GOLDEN GAINS – FITNESS BY SENIORS, FOR SENIORS • RESOURCE RECOVERY – BOUND TO BE GOOD
LIVE WIRE
THE SOUND OF HEALING – MUSIC’S MAGIC
CENTENARIAN SPARKY
COVER: Summerset at the Course fitness instructors
Photo credit: Jono from Empire Films.
Whangārei
Milldale
Hobsonville Ellerslie
Karaka
Rototuna
9,100
More than New Zealanders call
Cambridge
Summerset home
Nelson
Richmond
Avonhead
Wigram
Prebbleton
Hamilton
Bell Block
New Plymouth
Whanganui
Levin
Waikanae
Otaihanga
Paraparaumu
Warkworth
Devonport Peninsula
St Johns
Half Moon Bay
Manukau
Katikati
Papamoa Beach
Rotorua
Taupō
Napier
Mission Hills
Te Awa
Hastings
Havelock North
Palmerston North
Kelvin Grove
Masterton
Blenheim
Rangiora
Casebrook
Rolleston
Trentham
Boulcott
Aotea
Kenepuru
KEY
= Summerset village
= Proposed village
Dunedin
Mosgiel
Story to share?
We really enjoy telling your stories. If you have an exciting or interesting tale to tell, get in touch with us.
We’d love to hear from you!
magazine@summerset.co.nz
Hello from Ellie
Welcome to the Spring issue of Summerset Scene . This season is my favourite. The burst of life in nature, the chill of winter is behind us and the days are longer and lighter. It’s a season that makes me feel livelier and I want to get up and move. Our cover stars at Summerset at the Course in Trentham don’t wait for spring time – their exercise class has been running twice a week, whatever the season, for the past decade. Read their story on page 4.
Speaking of moving, Martin Smyth at Summerset at Pohutakawa Place may be 101 years old, but that’s not slowing him down. His mechanical mind combined with his extensive understanding of electrics means he is known as Mr Fix-It to fellow villagers. Read his story on page 14. Meanwhile in Hawke’s Bay, former bookbinder Ben Norris fixes up things for a different purpose. The Summerset in the Vines resident repairs furniture to help local families in need. Read his story on page 10.
Up in Auckland, music is the driver for Summerset at Heritage Park resident Pauline Grogan. The former nun, educator and author has a lifelong affinity for music, and her latest book Miss Adventure: Healing with Music details its restorative powers. Read her story on page 12.
For Summerset in the Sun staff Jacques Doman and Daniel Gordon keeping their community safe is what drives them. Summerset Scene talks to them about their roles as volunteer firefighters. Read their story on page 19.
Lynda Hallinan brings us a splash of colour in Gardening on page 30, while Jude Dobson muses on the origin of popular expressions on page 17. We also have book recommendations, crafts and style advice, as well as a calendar of events in Summerset Sessions. Happy reading!
Ellie Clifford SUMMERSET SCENE EDITOR
Are you a member of Blind Low Vision NZ? If so, you can also find the latest issue of Summerset Scene in the Blind Low Vision NZ library.
L-R: Marg Chester, Jill Devlin, Jeff Roberts, Heather Small, Roger Gillatt, Carol Hoult, and John Tomlinson.
Golden Gains:
FITNESS BY SENIORS, FOR SENIORS
BY ELLIE CLIFFORD
“Helicopter North! Helicopter Racecourse!” Roger Gillatt calls out. It’s a Tuesday morning and 44 pairs of poi are spinning in the direction of various village reference points to the tune of ‘Haere Mai’.
Good-natured laughter rings out as some poi get tangled, before the instructors swap and the class begins an upbeat movement routine to the Village People’s ‘YMCA’. The instructors switch again and the music changes to the classical strains of a violin as the class perform a stretching sequence to wind down.
This is the Use It or Lose It (UIOLI) fitness class, run by residents for the residents, at Summerset at the Course in Upper Hutt. The strength and balance programme offered is approved by Nuku Ora for its effectiveness in reducing falls in older people.
“The programme has been running for 10 years,” says instructor and resident John
Tomlinson. “Twice a week for 45 minutes. It’s extremely popular. Today there were 44 participants, more than we have ever had! We’ll need a bigger room at this rate!”
The Trentham village was in its infancy when Use it or Lose It was introduced by a Summerset physiotherapist, who taught village residents not only the moves, but how to teach them safely to others. “We learned in the temporary rec centre!” laughs Heather Small, who along with John and Roger was one of the first residents to become an instructor.
There are four other trained instructors: Jeff Roberts, Carol Hoult, Jill Devlin and Margaret (Marg) Chester.
UIOLI consists of eight exercise programmes, each containing ten routines designed to work out the whole body. To be able to teach the course, the residents had to learn how to perform these safely and guide participants when needed. There are seven instructors currently, and they take it in turns to run each set of exercises. “It might seem like there are a
lot of us up there, but there’s a lot to organise with equipment and so on. If there’s only three or four then it gets quite tiring!” laughs Carol.
“Every instructor in our group learns each set,” says Jeff, “so we can cover for each other if someone is sick or on holiday. We might have our favourites, but we try and switch it up and keep variety in the routines.”
Carol thinks residents teaching the class results in a growth mindset. “As seniors ourselves we don’t have any preconceived notions about limitations. If we can do the exercises, we assume that the participants can at least try.”
Carol delights in seeing participants’ improvements in fitness and strength.
“When you are at the front of the room you can see the results. It’s gratifying to see.”
Marg agrees. “We had one gentleman participant in his nineties who had to pass a medical to renew his driving licence. His doctor was thrilled at his balance and coordination!”
Village manager Craig Braun notes that almost none of the falls recorded in the village involve class participants. ACC has also taken notice, featuring some of the instructors in their Live Stronger for Longer: Prevent Falls and Fractures advertising campaign.
While the physical benefits are obvious, the class also builds social connections and camaraderie – elements that play a prominent role in participants’ overall wellbeing. Tea and biscuits provided post-session give the opportunity for a natter. “One resident brings biscuits for everyone without fail,” comments John, and members hold a class BBQ twice a year. “It’s the notion of hauora, health as the
Above: UIOLI use a variety of equipment in sessions. (Photos by Jono from Empire Films).
integration of the whole body – mental, physical and social”, says Carol. John agrees. “One participant was so shy she wouldn’t speak, but since joining the class she has really blossomed,” he says. “Other residents take it upon themselves to look out for one another in the class.” It is also a very good opportunity for new residents to integrate into village life. “Ten per cent of the village attend our class,” Roger notes.
Expanding their teaching repertoire has also given the instructors a sense of purpose. Poi spinning requires synchronised hand movements and enhances hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which can improve balance and coordination as well as muscle strength. The UIOLI instructors were taught the art of poi spinning by pupils from Trentham School, where Heather used to work. “They came to the village, and we gave them a morning tea afterwards. They were very young – around 10 – but they were very good!” A fellow resident made all the pois with yarn and donated socks for the class to use.
When Roger explored the idea of using balls in class, he discovered a challenge with the smooth-surfaced options available.
“Participants with arthritic fingers had trouble catching them – we needed textured ones,” he explains. With none to be found locally, Heather stepped in and brought back a batch from Australia during her holiday. The group are creative with equipment solutions, such as skinny foam pipes to play the ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ hand strengthening exercises or plastic milk bottles filled with sand to use as weights. Like the socks for the poi, village residents donated their old milk bottles for the cause.
Summerset happily provides specialist equipment. “We just send an email to our Village Manager with what we would like, and it gets taken care of,” Jeff says. The instructors all wear blue shirts with the intitials UIOLI iand Trentham embroidered on, and participants can also choose to buy them. “Most do,” says Carol. “It’s a nice way to feel part of a group.
Above top: Naku Ora certificate of approval. Centre and below: Camaraderie and social connections are built through the class.
