Ryman Times New Zealand Edition Spring 2018

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Ryman Times New Zealand Edition

Mayor ofďŹ cially opens Logan Campbell Retirement Village

Spring 2018

myRyman rolls on

Safer Together; a safety expo

William Sanders honoured at Devonport Retirement Village

A note from Gordy Kia Ora and welcome to your spring edition of the Ryman Times.

One of the best aspects of being part of a successful company is being able to share your success by helping when disaster strikes.

We were pleased to be able to respond to requests from our staff with family affected by the terrible floods in Kerala, Southern India.

We’ve responded to several requests for disaster help over years and the Ryman family never fails to rally behind their workmates and their families, and the response to the Kerala emergency was fantastic. So, thanks to everyone who took part in the fundraising efforts.

We also do our bit each year for large charity organisations and over the past 19 years we have given away more than $3 million to our charity partners.

This year it is the Stroke Foundation’s turn and they have started on their way around the country to carry out 50,000 free blood pressure checks in a Rymansponsored van.

Four years ago, we took our efforts to give back one step further when we set up the Ryman Prize.

The idea for the prize came from one of our long term investors, and we award the prize each year with his support.

There is nothing like it in the world.

It is a $250,000 cash prize for the best invention, idea, research concept or initiative anywhere in the world that has enhanced quality of life for older people.

It is our equivalent of a Nobel Prize for the health of older people.

We assembled a jury to decide on a winner each year and our jury of wise people has a hard job to decide.

Since we awarded the first prize in 2015

to Gabi Hollows, interest in the prize has grown and we’ve had hundreds of entries over the years from all over the world.

What has been really cool is the support we have had from the Government.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key launched the prize, and Sir Bill English presented it to two winners.

This year Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented the prize to our 2018 winner Takanori Shibata at what was a fantastic event at Bert Sutcliffe Retirement Village.

Takanori was a humble winner who has dedicated his career to finding ways to use technology to help older people. He thoroughly deserved his prize.

The aim of the prize is to encourage the best and brightest minds in the world to tackle the health problems faced by older people.

I can’t think of a better way of giving back to the people we look after.

And who knows, one day our prize might just inspire someone to make an extraordinary breakthrough. That’s our hope anyway!

I hope you are enjoying the better weather, and I look forward to catching up with many of you soon.

In this issue 3

Mayor officially opens Logan Campbell village

4

Japanese inventor wins the Ryman Prize

6 7

myRyman rolls on

9

Safer Together; a safety expo

10

Getting even more Delicious

11 12

The cat that came back

13

Floodgates open for River Road

14

Construction specialist joins the board

15 16

Together, apart

Taking myRyman to the next level

William Sanders honoured at Devonport retirement village

Ryman family rallies for Kerala

Regards,

Ryman Healthcare Ltd Airport Business Park, 92 Russley Road, Christchurch PO Box 771, Christchurch 8042 0800 588 222 www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz

Gordon MacLeod Chief Executive

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Front cover: The Right Honourable Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with the Ryman Prize winner Professor Takanori Shibata.

Gordon MacLeod and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff unveil the plaque at Logan Campbell's opening ceremony.

Mayor officially opens Logan Campbell village Logan Campbell Retirement Village was officially opened by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff in a special celebration held for residents and guests in September.

The Mayor welcomed the decision to name the $120 million village after a founding father.

“John Logan Campbell was widely regarded as the ‘Father of Auckland’ post the Treaty of Waitangi. He was a remarkable man and a fantastic benefactor to our city,” Mayor Phil Goff said.

The Greenlane village would take the number of people living in Ryman's Auckland villages to 2,500, helping cater to the city's rapidly increasing older population, the Mayor said. At the same time it freed up houses for a new generation of families.

“We've got 140,000 Aucklanders over the age of 65 and 20,000 of those are over 85 so we're living longer, and as we live longer our needs change and it's not so attractive to paint the house and cut the lawns and do the garden.

“Here you're living in an environment where you have plenty of green open space but it's all done for you.”

With your new Ryman villages

planned in Devonport, Lynfield, Henderson and Hobsonville it was no wonder more and more people were choosing this lifestyle, with quality care given by staff.

The Mayor's words followed a ¯ special blessing performed by Ngati ¯ ¯ kaumatua ¯ Whatua o Orakei Matt Maihi and Bob Hawke.

