The support worker gave Margaret some verbal and physical assistance by guiding her hands, and aided with paint brush placement and perspective.
Q. What did the lawyer name his daughter? A. Sue.
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Margaret Hills (pictured right) from Devonport Gardens (TAS) did not want arthritis and eyesight issues to keep her from joining a social painting activity.
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A helping hand back to painting
HAVE A LAUGH!
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HEALTH & WELLBEING – INGENIA CARE ASSIST
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Q. Why couldn’t the pirate play cards? A. Because he was sitting on the deck!
We would love to hear from you! Do you have a fond childhood memory, a “How we met” story or a special talent? How about a gardening tip, recipe or an embarrassing moment that made you laugh? Please send your contributions to GardenNews for a chance to win a $50 gift card! Please note: The submitted article may be abridged, edited or altered at Garden Villages discretion. Due to content restrictions we are unable to publish every submission we receive. Please send all submissions to: Linda Nevell, PO BOX 2454, Chermside Qld 4032 with your return address on the back or email: marketing@gardenvillages.com.au
Disclaimer: This edition of GardenNews has been prepared in good faith and is for information purposes only; all information contained within is accurate and correct at time of production.