FAST FOOD
The old joke goes: What’s the fastest cake? A scone! This is certainly true at some of our Divine cafés where super fast ovens have been installed. Following feedback from our residents, we have invested in MerryChef high speed ovens for 11 of our busiest Divine Cafés across our Summerset villages. Café service staff themselves can cook popular counter dishes, such as scones, in just a couple of minutes. This also gives the café staff greater control over service timing, allowing food and beverages to be delivered together with ease. Kitchen staff are also pleased, as their daily prep time has been cut by an hour just for scones alone, giving them more time to focus on creating delicious meals.
Holiday IN AUCKLAND
An army of Sweepies
Following a successful trial at Summerset at Heritage Park, all medium and large Summerset villages have invested in robotic housekeepers to keep floors mopped and vacuumed in village common areas. The mighty mops keep our receptions, cafés, lounges, activity rooms, library, and corridors clean and tidy in village centres in 24 of our villages. Working in pairs, one machine is dedicated to scrubbing while the other vacuums. The automated army can cover a whopping 1,180 metre square area per hour, freeing up our housekeeping staff to work in other areas. Residents and staff have welcomed the robots to the Summerset family, giving them monikers including Taylor Sweep, Mary Moppins and Optimus Grime!
We are excited to welcome two more Summerset villages to our holiday home programme. Bookings at Summerset Falls in Warkworth and at Summerset St Johns, our premium village in the heart of Auckland’s eastern suburbs, are anticipated to open by October. Our exclusive short-stay holiday homes give Summerset residents and their family members the opportunity to experience life at another Summerset village, in a fully furnished, one-bedroom apartment. Enjoy a peaceful retreat alongside the tranquil Mahurangi River at rural North Auckland’s Summerset Falls, or enjoy a city break at Summerset St Johns with its resort-style amenities, including an indoor pool, hair salon and recreational bowling green with stunning views of Rangitoto Island. To learn more about our holiday home offerings, visit: www.summerset.co.nz/holidayhomes/
ST JOHNS CELEBRITY HOST
We were delighted to host an afternoon with the Rt Hon Sir John Key, former New Zealand Prime Minister, at Summerset St Johns in July. It was held on the second floor of the St Johns’ village centre with unimpeded views over Rangitoto island. Sir John entertained with stories about his time as the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, as well as an insight into his exciting life post-politics. More than 110 guests and staff were in attendance, and canapés and drinks were enjoyed in the Sojourn Bar & Lounge post-talk while residents and guests mingled with Sir John.
Art in the Park is back!
Summerset is thrilled to be once again partnering with Art in the Park, taking place September 18–21. Australasia’s single most visited art show, Art in the Park transforms the hallowed ground of Eden Park, home to New Zealand rugby, into a unique, curated celebration of New Zealand art and culture. With unmissable large-scale sculptures located turf-side, visitors can explore paintings, photography and wall art from more than 150 of New Zealand’s best artists, and take in new talent at the new MAS Emerging Artists’ Gallery. On Friday, 19 Summerset will be offering The Summerset Seniors Morning – an exclusive viewing experience for those aged 65 and older from 10am–12pm. Visit www.artinthepark.co.nz/tickets for more information.
Award winning Summerset staff
Summerset satisfies
We are delighted to report that responses to our Summerset Satisfaction survey have increased by 1,000 respondents, reflecting the increasing popularity of our villages. February’s resident survey saw us achieve our highest satisfaction scores to date, with 97% satisfaction for village and care. Feedback is hugely important to us, and we gather opinions from our residents and families in several different ways, including focus groups on various topics, pilot studies, resident and staff village meetings and executive village visits.
We are proud of our staff across Summerset, and we are thrilled when their accomplishments are recognised externally. We are delighted for Summerset’s National Building Services Manager Lian Versteeg, who has been honoured by Building Institute Aotearoa at the annual Building People Awards in August. Lian took home both the Emerging Leader Award and Supreme Award, the youngest recipient ever to receive the honour. Lian’s technical expertise was recognised, as was his dedication to his colleagues and wider community. Our procurement team work hard to get the goods and services we need to keep Summerset running smoothly. We are incredibly proud that they took home the award of Best Procurement Transformation & Change Programme at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Australia and New Zealand’s Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards in Brisbane in August.
Summerset’s Procurement team.
Resource Recovery BOUND TO BE GOOD
Ben Norris’s former career as a bookbinder has stood him in good stead when it comes to the precision needed to restore furniture. The Summerset in the Vines resident volunteers his time with Re-Source, a waste reduction initiative that matches donated items with community needs.
“I use my garage as my workshop, and park on my drive,” says Ben, who always has a few projects for the charity on the go. “Currently I am restoring a sofa bed that has a broken base.” Handy with a hammer, for this job Ben will use wooden pallets thrown away by Carters, and uses his sewing skills to repair any ripped upholstery. “A bookbinding skill which comes in useful,” he remarks. “Sofas and beds need to survive being jumped on by kids, so I make sure they are good and solid when they go to their new homes.”
Ben has been involved with Re-Source for the past three years, fixing up the furniture that comes his way. “The charity doesn’t sell anything; it gives it away. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who have nothing.” While he sources some materials for free, Ben pays for a lot out of his own pocket. “I go through a lot of nails and sandpaper! I probably spend about $1,000 a year, but it’s my hobby so I am fine with it.”
“The main reason I do it is because I enjoy it. It keeps my brain busy to consider how to fix something. I
Captions 1 &2: Ben’s restored tea trays. 3: His garage workshop. 4: Ben at his villa.
usually do about a piece every fortnight, though once I did 37 double beds in a row!”
During his repairing hobby, Ben has also been reunited with some items from his past life. “I was refurbishing some tea trays that were pretty worn out,” he says. “Once I had cleaned them up I could read the name on the back. They had belonged to my late father-in-law, who had brought them over from London many years ago when he emigrated to New Zealand!”
An immigrant himself, Ben grew up in Glasgow in Scotland. “My family were very poor,” he says. “I was the poor kid in a good school. Bookbinding was the best-paid job back then, so let’s say I was strongly encouraged to do it! I wanted to be a draughtsman.”
An avid reader, Ben was fed a steady diet of left-wing literature by his socialist grandfather. “I had read Marx and Lenin by the time I was 12!” Learning both hand binding and machine binding, Ben’s experience with his UK employer William Collins stood Ben in good stead for a job in New Zealand, and he left the UK in 1964. “I hated living there,” he says. “I couldn’t stand the class system.”
Transferred to Auckland by his employer, Ben was 21 when he flew to New Zealand on the Comet, the first passenger plane to New Zealand from England. “It was $250 for the airfare, and after two weeks’ living here you couldn’t have prised me
away from the country with an iron bar!” Ben met his future wife, Carol, at a dance shortly after his arrival in New Zealand, and the couple eventually began their own bookbinding business on the premises of their North Shore home in Auckland, where they raised their three children. “We would do about 100 books a week, binding for national and local libraries, from the north in Whangārei down to Hastings.” Ben tries not to buy books himself, preferring libraries, though he does have a collection at his villa he has bound himself. “I bought them second-hand; they were all tattered. Books have always been expensive, and I can restore them, so why buy new?”
A carpenter’s union card holder, Ben honed his carpentry skills as a house builder and has worked on big projects such as the construction of the Ellerslie Racecourse. After he and Carol sold up their binding business in 1999, they moved to Hawke’s Bay, where Ben used his building skills again as the engineer’s representative for the Port of Napier, remaining there until he was in his 70s.
“I moved to Summerset in the Vines almost four years ago,” Ben says. “We had a half-acre section with 20-odd trees, and once Carol died it became too much for me. I like it here; the villas have lots of space, and I play pool and croquet here. I love to grow my tomatoes and peas in my patio garden too. I am content.”
5. Ben’s bound books, 6. Medal of recognition for bookbinding. 7 & 8. Rebounded Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle.