Gordon MacLeod said the Logan Campbell name was the favourite choice of residents. “The village is located on Campbell Road and looks out towards Cornwall Park and John Logan Campbell's final resting place on top of One Tree Hill,” he said.

Gordon praised staff for design and gaining approvals. They had done incredible work removing the old Kingsgate Hotel, and excavating 70,000 tonnes of volcanic rock.

“The team has created a beautiful

village nestled in the heart of one of Auckland's finest suburbs, which boasts incredible views across Auckland.”

Gordon told residents he was handing over the keys.

“It is your home, your place. It is your voices, your laughter, your memories, your companionship with fellow residents and your interactions and regard for our staff that will make this a special place.”

Gordon then invited Mayor Phil Goff to unveil the plaque and declare the village formally open.

Residents mingled with guests including Josephine Bartley, Chair of the Maungakiekie Tamaki Local Board, and David Seymour, Epsom MP. Singer Rebecca Nelson performed a short set of nostalgic songs.

Residents Gail Kime, Judy Stewart, Helen Walton, Rosemary Paton and Jan Beaumont.

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Japanese inventor wins the Ryman Prize Professor Takanori Shibata has been awarded the 2018 Ryman Prize in recognition of his more than 25 years of ground-breaking research into new technology to help older people.

Professor Shibata, an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics pioneer, was presented with the prize by the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

The Ryman Prize is an annual $250,000 international award for the best work carried out anywhere in the world that has enhanced quality of life for older people. It is the richest prize of its kind in the world.

“I am extremely proud to have won the Ryman Prize.”

Professor Shibata, Chief Senior Research Scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan, was awarded this year’s prize for his tenacity in pursuing new technology to help ease the burden of

older people suffering from dementia.

In 1993 he set out to create a device that would be a practical help to older people with conditions such as dementia. His product, PARO, is a therapeutic robot that uses sensors, robotics and sophisticated Artificial Intelligence software to mimic a real seal.

It has been proven as a drug-free therapeutic alternative to improve mood, reduce anxiety, decrease perception of pain, enhance sleep and decrease feelings of loneliness in patients.

PARO has been in production since 2005 and is used in 30 countries.

The Japanese inventor was delighted to win and said he would be using the money to invest in more research.

“I am extremely proud to have won the Ryman Prize,” Takanori Shibata said.

“It represents a lot of work over the past 25 years, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of many people and my family.

“We’ve proved that Artificial Intelligence has huge potential for the future. We’ve pioneered a way of working but there is a lot more work to do.”

About the Ryman Prize The Ryman Prize is administered by the Ryman Foundation. The annual prize consists of a $250,000 grant, which is awarded by an international jury to the best invention, idea, research concept or initiative that has enhanced the quality of life for older people.

It is the world’s richest prize of its type and was established to create the equivalent of a Nobel Prize for people working in the field of the health of older people.

The prize was launched in 2015 and the inaugural prize was won by Gabi Hollows, the founding director of The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Gabi Hollows set up the charity with her late husband Professor Fred Hollows, and

together they worked tirelessly to tackle the problem of preventable blindness in the developing world.

The 2016 prize was won by Professor Henry Brodaty. Professor Brodaty is a pioneer in diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia and his influence has been felt around the world.

The 2017 Ryman Prize was won by Professor Peter St George-Hyslop, a geneticist and researcher based at Cambridge and the University of Toronto.

Peter has spent 30 years researching neuro-degenerative diseases, focusing on discovering the key genes and proteins that cause cells to degenerate in diseases such as early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Professor Takanori Shibata was awarded the 2018 Ryman Prize.

The hardworking operations rollout team from left; Heather Barnett, Karen Lake, Fe Dulce Taganas and Victoria Brevoort. Absent: Maria Warriner.

myRyman rolls on Three years after it began, the myRyman Care revolution is now complete.

And the team behind the system are promising there is much more to come as their baby grows up and shows its true potential.

The innovative care application, that started out as an idea in 2015, is now live and operating on 3,500 Surface devices located within Ryman villages in New Zealand. The app monitors all residents in care.

“It makes creating tasks and doing handovers easy. It means residents get the care they need, nothing is missed.”

The journey began when Chief Operations Officer Barbara ReynenRose went looking for an off-theshelf electronic system for care but couldn't find one she liked.

The decision was taken to build Ryman's own care system, and three years of hard work began.

Dozens of staff across Ryman have been involved; ranging from those in nursing, IT, payroll and marketing right through to property.

The project team has created a robust electronic care system that means everyone involved in a resident's care can see their tasks and the plan for future care.

