Rowena Rambler Summer Newsletter 2018

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Rowena Jackson Retirement Village • Summer edition 2018

Our community We celebrated our diversity during International Month by highlighting many cultures

Meet Mervyn

Māori cultural traditions

Memory dance

Greetings from Nicola...

Hello, and welcome to the summer edition of Rowena’s Rambler.

It has certainly been a busy time for me. There have been many changes made over the past six months around the village. I truly appreciate the support and the positive response from our residents and my team around these changes.

We have farewelled Natasha Cunningham from the clinical manager role and welcomed Sue O’Brien to this position. I am thrilled to have Sue in this role! We also welcomed Sheena Taki to the role of unit coordinator in our Edinburgh resthome. Sheena has made herself at home in her new role and again I am delighted to have her on board.

We are now looking towards our next round of refurbishment for the village, with work in the Donovan special care unit and Salisbury hospital due to commence in the New Year.

As Christmas draws closer I wish you all the very best wishes for a happy and safe Christmas.

Let’s hope we have some lovely weather over the break ahead!

Kind regards,

Nicola Keast Village Manager

Ballet talent Recently I had the privilege to present prizes for a ballet competition held at the Civic Theatre.

Rowena Jackson sponsors the ballet scholarship section at the Performing Arts Southland Competitions for junior, intermediate and senior championships. It was a wonderful display of talent.

Pictured: (Back from left) Bella Robert, Julie, Breyah Takitimu, Raquel Wilkes.

(Front) Tilly McDonald and Jamie Laurie.

Julie

Nicola Keast Village Manager Ph: 03 215 9988 Call Nicola for general enquiries, or for information about resthome, hospital and dementia care.

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Julie Crofts Sales Advisor Ph: 03 215 9752 Talk to Julie for information about townhouses or serviced apartments.

Quiz night raises funds A quiz night to fundraise for the Stroke Foundation NZ was held in the village centre in mid-September, with great fun had by independent and serviced apartment residents.

We started at 6pm with registering of the teams, and during the big night we also sold raffle tickets and scratchy tickets.

A total of 12 teams participated, and there was a great mix of staff and residents on the floor.

The quiz consisted of 15 rounds, of which four rounds were ‘guess the picture’.

We also had a lovely supper arranged for the contestants.

Everyone who participated had a very serious look on their face, so were in the zone and fully concentrating! We could see that all the teams really enjoyed it.

At the end of the quiz we had three winners who all got awards and prizes.

We were happy with the fundraiser, getting about $305 for the Stroke Foundation NZ during the night.

Above: The quiz night gets underway for a room full of residents.

Right: Quiz participants enjoyed some keen discussion on the quiz topic.

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RYMAN E H T

H E A LT H C A R E S E A S O N

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.”

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

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.

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 Mervyn

Burgess & Stewart, being allowed time off to attend Otago University lectures and to complete accounting exams. The chance came while senior staff were away on war service.

I started work in January 1941 on 15 shillings a week. My career advanced in 1947 and while auditing in Invercargill, I was introduced to Shea Hackworth. By 1949 we were in partnership as Hackworth and Gillick. Later, as Gillick & Hercus, the firm grew strongly.

In 1971 and 1972 I was elected New Zealand president of the Society of Accountants, an organisation of 16,000 chartered accountants.

I’ve enjoyed harrier running, and in 1947 was selected as a part of the Otago team.

Hello, my name is Mervyn Gillick and I am a resident here at Rowena Jackson. I was born in Dunedin in 1924, and I’m the third son in a family of four boys.

My lifelong career as a chartered accountant came by chance. In 1940 I was a pupil at Christian Brothers High School and the whole class had to take accounting.

I soon joined the staff of a Dunedin firm Barr,

I became involved in charitable work, first fundraising to assist John Stott to compete as a swimmer in the paraplegic games in Tel Aviv.

I also became involved with the Southland branch of the Crippled Children Society.

I’ve enjoyed harrier running, and in 1947 was selected as a part of the Otago team for the New Zealand cross country championships in Auckland.

I have been a townhouse resident since 2010.

My wife sadly passed away in 2012. I am lucky to have five daughters, 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren who visit me regularly.

Māori cultural traditions Our resthome was fortunate enough to have talented visitors share their culture as part of International Month.

This year we focused on Maori and Indian cultures. ¯ Former staff member Sharne Knight enlightened us all with traditions relating with Maori ¯ culture. This was followed by a flax weaving demonstration.

It was wonderful to see residents fully engaged with this activity, making head bands plus Matariki stars. Sharne’s children also performed kapa haka, a traditional part of the Maori ¯ performing arts.

Pictured: Sharne Knight and her children contribute to the cultural event.

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Queens Park, a picture

Memory dance

Serviced apartment residents recently enjoyed a lovely spring stroll through Queens Park.

Our independent residents recently enjoyed an old-time memory dance, with local entertainers helping lead the smooth moves.

The gardens and blossoms were “a picture”, and after our walk we had coffee and milkshakes at the Cheeky Llama café. Finally, we fed the ducks and the giant geese.

Pictured: Mary Jack enjoys strolling through a tropical space.

Residents enjoyed twisting and dancing the night away. The evening saw an enthusiastic group wearing of old period clothing with suitable music bringing the event to life.

Pictured: A group of residents get the dance evening underway.

Staff Profile

Introducing Sheena

Hello, my name is Sheena Taki and I work as the Edinburgh resthome coordinator.

I started my nursing training in Invercargill at the Southern Institute of Technology, and in my final year I completed my transition studies here at Rowena Jackson.

During this time, I fell in love with the people both residents and staff.

During that time, I fell in love with the people both residents and staff. I applied for a registered nurse job, and have been lucky to work for Ryman now for four years.

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I’ve been given the amazing role of Edinburgh resthome coordinator. I am really enjoying my new position and getting to know the residents and families.

Everyone has been so welcoming, kind and fun to work alongside.

I am a born and bred Southlander and my spare time is usually devoted to family. I’m often out and about walking my dog, Diesel.

I have had a horse named Spice since I was 13 years old. I like being outdoors, so am looking forward to the summer, with plenty planned!

Oktoberfest celebrations To celebrate Oktoberfest in the village care centre we had a party!

Upcoming events November

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Diabetic Society speaker

Santa photos

Staff got dressed up in traditional costumes which gave everyone a laugh. There was a lot of singing, dancing and a great time was had by all.

January

January

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Pictured: Residents are entertained by a lineup including Toni Pasco, Les Thompson, Lynette Polley, Trevor Crofts and Jess Smith.

Housie afternoon

EPOA information presentation

Sales Advisor Julie Crofts loaned us a German ‘biergarten’ backdrop to help set off our musician, Les Thompson, who played a range of tunes.

Party food and drink was on hand. There was beer to be tasted, as well as plenty of pretzels, biersticks and cheese to enjoy.

40 O’Byrne Street North, Waikiwi

www.rowenajackson.co.nz