5.
THE SOUND OF
HEALING
BY ELLIE CLIFFORD
Pauline Grogan has lived and breathed music all her life. Her mother taught piano. Her father loved singing and storytelling.
Pauline was just 17 when she entered the convent, where sacred music became her daily companion and spiritual balm. “Music has always been my solace; it touches my soul. I could listen to it and feel love and laughter, or sob and sob,” Pauline says, reflecting on the deep emotional connection that music offers her.
During her 12 years as a Catholic nun, Pauline discovered her calling as an educator. Thrown into the classroom with little preparation, she flourished – connecting with children through creativity, empathy and song. After leaving religious life, she married and began building a new kind of ministry – one rooted not in church pews but in community service.
In 1996, her book Beyond the Veil – which lifted the curtain on abuse in religious orders – brought Pauline into the public eye. What followed was a whirlwind: inspirational speaking tours, a one-woman play and a new path as a celebrant for weddings and funerals. Music remained Pauline’s constant.
Pauline has seen the restorative power of music in others too. In 2009, her childhood friend Colleen suffered a stroke and friends became unrecognisable. But Pauline refused to give up. In 2013, she wrote a song for Colleen and sang it to her during one of their weekly visits. “Suddenly, she stirred, making slow, almost static
movements… She peered into my face, scrutinising it with full focus and intention. In a clear voice she said, ‘It’s you, it’s you.’” Pauline’s voice breaks as she recounts the moment – proof that music could reach what medicine could not.
But music’s most powerful healing may have come when Pauline needed it most. At 75 she believed she was having a heart attack. Hospital tests revealed otherwise. When angiogram procedures caused brain bleeds, Pauline was left with debilitating neuropathic pain. “My entire life changed irrevocably. I would never again be pain free. Everything stopped. It is now five years.”
No longer able to lift objects or participate in community life, Pauline was forced into an unwanted stillness. “Who are you when everything you stand for has gone?” she asks. “Going from motivational speaking, highly sociable, teaching and interacting, to stuck at home with only one working hand and in pain?”
Again, it was music that brought hope to her when she was in despair. In 2020, in collaboration with a team of supporters, My Music Ignites My Soul was born.
The initiative bridges generations through the shared power of music.
In partnership with Age Concern NZ, Rotary and the Duke of Edinburgh community service component, the project pairs tech-savvy students with senior citizens.
Summerset’s National Therapeutic Recreation
Lead Orquidea Tamayo Mortera has supported Pauline’s initiative since they met at the 2018 Age Concern Conference.“She was my first visitor after my stroke,” Pauline says. After Covid scuppered the planned launched of the programme at Te Papa, it was moved to Summerset at Monterey Park. Students from Pinehurst School spoke to the seniors about co-creating personalised playlists – soundtracks to a life – that at the touch of an icon, brings healing, memories and emotions flooding back.
“The aim is for young people to prepare a playlist for a senior, so they can listen with ease.” But its impact goes far beyond convenience. “This programme’s ambition, alongside the musical legacy for senior citizens, is to foster intergenerational and cross-cultural relationships and understanding,” Pauline explains.
Pauline’s latest book, Miss Adventure: Healing with Music documents her health recovery with music as her anchor. The project has also recently been embraced by a local Auckland Steiner School. “MP Greg Fleming was canvassing and I told him about the project. He put me in touch with the principal of Michael Park School. We are
discussing a collaboration.”
Pauline says her goal and dream is to get back into the community, work she held so dear to her heart. Pauline chose to move to Summerset at Heritage Park to be closer to the Greenlane pain clinic and to have a community around her. She works closely with the diversional therapist at the care centre to bring music to the residents.
Pauline is energised by a force within her that is deeply spiritual although not tied to a religion. “Music always animates my spirit.”
Above L-R: Pauline with her supporters.
Live wire: CENTENARIAN SPARKY
At 101, Martin Smyth is not your typical centenarian. Sprightly and busy, he has spent the morning orienteering with his 72-year-old daughter Jackie and several New Plymouth secondary schools.
“Jackie did a lot of cartography. She creates orienteering courses for the schools, so I enjoy watching the event with her,” explains Martin. Martin will often be seen striding briskly around the Summerset at Pohutukawa Place village, often with a project on the go and a smile on his face. Moving with the energy of a much younger fellow, Martin is a source of inspiration and admiration for residents and staff alike. Known not just for his energy but for his generosity, Martin’s the go-to man for anyone with a stubborn old radio, broken lights or appliance in need of repair. “I’m known as Mr Fix-It,” he says cheerfully. In fact, he has just taken delivery of two boxes of peanut brownies that a grateful resident has baked him as thanks.
A lifelong tinkerer with a sharp engineering mind, Martin spent his entire working life in the electrical industry, with two years as a radar technician in the army during the second world war. “That’s where I learned to fix radios,” he explains.
Post-retirement he became a lifetime member of the New Plymouth Society of Model and Experimental Engineers, pouring his energy into crafting intricately detailed miniature trains for visitors to Pukekura Park to ride. “I had had
enough of wires and transistors at that point!” he says. Martin and his late wife, Betty, had a ‘his ‘n’ hers’ locomotive each to drive, built by Martin. “Betty’s was painted in the NZR fruit salad colours,” Martin says.
Martin’s larger steam engine was based on the English Springbok locomotive. While local children were drawn to Martin’s due to its resemblance to Thomas from Thomas the Tank Engine, Betty preferred her diesel engine with its electric motor. “She didn’t like driving mine because she didn’t like the sparks that came from the chimney!” says Martin.
The couple met in Oamaru through their Baptist church when Martin was 24 and Betty was 19. “I couldn’t pin her down for a while,” Martin recalls fondly. “She wanted to sit her Hansard shorthand exams before getting married. She sat and passed them.”
Cut from the same cloth, the couple both worked at the power company, and enjoyed tinkering together. “We did everything together,” Martin says. Their first project was designing and creating a set of bellows made from roller blind material for a photographic enlarger Martin was building. “Betty took apart anything, including a Wurlitzer organ once. We worked out we’d sent 2.5 tonnes of steel to the scrap metal man over five years!”
Other hobbyists benefited from their explorations, with model plane and boat clubs appreciating the
tiniest screws and bolts that were saved for them from 56 computers and 500 relays. A keen amateur radio operator, for 15 years Martin volunteered his evenings preparing budding ham radio operators for their amateur radio exams. Both were fiercely independent, and Martin was 99 before the couple decided to move into Summerset at Pohutukawa Place for an easier life. As two of the very first residents of the serviced apartments in the village centre, the couple were instrumental in creating a positive community culture, throwing themselves into village life. Martin was even the recipient of an award at the village’s very own version of the Oscars. There’s rarely a week that goes by when he’s not at a workbench in the Hobby Shed,
quietly coaxing life back into someone’s treasured device or experimenting with a steam-powered engine he has built.
After Betty passed earlier this year, residents and staff rallied around Martin, throwing him a birthday party to celebrate his 101st year. “The cake had a train on it in my engine’s colours!” he says fondly.
Martin is well known at Pohutukawa Place, and as he walks by he often hears people say, “That’s him! The man I told you about that is 101! Remarkable!” Martin credits his longevity to genetics, clean living and staying busy. Respected, admired and quietly legendary, Martin is proof that age really is just a number.
L-R: Birthday celebrations. With late wife Betty. With Olympian Barbara Kendall. In the Hobby Shed.
Above L-R: Martin’s steam engines.
Shooting WITH THE STARS
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NETBALL NEW ZEALAND, SOME OF OUR AUCKLAND RESIDENTS’ LUCKY GRANDKIDS (AND THEIR NETBALL TEAMS) HAD THE CHANCE TO WIN A TRAINING SESSION WITH SOME EXPERT PLAYERS FROM THE AUCKLAND STARS!