Staff can see progress at a glance, reduce their paperwork load and spend more time with residents.

At a party to celebrate the project, Barbara told team members they should be proud of their efforts.

“I think it is a major achievement to get this operational with the help of multiple teams who have been involved ... “(But) it's not finished – there are a lot more things we want to do. It's only going to get better and better.”

Jacky Fitzsimon was working as a clinical educator when the project began and was seconded to the

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myRyman team for the development.

She is now back in a village as a clinical manager, proud to use the app every day.

“I think it is most amazing for caregivers, it is there at the bedside all the time, with the information they need.

“It makes creating tasks and doing handovers easy. It means residents get the care they need, nothing is missed.”

Max Campbell had just joined IT when he was asked to help out with the myRyman team. More than 20 months later the IT team have rolled out 3,500 devices.

“I had no idea of what I was getting into. When I look back I think it's definitely a cool thing to have done,” Max said.

Gordon MacLeod said the project was a great achievement, which would keep Ryman Healthcare at the forefront of the aged care industry for years to come.

Taking myRyman to the next level The innovative myRyman Care application that started out in 2015 as an idea, flourished into a fantastic care application.

By late 2017, myRyman had got to such a scale that it was decided to bring the software development in-house and to create a dedicated team of software developers. This team was responsible to not only develop myRyman, but also to take it to the next level.

The team consists of software developers, quality assurance staff, and product owners.

The developers write the code using a language called C# and the quality assurance specialists test the code and try to break it so that it is ready to be rolled out without any problems. And the product owners are responsible for planning the work and making sure the team delivers to end users in Ryman’s villages.

The myRyman team is split into two – and the teams got to choose their own names.

The Sledgehammers were so

named because their team had a large load of work to bust through to deliver core work in a short amount of time.

The Swiss Knives, taking on smaller projects, chose the name because they wanted to be nimble, adaptable and solve a lot of problems. Just like a Swiss Army Knife really!

“We feel a really close connection to our purpose, you only have to visit a village to see how it affects our residents' lives.”

They’re diverse teams with five different nationalities and a whole lot of different skills and industry experiences and backgrounds.

Their common purpose is to make myRyman the best it can be.

The next big phase the teams have been taking responsibility for is myRyman Assessments, now being piloted at Anthony Wilding.

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Technical Lead Andrew Leith says working for Ryman is different to other roles because of the sense of purpose that working for older people brings.

“If you’re writing software for a product delivery system or something like that it doesn’t mean as much.

“We feel a really close connection to our purpose, you only have to visit a village to see how it affects our residents’ lives,” Andrew says.

Pictured above: Back row: Edilenson Igot, Wei Chen, Reuben Mahendran, Haydon Baddock, Misa Patterson, Jono Burch, Steven Lemon. Centre row: Mark Gribble, Leigh Sandoe, Jamie Sherriff, Jack Foster, Daniel Bromley. Front row: Andrew Leith, Charles Han. Missing are Graeme Muir of the Sledgehammers, as well as Katrina Ede, Georgia Ritchie, Emma Laing, Lynda McRobie, and Chris Wright who form part of the greater team.

Safe

Togethe RYMAN SAFETY EXPO

Team members got to try simulated driving under the influence of alcohol RymanorTimes drugs.• 8

er

er 2018

Safer Together Ryman Healthcare sent a powerful message to staff assembled at its first ever company-wide safety expo.

Addressing a 350-strong crowd of Ryman construction and maintenance workers, gardeners, village managers, and key subcontractors, Gordon MacLeod said that safety is the number one priority.

“It is the value that I and the Ryman Board rank higher than our profits, higher than the timeframes to complete a job and higher than the share price.”

On the day Ryman’s major construction sites were shut down in order for key construction team leaders to gather together.

Gordon said he wanted people to feel able to stop what they were doing if they didn’t feel safe doing it; to stop others doing unsafe things and to speak up if they weren’t being supported to work safely.

“You should feel confident to do what you need to do to keep yourself safe and your people safe.

“I love the theme for the day – Safer Together.

It’s ‘Safer’ because we’re striving to do better, and ‘Together’ means it’s not just down to one person, it’s a team effort.”

The key things to get people thinking of safety, he said, were good planning and empowering people to make good decisions.

Between speakers there were some fun activities too, including experiencing the hoists used to lift residents in the villages, trying on vision-distorting ‘beer goggles’ while attempting to walk in a straight line, and virtual reality headsets which made you feel like you were walking on a plank on a high-rise construction site.

