Kiri's Arias Summer 2019 newsletter

Kiri’s Arias Kiri Te Kanawa Retirement Village • Summer edition 2019

Wearable arts Residents show off their modelling talents

Meet Joe

Dame Vera Lynn tribute

Alaskan adventure

Greetings from Neville...

Hello and welcome to the summer edition of Kiri’s Arias.

We ran a number of memorable events and activities at the village this year but a recent stand out for me was our wearable arts show. The event involved the entire village, with staff, residents, families and volunteers working together to create and then model amazing costumes and outfits.

Our village was recently awarded ‘finalist’ for the Aged Advisor retirement village of the year awards for the North Island for the second year running.

This was matched by our best ever independent resident survey results.

out of 10; and 82 per cent rating us 9 or 10 out of 10. We were rated very highly for our maintenance responsiveness, building and grounds, and our activities teams. We recently added Ryman Delicious ready-to-eat meal options for residents to buy through the village shop.

I look forward to seeing you around the village sometime soon.

Kind regards,

Neville Parkinson Village Manager Ph: 06 863 3636

In that survey we rated as the second highest Ryman village in New Zealand and Australia with 98 per cent of residents rating us as 7 and above

A note from Pip...

We have been spoiled with varied and entertaining events at our village.

Over recent months we have hosted each of the local bowling clubs for a day of fun and a very competitive tournament. It was great to watch everyone enjoying the bowls.

I got to play in a veterans golf tournament that we sponsored in August. Not very well mind you, but it was a great day.

Serviced apartment available now!

Vicki Lee wooed us with her standout Dame Vera Lynn tribute in front of a record crowd. Fond memories and tears sum up what the performance meant to residents.

Look out for an invite to a ‘what’s my password’ event about being scam savvy. I’m excited to be hosting this information session in November.

Pip Griffin Sales Advisor

Ph: 06 863 3639

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Village news

Wearable arts A village wearable arts show saw our residents strut on the catwalk with pizzazz and confidence.

Our guest judges, Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz and the village manager’s wife Karen Parkinson, were stunned by the creativity and excitement of all the participants.

Everyone had a great time, and it was fantastic to see individuals thrive in the fashion show setting. The smile on residents faces after taking part with unique costumes was heart-warming.

The exuberance and joy shown by everyone – winners and participants - was also priceless.

A huge amount of work went into the creations, during preparation for the show. Creativity came to the fore when groups of our residents and staff gathered together to combine materials from all corners of the village into truly inspiring pieces.

Above: Edith Takarua arrives for the show.

Inset: Resident Carolyn Reeves.

Inset: There were some great outfits!

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Independent resident profile

Meet Joe Initially I wanted to be an engineer. But when I reached working age at the end of World War II jobs were scarce, with many returned servicemen also looking for positions.

So, I was apprenticed to my uncle as a cooper at the local brewery. Over the years I completed my apprenticeship.

I then went on to be the ‘top man’ at the brewery, mixing the brew during the initial process.

Then I became a linesman for Leopard Brewery.

I was working in the brewing tower the night an inebriated local decided to blow up the brewery.

Luckily no one was hurt. I then made a complete change to become a carpet salesman.

We travelled extensively throughout New Zealand on various vintage car rallies.

Hello, my name is Joe Webber and I was born in Frasertown, near Wairoa in 1928. At birth I was a very small baby (under 3 pounds) but I went on to thrive.

The family moved to Gisborne when I was very young and I stayed in the area.

I lived with my family until I married Merle Fox in October 1953. Together we built and then moved into a home at Sievwright Lane in Gisborne. That was the home we spent most of the next 65 years.

Merle and I shared a passion for vintage cars which started when we helped a relative to restore a British Crossley for the 1964 international rally. Our first project was restoring ‘Amy’, a 1928 Austin 7. This was followed by ‘Anna’, a 1929 Austin 7 with a fabric body. Later came ‘Ernestine’ an Austin 1930, ‘Florence’ the Model A, a Velocette and lastly Meg the 1969 MG MGB. We travelled extensively throughout New Zealand on various vintage car rallies.

When I moved to Ryman in 2018, I put my cars into storage.

Village news

A very special tribute Dame Vera Lynn’s popular and evocative wartime songs were once again centre stage, presented as part of a special tribute concert.

A large group of about 160 residents heard Vicki Lee’s tribute concert, and thoroughly enjoyed the event. A record crowd showed up for this very

emotional musical performance.

Vicki Lee’s tribute stirred many emotions and brought back lots of memories. There was a lot of toe tapping and singing and sharing of stories after the concert.

Pictured: Vicki Lee with residents Betty Stephen and Jean Bewley.

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News from our care centre residents

Alaskan adventure

Syd celebrates 100th

Author Emma Stevens thrilled residents by recounting her adventures and experiences of survival in Alaska. Emma recounted living in the American state and how she’s written a trilogy of books: Walking on Ice, Dancing on the Tundra and Nesting on the Nushagak.

Syd Dodgshun celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year with family and friends. A talented water colourist, Syd has painted dozens of paintings over the years, including this landscape he did while serving in Italy during World War II. He also revisited this work with a paint brush, decades later.

Above: Emma Stevens talks on her Alaskan escapades.

Above: Syd often revisits his earlier works.

Staff profile

Introducing Teressa

There are plenty of laughs too with the staff and residents here – it is a whanau environment.

Hello, my name is Teressa Matthews and I am the activities and lifestyle coordinator for the serviced apartment residents here at Kiri Te Kanawa village.

and now the residents are running it themselves. There are plenty of laughs too with the staff and residents here – it is a whanau environment.

I came to work here because I have empathy for the elderly and want to further my experience in aged care, as well as create arts programmes and events for the residents.

I have been married 21 years and have three sons. I am an artist specialising in painting and printmaking, and am a member of the New Zealand Print Council, exhibiting regularly locally and nationally.

I enjoy organising challenging activities and special events.

I love connecting people with each other. For example, I started a knitting group

A fun fact about me is that I enjoy tramping with my family and friends, having walked the rail line from the Wharerata Hills to Mahunga.

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Village news

Beatrice’s 100th celebrations Beatrice Hemsley recently celebrated her 100th birthday with great fanfare. Her family and others at the village joined in the event.

Beatrice, a great-great-grandmother had family members attend, including her children Carol and David who described her as a lovely mum.

The centenarian received a lovely bouquet of flowers and attended a number of events, including a morning tea at Kiri Te Kanawa, to celebrate the occasion.

She was born in Christchurch in 1919, the eldest of four children, and lived near the city in Madras Street.

Born Beatrice Steele, she married George Hemsley in 1941 and the couple lived in Auckland before later moving to Gisborne.

The family includes four great-great-grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren and five grandchildren.

Neville Parkinson Village Manager Ph: 06 863 3636 Call Neville for general enquiries, or information about resthome, hospital and dementia care.

Pip Griffin Sales Advisor Ph: 06 863 3639 Talk to Pip for information about independent apartments, townhouses or serviced apartments.

12 Gwyneth Place, Lytton West

kiritekanawa.co.nz