For Jenny Burton, whose life has been steeped in netball, it was a proud moment to watch her granddaughter Annabelle – along with her Mahurangi College team – on court with players Kate Burley, Charlie Bell and Remi Kamo. Jenny, from Summerset Falls in Warkworth, and the team travelled to the Pulman Arena in Takanini for a meet and greet, Q&A and a training session on the courts. “The players were so lovely! I was in awe of how tall they were,” Jenny says. “We joked I would need Grow Plus just to come up to their shoulders!” While Jenny stayed off the court due to ‘bung knees’, she loved watching from the sidelines. “I am a huge fan, and I felt like I already knew the players as I have seen them so often on the TV.”
Jenny’s netball journey began in Christchurch, playing as a pupil at Sumner School. She’d bike in to Hagley Park for games, and her passion for the sport continued when she moved to Upper Hutt, representing Hutt Valley at age 15 while attending Heretaunga College.
Marriage and a move to Auckland followed, with daughter Ainsley following Jenny onto the court. Jenny became a driving force at the Howick Netball Club, where Ainsley played. Jenny threw herself into every role: coaching, umpiring, managing representative teams and sewing team uniforms. “The only thing I didn’t make was the pleated skirts,” she laughs. Later, she brought her talents to Manukau Netball, making uniforms for coaches and managers alike.
Now, she’s cheering on the next generation. Granddaughter Annabelle, 15, plays goal attack and goal shoot for her school’s premier team and also represents North Harbour. Her older sister, Victoria, 17, plays for the Kaipara club and umpires in Wellsford. “It was such a lovely day, and I am so grateful to Summerset for the opportunity,” says Jenny. “The girls thoroughly enjoyed it. My family are avid netball fans – almost every night of the week we are supporting the game in some way.”
L-R: On court with the Star. Jenny and the netball team with the Stars.
L-R: Kate Burley, Jenny Burton, Remi Kamo and Charlie Bell.
JUDE ON... EVERYDAY PHRASES WITH A PAST
I was musing the other day on the expression ‘saved by the bell’ and found myself googling its rather sinister origin. Apparently, it’s from the grim old days in the 19th century where some people were mistakenly buried alive. Fearing such a fate, you could get a ‘safety coffin’ rigged with strings connected to bells above ground to ensure you could let people know a ‘grave’ mistake had occurred!
It got me thinking about the multitude of expressions we use without a second thought, and where they come from. Here are a few that I wanted to find out more about.
Bite the bullet
When someone tells you to ‘bite the bullet’ they’re encouraging you to face something unpleasant with courage. This saying harks back to a time before anaesthesia, when soldiers wounded on the battlefield were given a bullet to bite down on during surgery to help endure the pain. It is an awful image, painting a vivid picture of bravery – and a good reason to be thankful for modern medicine!
Let the cat out of the bag
Why a cat? And why a bag? This one has roots in olden day market scams. Farmers would sell piglets in sacks, but a shady seller might slip a cat into the bag instead. If the buyer checked the bag and the cat jumped out, the secret (and the scam) was exposed.
Mad as a hatter
We all know the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland , but this saying existed long before
Lewis Carroll wrote his famous tale. In the 18th and 19th centuries, hatmakers often used mercury in the felt-making process, and prolonged exposure led to tremors, hallucinations and erratic behaviour.
Turn a blind eye
This expression involves Admiral Horatio Nelson. During one battle he was ordered to retreat, but Nelson – blind in one eye – allegedly put the telescope to his blind eye and claimed he didn’t see the signal. He carried on attacking and won. And with that, ‘Turning a blind eye’ came to mean ignoring something on purpose.
Spill the beans
If you spill the beans, you reveal a secret that you are not supposed to disclose. This expression is believed to originate in ancient Greece, where beans were used when electing officials. Candidates in elections would place their upturned helmets in a line and voters would put a bean in the helmet of their preferred candidate. When the election process ended, the number of beans would be counted, and the winner was the candidate with the largest number. The winner’s helmet was then returned to him with the beans inside. He would then ‘spill the beans’ by placing the helmet on his head, signifying his acceptance of the post. Spilling the beans was therefore a means of revealing the outcome of a secret process, and it has passed into the language as disclosing a secret.
Our language is full of colourful turns of phrase; many rooted in quirky or surprising bits of history. Each one carries with it a little story, so next time someone says they’re ‘under the weather’ or ‘pulling your leg,’ you might like to find out the real meaning.
In December 2024, Summerset purchased our new Devonport Peninsula village site in Belmont on Auckland’s North Shore from local iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. As part of this partnership, we agreed to a $10,000 per annum threeyear scholarship to support a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei student’s studies in health science, medicine or nursing.
The recipient of our Taku Oranga scholarship was announced at the Ōrākei Marae in Auckland, presented by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa’s Chief Executive Grant Kemble. Atamai Harriman is in her first year of her tertiary studies. Congratulations!
The afternoon ceremony began with a powhiri to welcome everyone onto the marae, followed by the scholarship presentation in te reo Māori and concluded with the sharing of kai. Atamai’s parents, brother, cousins and extended whānau were in attendance alongside representatives from both Summerset and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Atamai is interested in both biomedicine and nursing, and in a moving speech she spoke about how she was inspired to study healthcare because of her nana, Sarah, whom she described as a giver.
The scholarship is an important milestone ahead of commencing construction at our Devonport
Peninsula site. It builds on our relationship with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and shows our commitment to growing the next generation of healthcare workers in New Zealand.
Our hope is that Atamai will give back to her iwi and the Belmont community at the completion of her studies and, if working in the retirement industry is of interest, we would be honoured if she joined our Summerset team in future – as an employee, or as part of the network of health professionals we work with to support our residents.
Summerset Chief Operating Officer NZ Eleanor Young says, “At Summerset we’re grateful to have such a passionate workforce of 3,000+ employees across our villages, sites and offices, but we also need to do our part to encourage students to pursue health science and medicine studies.
“We hope that offering scholarships like Taku Oranga will empower more students to pursue their desired careers, and to know that there is support available in their community/iwi. We view this scholarship as an investment that will have a lasting impact long into the future.”
We’re proud to support passionate, driven individuals like Atamai on her journey.
Top left: Shawn Thompson from Summerset, Atamai Harriman, Grant Kemble. Top right: Atamai (centre) and her family and whānau.
One village TWO HEROS
Those who live and work at Summerset in the Sun know they are in extra safe hands, with not just one but two volunteer firefighters on the staff!
Chef Manager Daniel Gordon and Property Manager Jacques Doman go above and beyond as volunteer firefighters – dedicating their time to keeping their community safe. Both Daniel and Jacques juggle their roles as volunteer firefighters with their work and busy family lives.
Daniel, a fully qualified volunteer firefighter at Richmond fire station, recently completed a comprehensive course that covered everything from firefighting techniques to motor vehicle crash and water rescues, along with working alongside police and ambulance teams. “My mother-inlaw is actually my inspiration,” says Daniel, who volunteers three times a week. “She’s the fire chief at Appleby fire station, and the recipient of the 25-year Gold Star medal.” Daniel has passed his passion on to his two young children, who love to get involved too – hopping into the Richmond truck to fill up the lolly boxes and helping their grandmother with the checks at her station.
worst day of their lives, then you absolutely should. Eighty per cent of the service are volunteers.”
We’re incredibly proud of Daniel and Jacques. Their bravery and commitment to helping others make them true heroes. Thank you both for your service.
Jacques, also a father of two young children, brings a different set of skills to his volunteering. Fifteen years in the South African military means he stays calm under pressure, take orders quickly and keeps focused in chaotic situations –invaluable in firefighting. Jacques has lived in New Zealand for six years and spends about 250 days a year volunteering at the Stoke fire brigade.
“When you first join you must prove yourself, but once you do you are part of the family. We look out for one another. It makes me proud to serve the people and my new community.”