“Everyone walking home okay is what we want to achieve.”

Many were freaked out by the sensation of height even though they were only 2cm above the ground!

Gordon also introduced a video featuring Ryman staff who talked about how safety affects them as a person as well as their families.

Hearing their colleagues share these extremely emotional personal stories had a sobering effect on everyone present.

“Everyone walking home okay is what we want to achieve,” said Gordon.

“That’s what I’d like today to be about, us thinking about doing things differently and better.”

Clinical psychologist Nigel Latta urged Rymanians to make work a nice place for humans.

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Delicious menus strive to provide fresh ingredients and exemplary recipes.

Getting even more Delicious When Ryman embarked on the Delicious refresh of its food service back in 2016 the plan was to create new seasonal menus, revamp the way we delivered food, and to use the freshest ingredients.

Since then, Ryman has delivered new menus and revamped food delivery, and over the past few months the focus has shifted to the ingredients received from our suppliers, Hospitality Services Manager Andrew Gibson says.

“We can’t produce Delicious food without fantastic ingredients.

And with 10,000 meals to deliver each day, that’s a lot of ingredients!”

Before Ryman reviewed the supply contracts, Andrew and the team surveyed Ryman’s kitchen and village teams for frank feedback on what was working, and what needed to improve.

“We then went back to our suppliers and asked them to re-tender for our contracts based on the improvements we had in mind.

That way we could get them to buy in to the improvements we wanted to make.”

Lemon tarts are a favourite among residents.

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“We can't produce Delicious food without fantastic ingredients. And with 10,000 meals to deliver each day. thats alot of ingredients.”

As a result, Ryman’s food basket changed in the latest round of tenders. Bidfood will supply dry, chilled and frozen food, along with juice, poultry, seafood and butchery supplies. In Dunedin, Robertson’s Butchery supplies butchery items to the villages. Finally, Fresh Connection will supply fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs to all villages.

Ryman has worked with Bidfood and Robertson’s Butchery for a long time, but the new addition to our supplier team is Fresh Connection in Pukekohe.

Fresh Connection will work with suppliers in Hawkes Bay and Dunedin to ensure we get the freshest produce around the country.

The team from Fresh Connection will also be visiting our kitchen teams to introduce themselves.

Diversional Therapist Christine Tweedie with Isobel Marsh's Charlie.

The cat that came back When Woodcote resident Isobel Marsh moved into the village in late 2017, she missed her Charlie immensely.

Charlie, a big fluffy grey cat, remained behind in Australia when Isobel moved back to New Zealand.

“After about six months, I missed him so much. Liz (the manager at Woodcote) agreed to have Charlie come here,” says Isobel.

For his first two weeks in New Zealand, Charlie lived with Isobel in her room.

However, he was unhappy about being cooped up.

“So, I let him out, which was a big mistake!”

Charlie promptly disappeared in Christchurch’s concrete jungle.

Woodcote Diversional Therapist Christine Tweedie swooped in to help search. The team created flyers and walked around, but they searched in vain.

Christine called the SPCA and put ads on websites to help with the search.

For three and half months there was no news.

“Then I got this call from a lady who saw the ad online,” says Christine.

Charlie it seems, had turned up on her doorstep. As she had already taken in two other cats, she didn’t want another, but her family started caring for him.

His walkabout was a nightmare as it was clear he hadn’t eaten well.

He was very scrawny, and his fur was matted. Charlie also received a new name – Smokey.

Isobel and Charlie were soon reunited.

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“I was so happy when I got him back,” says Isobel.

Isobel was very grateful for everyone who helped her find her furry friend.

“Christine went above and beyond the call of duty!”

And for Charlie “Smokey” Marsh, the outdoors might still be a distant dream, but hopefully when his confinement period ends, he will finally call Woodcote home.

Able Musician Rebecca Nelson, RNZN, moved the crowd with her singing.

William Sanders honoured at Devonport retirement village Ryman's new Devonport retirement village has been named in honour of New Zealand's most highly decorated naval hero – William Sanders.

William, the only New Zealander to win a Victoria Cross in a naval battle, died after his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine in 1917.

He won the Victoria Cross – the Commonwealth's highest honour for bravery – as well as the Distinguished Service Order.

Ryman Healthcare names its villages after local people and William Sanders was suggested as an appropriate name by Devonport residents.