1. Daniel and Jacques, 2. Daniel in his firefighting gear, 3. Jaques in his ceremonial uniform.
Summerset by the Dunes, Papamoa
Co-hosts Pinky Agnew and Nick Tansley head to the Bay of Plenty to visit Summerset by the Dunes, where they meet a variety of vibrant residents who call this seaside village home. Meet the ultra-marathon runners, the Pudding Club and Hato Hone St John’s volunteers, and enjoy a performance by the talented ukulele group.
Released Wednesday, 3 September at 2pm https://www.summerset.co.nz/a-summerset-world/
Summerset by the Sea, Katikati
In this episode, beloved co-hosts Pinky Agnew and Nick Tansley visit Summerset by the Sea, Katikati, where community spirit runs deep. From guide dog training and globetrotting tales to SAYGo fitness, woodworking, gardening, and a peek inside the Men’s Shed, you’ll meet the vibrant locals who make this village hum.
Meet the people, hear their stories and discover what brings this seaside haven to life.
Released Wednesday, 19 November at 2pm www.summerset.co.nz/a-summerset-world/
Summerset Virtual Big Quiz
Keep the grey matter in top form and test your general knowledge at our monthly quiz hosted by Jude Dobson. You can play from the comfort of your own home or ask your Activities Co-ordinator if they are hosting an event.
DUETS with Will Martin & Russell Dixon – Friday, 12 September at 2pm
Step into the spotlight with our latest Summerset Sings concert of 2025, starring internationally acclaimed entertainer Will Martin.
This performance of dazzling duets celebrates the great songs performed by two male voices from musical theatre, as well as modern music.
And joining Will for this very special presentation is star of Operatunity, Russell Dixon
Featuring show tunes as well as pop songs from the likes of the Everly Brothers, the Righteous Brothers, and even the Blues Brothers, this show is set to be Will’s most harmonious yet!
www.summerset.co.nz/summerset-sings/
Christmas Concert –Wednesday, 17 December at 2pm
Will Martin is back for a special Summerset Sings Christmas concert. Details will be released in your village newsletters soon!
Cooking with a MasterChef –Air Fryer Series
Who doesn’t love a classic Sunday Roast? The original MasterChef winner Brett McGregor is back to demonstrate how to cook the Kiwi favourite – in an air fryer!
Theme: Sunday Roast Dinner Friday, 26 September at 2pm
www.summerset.co.nz/cooking-with-a-masterchef/
Summerset Best Garden
Calling all green fingers for our final Summerset Creates competition of the year! NZ landscaper and radio and TV personality Tony Murrell will judge the entries in the categories of Best Garden and Prized Potted Plant –Indoor or Outdoor.
Entries: 1–9 October
Winners Announced: Friday, 17 October
Congratulations to our winners of the recent Summerset Creates – Art competition. Summerset is a proud sponsor of Art in the Park this year. Cary Cochrane and Sofija Matich, directors of Art in the Park, independently judged all the submissions and selected a winner for each category.
Creative Design – Open Category: ‘French Windmill’ Wendy Neighbours, Summerset at Pohutukawa Place.
The judges said, “Your artwork imbued us with real joy – from the colourful poppies, to the sense of movement throughout the piece and the fun details like the little ladybug.”
Painting and Drawing: Landscape: ‘Dawn Mists’ by Alan Baddiley, Summerset on the Coast, Paraparaumu.
The judges said, “The evocative sense of light play within the piece, along with delicate hints of structure, captured the atmosphere of a dawn mist perfectly.” Alan has put his winning piece up for auction, with proceeds going to Summerset on the Coast’s Daffodil Day fundraising for the NZ Cancer Society.
Antonia Prebble –Tuesday, 7 October at 2pm
Filmed live and in person at Summerset Boulcott, Lower Hutt, Jude Dobson sits down with one of New Zealand’s most beloved actors, Antonia Prebble. With a career spanning over 30 years, Antonia shot to fame in Kiwi
Art winner Wendy Neighbours.
comedy Outrageous Fortune and continues to captivate audiences across film, television and the stage.
To watch past interviews in our ‘Interview With’ visit our website: www.summerset.co.nz/a-summerset-interview-with/ and enjoy at your leisure.
Art winner Alan Baddiley.
VILLAGE PEOPLE
6: Jo Miller celebrating 101 years at Summerset in the Bay.
Photo 1: Summerset Mount Denby residents head to the local theatre to support VM Kat Symond’s acting debut!
Photo 2: Summerset down the Lane residents enjoy a tour of the Mānuka honey orchard and factory.
Photo 3: Mid-winter rock n roll party at Summerset in the Sun.
Photo 4: Mamma Mia! rendition at Summerset at the Course.
Photo 5: A taste of India at Summerset at Bishopscourt.
Photo
Photo 11: Scottish highland games at
Milldale, organised by resident Jackie Kennedy.
Photo 12:
residents enjoy a day trip to Greytown.
Photo 7: Wild West Frontier feast at Summerset on the Coast.
Photo 8: Enjoying dinner at the Matariki event at Summerset at Monterey Park.
Photo 9: Great Gatsby event at Summerset in the River City.
Photo 10: High rollers – Summerset on Cavendish residents head to Las Vegas.
Summerset
Summerset Boulcott
Danielle Hallett
BY ELLIE CLIFFORD
Danielle Hallett has worked at Summerset for 11 years, holding a variety of roles within the Sales team. She currently works as a Sales Support Specialist, based at the Summerset Head Office in Wellington. STAFF PROFILE
“I provide on-site and remote sales support to different villages, so every day is different,” says Danielle, who spends a large portion of her time on the road travelling to Summerset villages across New Zealand. “I can be filling in for our Sales team when they are on leave, or helping with open days, morning tea tours, community events such as Art in the Park, expos and so on. I love the variety.”
Back at Head Office, she also helps train new Sales team members, supports database management for prospective residents, and acts as the go-to sales contact for future Summerset villages. “A real highlight for me is being part of launching our new villages,” says Danielle. “It’s all about helping our new residents feel supported – from guiding them through the buying process to making sure they feel truly at home once they move in. And just as importantly, it’s about giving our new village team everything they need to feel confident and ready for success.”
Starting out more than a decade ago as customer database administrator, Danielle also managed the 0800 information line. “I was the ‘voice’ of Summerset!” Danielle says.
“I formed great connections with our future residents and got an in-depth understanding of Summerset.”
For Danielle, who has always worked in customer-facing roles, it is all about the people – from the future residents of Summerset villages across New Zealand to the team she works with. “We have a great Sales team,” she says. “They have all influenced me in some way, and we all strive to be our best.”
Danielle, who lives in Wellington, also plays a support role outside of Summerset, cheering on her 15-year-old daughter, Shylah, who is a keen ten-pin bowler. “She’s made both the New Zealand Katipō Under-18 and Under-21 squads this year,” Danielle says proudly. “She has also represented New Zealand in Melbourne for the President’s Shield and in the Sunshine Coast for the Aotearoa Franchise Team at ANC, as well as regularly competing in tournaments across New Zealand.”
“WE HAVE A GREAT SALES TEAM. THEY HAVE ALL INFLUENCED ME IN SOME WAY, AND WE ALL STRIVE TO BE OUR BEST.”
DELICIOUS RECIPES
SEASON A TASTE OF THE
RECIPES
BY
JAN BILTON
IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE SPRING – A TIME OF NEW BEGINNINGS. LET’S STOP THINKING SOUPS AND STEWS AND INSTEAD THINK LIGHTER MEALS AND SALADS. NOT ONLY IS ASPARAGUS SHOOTING ITS SPEARS TO THE SKY, BUT THE NEW SEASON’S AVOCADOS, TANGELOS, STRAWBERRIES AND IMPORTED TROPICAL FRUITS ARE CRAMMING FRESH PRODUCE DISPLAYS. EVERY REASON TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY AND SUMMERSET FRIENDS.
I’ve joined the smashed cucumber salad trend. Smashing is an Asian technique that allows dressings to be more readily absorbed into the cucumber’s broken cells. But just bash it – don’t mash it! A smashed cucumber makes the world of difference to salad flavour.
If you haven’t experimented with sumac, do give it a try. It’s a popular
spice in the Middle East, North Africa, India and Asia, and is prepared from a reddish-purple berry with a slightly astringent, lemon flavour. The seeds are dried and finely crushed, and are delicious sprinkled over fish, poultry, meats, rice and vegetables.
Happy cooking!
SUMAC SALMON WITH HUMMUS
SERVES 2
INGREDIENTS
250g salmon fillet, skin on, pin bones removed
1 1/2 tablespoons sumac
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
120g baby spinach leaves
1 teaspoon butter or table spread
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 cup plain hummus
freshly ground black pepper to taste
METHOD
Cut the salmon into 2 serving-sized pieces. Sprinkle all over with the sumac. Season with pepper.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy frying pan on medium heat. Pan-fry the salmon for 1 minute, skin-side up. Turn the salmon over and continue cooking for 3–5 minutes until just cooked. Cover and stand for 2–3 minutes.
Meanwhile, rinse the spinach and chop coarsely. Microwave or steam until wilted. Squeeze out any excess moisture and add the butter.
Combine the crushed garlic and remaining olive oil. In another bowl, mix the hummus until smooth.
Dollop the hummus evenly onto two serving plates. Top with the spinach then the salmon. Drizzle with the garlic-flavoured oil.
TIP
Excellent enjoyed with steamed asparagus, microgreens and lemon wedges.
SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD
SERVES 2 FOR A LIGHT MEAL / 4 FOR A STARTER
INGREDIENTS
Dressing
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4–1/2 teaspoon sriracha or chilli sauce
Salad
250g peeled and deveined cooked king prawns
300g telegraph cucumber
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 avocado
1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice
2 spring onions, sliced diagonally
1/4 cup chopped coriander
METHOD
Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. Thaw the prawns if frozen. Pat dry. Add to the dressing. Cut the cucumber in half crosswise then in half lengthwise. Place the cucumber pieces in a plastic bag, then place cut side down on a large chopping board. Using a rolling pin, smash the cucumber into bite-size pieces. Tip the cucumber into a colander or sieve. Toss together with the sugar and salt. Stand for 15 minutes to drain.
Halve, stone and peel the avocado. Cut into cubes then place in a serving bowl. Drizzle with the lime or lemon juice. Add the cucumber and gently combine. Add the prawns and dressing, then the spring onions and coriander. Toss gently.
COFFEE PANNA COTTA
SERVES 4
INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons powdered gelatine
2 tablespoons cold water
300ml cream
1/2 cup strong black coffee
1/2 cup milk
3 level tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Coffee topping
1/2 cup strong black coffee
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 tablespoon orangeflavoured liqueur
METHOD
Soak the gelatine in the water in a small bowl until the gelatine is swollen, about 5 minutes.
Combine the cream, coffee, milk and brown sugar in a saucepan. Stir over low heat until warm and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat, Add the swollen gelatine and stir until it has melted. Add the vanilla.
Pour into 4 small glasses or dishes. Refrigerate until set or overnight.
To make the topping, simmer the coffee and sugar until the sugar has dissolved and a syrup is formed, about 6 minutes. Stir in the liqueur and cool. Spoon a little over each panna cotta just before serving.
PRINCESSES IN POTS
ARTICLE BY LYNDA HALLINAN
Acquaint yourself with alstroemerias, advises Lynda Hallinan, and enjoy months of easy-care colour in containers.
Why are the best garden plants lumbered with the worst scientific names? We can thank the 18th century Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus – and his botanical old boys’ club – for the fact that the lovely Peruvian Princess Lily is known officially as an alstroemeria. These fabulously flamboyant perennials, also called Lily of the Incas, were named after Linnaeus’ friend Baron Clas Alströmer, who first discovered them in 1753 during his seed-collecting expedition to South America.
Alstroemerias have been deservedly popular with gardeners and florists ever since. As cut flowers, they are unrivalled for their long stems and longevity in the vase, as well as their exotic, speckled, lily-like flowers that – unlike true lilies – aren’t laden with allergy-inducing pollen or overwhelming perfume.
In the past, those same long stems began to prove problematic in garden beds and borders, as old-fashioned varieties such as ‘Pink Star’ and ‘Red Baron’ invariably grew too tall for their own good and fell over. Some species also developed a colonising habit, like the Christmas-flowering Alstroemeria psittacina, which was initially viewed as a festive joy, with its red, white and green flowers. Like many early garden introductions to New Zealand, however, it took off like a weed in our fertile soil, running underground and invading native bush.
This species is now banned. Luckily, international plant breeders are now focusing on developing smaller, compact alstroemerias that are ideally suited to growing in pots, like the Inticancha series, which only grow to 40cm or so, and the Inca hybrids, which reach 50–60cm. The Inticancha range covers all the colours, from ‘Magic White’ to ‘Dark Purple’, strawberrysplotched ‘Maya’, white and lilac-throated ‘Moon’, golden ‘Havana’ and hot pink ‘Malaga’. But my favourite, for its name alone, is the speckled orange, apricot and peach variety ‘Bryce’. Every time I walk past my plant I can’t help but give him a happy pat on the head and a cheery greeting: “Hey, Bryce, how you doing?”
‘Bryce’ looks like a mini-me version of my all-time favourite alstroemeria, the flashy ‘Indian Summer’ from the Summer Paradise series. This variety has bronze foliage and is a sensational talking point in my Hunua garden; it’s the one plant that garden visitors always ask after, because it flowers almost year-round.
I’ve grown ‘Indian Summer’ for over a decade. In its first year, it grew to about 50cm high and wide. The following year it doubled in size and height, but still stayed reliably upright, and it has been well-behaved ever since. I absolutely adore it.
While Inticancha and Inca alstroemerias are designed to stay small in pots, their slightly
bigger sisters (growing to 75cm) in the Summer Paradise Border series are better suited to picking gardens. I recommend ‘Summer Breeze’ (yellow), ‘Summertime’ (white) and ‘Summer Holiday’ (glowing orange) for a constant supply of cut flowers.
As cut flowers, alstroemerias will easily last a fortnight in a bouquet, provided the water is refreshed every few days. When harvesting the flower stems, alstroemerias should always be pulled off the plant, as opposed to cut. This sounds strange, but once you’ve tried it you’ll get the gist. The stems come free easily, and by removing the entire flower stalk, it prevents the clumps becoming congested with amputated stems that can rot back into the crown. Pulling, rather than deadheading, the old flowers also encourages more flowering stalks to emerge, keeping the plants looking fresh and healthy.
Plant alstroemerias in good-quality, free-draining potting mix. They’ll produce more flowers if you can keep their heads in the sun but their tuberous roots a little cooler. It’s worth planting them inside a plastic pot set inside a ceramic pot, for example, or try planting them a little deeper (5cm) than the bag or pot you bought them in and add a layer of mulch to the top of the pot. Water often in hot, dry weather but don’t worry about fertilising them. They’re not especially hungry plants.
One final tip (and this goes for all your potted plants in spring): now’s the time to sprinkle slug and snail bait around your garden, as these slimy pests nibble at the emerging shoots and will ruin the flowers to come.
SPRING GARDEN TASKS
• Nothing beats a bowl of the new season’s gourmet baby potatoes with mint and lashings of butter, so why not have a go at growing a wee crop of potted potatoes? Use a large plastic pot and aim for 40 litres of potting mix per 3–4 seed potatoes. Feed regularly with liquid fertiliser once the leafy tops are showing. Stick to early varieties such as ‘Rocket’ and ‘Swift’ (ready in 70–90 days) and ‘Jersey Benne’ and ‘Cliff’s Kidney’ (90 days).