The name was unveiled at a special event in early October. Eric Welch, William's great nephew, told residents, staff and members of the Royal New Zealand Navy, that it was a great honour for the family.

“It would mean a lot to my grandmother. William was her brother and she talked about him a lot – there was a great heaviness of heart.”

Gordon MacLeod said it was an honour to name the village after such a significant hero.

“William was an extraordinarily brave New Zealander.”

Born in Auckland in 1883, William went to Takapuna Grammar School and grew up with a love of swimming and the sea. When World War 1 broke out he joined the Royal Navy Reserve and served on several ships before being given command of the HMS Prize.

The Prize was a Q Ship – a decoy vessel that was used to lure German submarines into an attack.

Royal New Zealand Navy historian Michael Wynd said Q Ships were used in dangerous cat and mouse games.

In April 1917, the Prize was sailing off the coast of Ireland when it was attacked by submarine U-93. William and the crew kept their nerve while under intense shelling by the U-boat for 25 minutes, and struck back to damage the enemy.

William was awarded the Victoria

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Cross for his “conspicuous gallantry, consummate coolness and skill in command” while in action. In August 1917, William, aged 34, was killed when the Prize was attacked by another submarine.

“William Sanders remains the most highly decorated naval officer in our history,” Michael Wynd said.

The first residents are due to move into William Sanders Retirement Village early next year.

William Sanders Retirement Village will include independent apartments, serviced apartments as well as a care centre with resthome, hospital and dementialevel care options. Amenities include an indoor swimming pool, spa, gymnasium, hairdressing and beauty salons, café, movie theatre, library, a bar and billiards room.

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Debbie McClure speaks to the crowd about village life.

Floodgates open for River Road The possibility that Hamilton retirees may not have heard that Ryman Healthcare was building a second Ryman village in town was significantly reduced by the sheer numbers attending two recent public meetings.

Nearly 200 people turned up to Hamilton Golf Club-based information presentations, delivered

by Ryman’s Chief Financial Officer David Bennett and Group Sales and Marketing Officer Debbie McClure.

The pair introduced the rest of the River Road site team including Sales Advisors Sandy Turner and David de Veth, Regional Sales Manager Jane O’Connell, Project Manager Gary Cox and Regional Construction Manager David Gibson.

David Bennett explained Ryman’s points of difference, including that the company designed and built its own villages which it then went on to run.

“We’re all about providing choice for older people and offering them the very best in aged care.

“And because we do everything in-house, our designs evolve over time and we’re continuously looking to improve on the last (project).

“We see if there are any lessons to be learned to take forward for the next village, taking into account residents’ feedback.”

The 8.3 hectare site, situated on the banks of the beautiful Waikato River in the suburb of Flagstaff, was previously farm land but will soon cater for more than 400 retirees.

The first stage of town houses and independent apartments, offered from July, are nearly all sold. The

second stage of town houses and serviced apartments went on sale in September.

David said that the first residents could hope to move in to the first independent apartments from March while the village centre was pegged to open in April 2020.

He also invited the audience to offer their suggestions for a potential name for the village.

David then took a few questions from the audience before inviting everyone to enjoy a cup of tea and a snack while taking a closer look at the plans.

Regional Sales and Community Relations Manager Jane O'Connell with River Road Sales Advisors David de Veth and Sandy Turner.

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Independent Director Anthony Leighs.

Construction specialist joins the board Christchurch-based Anthony Leighs has joined Ryman's board of directors.

Anthony founded Leighs Construction in 1995 and has built the privately-owned company into one of New Zealand's leading commercial construction contractors.

Ryman Healthcare Chairman Dr David Kerr said Anthony was a welcome addition to the board.

“Anthony brings a deep knowledge of the construction industry to the board table. He's built his own successful construction company from the ground up, so he understands exactly what it takes to build complicated construction projects safely, on time and within budget. We look forward to his contribution over the coming years.”

Anthony, 47, joined on October 1st.

“I am very excited about joining Ryman Healthcare's board of directors,” Anthony said.

“I have enormous admiration for the business, for the services the business provides to older people, the company's grounded and caring

“I am very excited about joining Ryman Healthcare's board of directors.” values and the success that has been generated to date.

“Building is an important part of Ryman's activities and I look forward to contributing to what I am sure will be further success over the coming years.”

Ryman Healthcare has a busy construction division, with four new villages under construction and another 12 villages in its development pipeline.