• Sow snow peas, broccoli and salad greens in pots.
• Feed flowering bulbs and potted citrus trees.
• Plant spring flowering annuals such as alyssum, lobelia, pansies and snapdragons for colour.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) team is the entry point into publicly funded community services. The needs assessment is conducted with the person with dementia and the primary carer to discuss daily needs.
Eligibility
Any New Zealand resident who needs support at home due to health issues or disability is eligible. For people over 65, assessments can take place without a diagnosis. However, a formal diagnosis will help with accessing some services. Under 65s will need a diagnosis of dementia or other limiting condition.
Non-New Zealand residents do not qualify for publicly funded services but they can get advice from their GP and NASC about their situation.
Assessment
The assessment may take up to two hours. An interpreter can be requested if needed. It identifies where extra support is needed to help maximise independence and maintain safety at home.
People with dementia can give inaccurate answers when being assessed, so it is helpful to have the main carer present.
Reviews usually happen annually or can be requested any time your needs change.
Level of care assessment for residential care
A needs assessment will determine what level of care is needed for residential care.
Access to NASC
Contact your GP and ask for a referral, or you can also self-refer at www.nznasca. co.nz/find-your-local-nasc/
For more information, visit www.dementia.nz.
The care package
A support plan will be sent to you and your GP. This could include:
Home help
• Personal care – help with eating meals, getting dressed, showering or toileting.
• Household management – help with laundry and tidying up. Available to Community Service Card holders.
• Meals on Wheels – hot or cold meals delivered to your home for a subsided fee.
Day
programme (depending on your region)
This provides an opportunity for those with dementia to gain social connections and well-being through engaging activities.
Carer Support subsidy
Allows full-time carers to pay someone else to look after their person while they go out for the day, or to check in on the person while they are not home.
Respite
Respite care is short-term overnight care, typically provided in a care home. To find suitable care facilities, go to www.eldernet. co.nz/residential-care
Individualised funding
This directly manages the care package funding allocation, providing greater choice and control over how and when support is given. It does involve more administrative tasks for the carer. Your Needs Assessor can advise if this is the best option.
STYLE
What really makes me old: aids to a youthful old age
ARTICLE BY PINKY AGNEW
At my annual hearing check, the audiologist confirmed it. I had become ‘hearing impaired’. Hearing aids were fitted, I downloaded the app, and I re-entered the world of the hearing unimpaired.
My husband has stopped whispering. The volume works on the TV. Shop assistants speak clearly. This will be familiar to Summerset Scene readers who are also members of the Aid Brigade.
Why is this in my seasonal style column?
Because Style, with a capital ‘S’, is about more than clothes and accessories. As Maya Angelou wrote in ‘Phenomenal Woman’, “It’s in the arch of my back, | The sun of my smile, |… The grace of my style.”
My audiologist lamented my boomer generation’s habit of denying they are hard of hearing.
“Hearing aids don’t make you look old,” he said. “Yelling ‘speak up’ makes people look old!”
Likewise, a friend of mine who refused to get a walking stick for the same reason. It didn’t make her look youthful, but awkwardly wobbling about did make her look old.
I wear grey fingerless compression gloves to ease arthritis pain. I’m not at all a grey person –I’m not called Pinky for nothing. I was reluctant to wear them in public. Astonishingly, young people in particular compliment me on these ghastly grey accessories. “They’re so funky!” I am told by 20-year-old fashionistas.
The most youthful thing we can put on as we age is an attitude. No one’s staring at your hearing aids, especially if you’re rocking red lipstick. A coloured walking stick supports us just as well as a grey one. A mobility scooter pimped up with fairy lights and flowers will travel just as fast as a standard model. Actually, it will probably slow you down, because people will invariably want to stop and chat to you.
Another ‘aid’ I’ve been using is personal, but stress incontinence is a ‘thing’. When I film ‘A Summerset World’, mine is usually because of laughing at some quip thrown at me. Or jogging to be on time for the next interview.
Yet, help is so easily found. The supermarket sells everything we need to manage incontinence –for men as well as women. Online sites provide doorstep deliveries of everything from knickers to pads. I’ve been attending local Steady as You Go classes, and that’s helped too.
It isn’t sticks, hearing aids, incontinence products or reading glasses which make us look old. It’s staying at home and refusing invitations in case we stumble, have a bladder leak, or because we can’t hear.
This spring I’ll head out for adventure. I’ll pack into my funky tote bag my foldable, floral print walking stick, spare panty liners, and a cool-looking glasses case. In go my hearing aids and on go my compression gloves and pink arch support sneakers, and off I go. Come and join me!
ARTICLE BY MELISSA WASTNEY
SCENTED SACHETS
Sachets filled with dried lavender and other herbs and flowers have been used by many different cultures for centuries to perfume clothes and bed linen, and to repel moths and other insects from settling into stored fabrics.
Hand-sewn lavender sachets embroidered with mum’s initials were one of the first craft projects I completed as a child – after first raiding her flower garden for the buds! They remain some of my favourite small things to make and give to friends, and they couldn’t be simpler to create. If you fancy a sewing project but don’t have a machine, these are very quick and simple to stitch by hand.
Here I’ve shown some embroidered sachets I made from silk fabric remnants, and some linen ones with stamped designs. You could do the same, or use plain fabric or another technique – the choice is yours! If you’d like to cut down on the sewing aspect of this project, you could make your sachets more rectangular in shape, and tie a ribbon around the top to secure the lavender inside.
If you know where to harvest fresh lavender, hang some to dry before using them in sachets, or you can often find dried lavender buds at chemists or online stores.
SUPPLIES
To make two sachets:
4 pieces of cotton, silk or linen fabric, each measuring around 12cm square
Large handful of dried lavender buds
Essential oil of lavender
A small bowl and teaspoon
Large handful of uncooked rice or linseeds
Scissors, thread and a hand-sewing needle
Iron and ironing board
Sewing machine (optional)
METHOD
Embroidered or plain sachets
1. Before embroidering your sachet, you might like to iron on a transfer to stitch over, or draw a shape or initials with a faint pencil as a guideline (this can be rubbed out with an eraser afterwards).
2. Work your embroidery, and gently press the finished piece front-side down on the ironing board to protect it.
3. In a small bowl, mix the dried lavender buds with the rice or linseeds, and add a few drops of essential oil. Stir to combine. Leave somewhere warm to dry.
4. Pin together the front and back pieces of the sachet, right sides facing. Carefully stitch around three sides, leaving a 1cm seam allowance. If you are hand-sewing, be sure to work small stitches so that no rice or lavender can escape.
5. Press around the stitches and clip the corners to reduce bulk. Turn the sachet right-side out, fold the open edges in to meet each other and press again.
6. Fill the sachet with the lavender mixture using a spoon. Carefully hand-stitch the open edge closed.
For embroidered sachets:
Embroidery thread in various colours
Small embroidery hoop
Pencil or iron-on transfer
For printed sachets:
Rubber stamps or woodblock stamps
Textile ink pad (available from Spotlight and other craft shops)
Stamped sachets
It’s best to choose natural fabrics such as cotton and linen for stamping.
Place your fabric squares on top of a clean tea towel or another piece of fabric to use as a cushion for printing.
Use rubber or woodblock stamps and textile ink to print your fabric squares.
When the ink is completely dry, heat-set your print with a warm iron.
Now follow the instructions for the embroidered or plain sachets from Step 3.
Fulvia
KAARINA PARKER
A woman only known in the footnotes of history, Fulvia is brought powerfully to life in this engrossing historical novel set during the Roman Empire. Raised in the countryside by a wealthy but unimportant Roman family, she yearns for power and influence, so she seizes the chance to escape to Rome when her father dies. There, Fulvia marries the aristocrat Clodius, but at first he seems more interested in partying than politics, and he almost derails their lives when a prank goes terribly wrong, causing great scandal.