Gordon MacLeod said it was good to have Anthony on board as Ryman looked to double its build rate over the next few years.

“We're already one of the largest residential and healthcare infrastructure builders in New Zealand, and our growth plans require a further lift in our building capacity while maintaining safety and quality.

“We’ve got some really challenging

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goals to meet so we are delighted to welcome Anthony to the board. He brings a specific set of governance skills which will support our everexpanding development and construction operations.”

Anthony Leighs' appointment brings the number of directors on Ryman's board from six to seven.

Ryman Board • • • • • • •

Dr David Kerr, independent director, chairman.

Warren Bell, independent director, deputy chairman.

Jo Appleyard, independent director.

George Savvides, independent director.

Claire Higgins, independent director.

Geoff Cumming, director.

Anthony Leighs, independent director.

Jean and Dick Yates in Jean's serviced apartment at Ngaio Marsh.

Together, apart When Jean and Dick Yates first moved into their townhouse at Ngaio Marsh Retirement Village 12 years ago, they wanted independence but with an eye to any health challenges ahead.

“We were trying to decide whether or not to move into a smaller townhouse in the neighbourhood,” says 95-year-old Jean.

“And then we stopped and thought how stupid we are because in a few years we would need to have some kind of care or support.”

“So, we decided to put our money down here,” says Dick.

Jean, a retired chemist, and Dick, 98, who was an accountant, moved into the village in early 2006 and lived in their townhouse for 10 years. They’ve never looked back.

Ngaio Marsh village, located in Christchurch, includes a full range of retirement options, along with the best of resthome and hospital care.

“It was close to our church, close to where Dick was working, and it was all familiar territory,” says Jean.

“We loved it. It suited us extremely well.”

The village, close to both Merivale and Northlands Malls, features independent townhouses, serviced apartments and a care centre.

Ngaio Marsh also boasts an allweather bowling green, an indoor heated swimming pool, spa, grand atrium, library, gymnasium, hair salon, bar, shop and croquet lawn.

“As much as we loved our townhouse, the time came when we needed more support.”

“As much as we loved our townhouse, the time came when we needed more support,” says Jean.

In 2016, Dick moved into the resthome and Jean into a serviced apartment overlooking the gardens.

Ngaio Marsh sales advisor Marie Kyle-Stevenson says that serviced apartments are usually one-bedroom or studio apartments that come with a range of services, including meals, housekeeping services, morning and afternoon tea.

“With our continuum of care, our

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townhouse residents have priority to move into a serviced apartment,” Marie says.

“As a couple it is convenient to be in the same village because in life you do not always move forward with the same health issues.”

For Jean, the biggest advantage of living in a serviced apartment at Ngaio Marsh is that she is still near her husband.

They spend time together every day, either in Jean’s serviced apartment, the resthome lounge or in Dick’s room.

“The staff are just marvellous,” says Jean.

But it all comes down to being, and feeling, at home.

As Dick gets up to leave, Jean stops him.

“Have a cup of tea first, dear,” she says.

And Dick sits down smiling.

A barbecue lunch in Christchurch raised $1,240 for Kerala.

Ryman family rallies for Kerala The Ryman family has thrown its support behind the Kerala flood relief campaign, with thousands of dollars of support rolling in.

The worst monsoon floods for almost 100 years ravaged the state in southern India in August, killing 483 and displacing more than 1 million people.

Ryman Healthcare donated $10,000 to the Indian Red Cross as well as assistance packages for 62 staff with family directly affected in Kerala.

In addition, the Ryman fundraising machine raised $12,500, which Ryman will match dollar for dollar taking the total to $25,000. The money was raised by a series of barbecues and bake sales around the country to add to the total.

Divya Mannayath said the fundraising meant a lot to her family back in Kerala.

“I feel so proud to be part of Ryman.

The people over there are really appreciative, they cannot believe that my work place would be so kind. It’s a good amount of money in Kerala, it will go a long way.”

Divya, who is the Hospital Coordinator at Malvina Major in

Wellington, said the floods had been devastating for her husband’s family back home.

“They’re all okay but it was the first time they had been through anything like it. They didn’t know what to carry out and what to leave in their homes.

They’re safe but they have lost so much.”

Divya said the floods had brought the network of Ryman staff from Kerala closer together, and she had been in contact with others around the country.

“I knew a lot more people from other villages around the country, so we are keeping in touch. It’s a good network, like a family within a family.”

Monsoon floods caused widespread destruction in Kerala, with 483 people killed.

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