It’s perilous times for people in Rome, with intrigue swirling around the city constantly as different factions compete for power. Fulvia is determined to forge her own path, her status linked to Clodius, but as time passes she emerges as the real power behind her husband. But Rome is a brutal, dangerous place, and Fulvia soon finds out that the stakes are deadly and her ambition won’t be without a cost.
Fulvia is meticulously researched, and the writing grabs you and doesn’t let go with its pace, but Kaarina Parker also expertly brings this era and location to life. Fulvia is an unforgettable heroine in this exceptional novel.
The Strength of Old Shale
KIRSTY POWELL
Kirsty Powell won the NZ Booklovers Fiction Award for her first novel, and her new novel is just as brilliant. When the bones of a mother and her child, wrapped in a Shetland lace shawl, are dug up from a forgotten graveyard, two worlds collide – Ariel in the modern day, and Isbell in 1861.
Ariel was raised in the small republic of Whangamōmona, a rural upbringing that has made her tough. But when a woman is killed in a car accident and Ariel faces serious charges in court, her world seems to be imploding. She retreats to university in Dunedin and tries to ignore the growing speculation as she works on a site, retrieving old bones from a former gold mine. As the court date looms, one of the deceased is found to be related to her after doing DNA tests.
Isbell is also tough and running away from ghosts. She makes her way to the New Zealand goldfields and works for Cobb and Co., caring for their coach horses, a task for which she has a great talent. But will she finally let her defences down and let love in?
The Queens of Crime
MARIE BENEDICT
London, 1930. In this innovative and compelling novel, five of the greatest women crime writers of all time – Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy, led by Dorothy Sayers – band together to solve the real-life murder of a young British nurse strangled to death in a park in France. They call themselves the Queens of Crime and resolve to solve this terrible act of violence against a young woman.
The crime has all the hallmarks of a locked-room mystery from one of their novels. The press are quick to label the victim a drug dealer and drag her reputation through the mud, but the Queens of Crime retrace the young woman’s steps and find the truth is something else altogether, putting them in great personal danger.
The Queens of Crime is a fabulous tribute to female friendship and equality. This is a mystery that also brings to life these real-life authors, which makes it a fascinating read to imagine the real writers interacting in a fictional way. An intelligent and engaging read.
Wood Carving: Tools, Techniques & Concepts
STEPHEN MYHRE
RRP $50.00
Stephen Myhre is a highly respected craftsman who has spent decades devoted to the art of carving. In this new book, he generously shares his extensive knowledge in a beautifully presented volume, complete with detailed colour photographs. This well-considered how-to guide covers everything you would want to know about wood carving, from selecting the right wood to understanding patterns and achieving the best finish. It outlines how to use all the key tools, including hand adzes, chisels, drawknives, spokeshaves and cabinet scrapers, as well as power tools.
Stephen Myhre has travelled extensively with his work, and he also explores Pacific and Papua New Guinean styles of wood carving in the book, as well as European and Asian influences, making it a true delight to be taken on this journey.
This is a must-have, invaluable guide for anyone interested in wood carving. What a privilege to learn from a master in this craft! The attractive photographs of the various finished pieces will also provide much inspiration.
ORATIA BOOKS
START AGAIN
The great spoiler alert with exercise is that no matter what you do, how hard you train or how consistent you are, you are always starting again.
Every single time you start exercising, you are starting again. It’s a clean slate, and we’re all in the same boat, regardless of whether you are a seasoned pro or a newbie trying something for the first time.
You might have been out of action in the midst of winter, hibernating slightly, and that’s OK.
Take a breath, start back small and pick something you enjoy.
Warmer weather is coming. Your body loves movement and even the smallest amount on a regular basis can make a huge difference. A difference to your physical strength, to your physical fitness, and of course to your mental health.
There’s no limit to how many times you’re allowed to start again. Every time you exercise, it’s an opportunity to reset, revisit and lean into the process.
So where are you going to start again? Bowls, walking, swimming or gardening?
See you at your start line.
A HEALTHY, HAPPY Retirement
One of the biggest determinants of your ability to enjoy your retirement is your health status. It ranks ahead of your financial situation – after all, there is little point having wealth if you are not healthy enough to enjoy it.
Innovations in medicine have increased life expectancy. However, this is tempered by issues with access to quality health care. The better your financial situation, the easier it is to access the services you need. The shortage of health care professionals means that if you relocate to retire you may have difficulties finding a GP willing to take you on as a new patient. You may also find you have limited access to specialist and hospital services.
Health insurance is one way to improve your access to health care. However, there is a high cancellation rate among retirees due to the big increase in premiums as you get older.
Premiums are higher in old age for good reason – there is a high probability of claim. Without insurance, you will be reliant on the public health system, which may mean onto a long waiting list.
Insurance passes financial risk onto someone else. As with all insurance cover, there are questions to ask.
What are the risks? Pre-existing health conditions which may lead to other problems? A family history of certain medical conditions?
What are the consequences of those risks? There may be loss of enjoyment of life resulting from non-urgent conditions that put you on a long waiting list. If you are still working you may also suffer loss of income through illness.
How much risk are you willing to accept? If you have significant financial assets, it may be possible for you to cover private health care costs yourself without affecting your standard of living. Alternatively, you might choose to have an excess on your policy so you share the risk with your insurer and pay a lower premium.
If you can’t afford health insurance, set aside some of your savings in an investment earmarked for covering unexpected health costs.
Of course, there are things you can do yourself to improve and maintain your health. Have regular checkups with your GP. A healthy diet, regular exercise and good sleep are also vital. Your state of mind is closely connected to your physical health, and feelings of isolation and depression can lead to physical illness. Find ways to improve your happiness to have a healthy, happy retirement.
FINANCIAL RESILIENCE IN RETIREMENT
Preparing for the unexpected in retirement is key to ensuring you’re ready for whatever may come your way. In this session learn about the three key factors to building financial resilience to help keep you one step ahead. Join our interactive webinar on Wednesday, 15 October at 3pm. Zoom code: 829 1698 3732
Liz Koh is a money expert who specialises in retirement planning. The advice given here is general and does not constitute specific advice to any person.
LIZ KOH
DEVONPORT
ARTICLE BY CARRIE INGHAM
Let’s head to Devonport – Auckland’s village by the sea. Nestled between the serene green slopes of Takarunga / Mount Victoria and Maungauika / North Head – Devonport has golden beaches, cosy eateries and a fascinating maritime history. Located a short 12-minute ferry ride across the harbour from Auckland City, and just a 40-minute ferry journey from the wineries of Waiheke, Devonport is a destination in its own right.
ACCOMMODATION
The Esplanade Hotel commands a majestic view over the water to the bright lights of Auckland City and the iconic Sky Tower. Modelled in 1901 on the resort hotels of England, it’s reminiscent of the B&Bs of that era with its floral wallpaper and patterned carpet. Opt for a sea view room to look out towards Auckland’s harbour and the Auckland Museum.
If the sound of birdsong is preferred then the Andelin Guesthouse on Victoria Road is a short stroll from the village centre. Located within a grand Victorian homestead, the
guesthouse backs onto Mount Victoria with its plethora of bird life. Guests can nip up the maunga from the back door. Wear stout walking shoes, though, as this shortcut is slippery. Rooms here are stylish and modern, but there is no lift. Room 5, on the ground floor, has a claw-foot tub, ideal for a long soak.
EATING & DRINKING
For your morning coffee, locals’ favourite Lily is famed for their breakfast treats and latte art. Or meander along King Edward Parade to Dulcie and try its Melbourne-inspired cuisine. Signal Hill, located in a lovingly restored historic homestead, is known among locals for its popcorn cauliflower and buttermilk fried chicken appetisers, ideal to enjoy on its open-air dining deck.
ACTIVITIES
Devonport is rightly recognised as being a cultural hub. There are several excellent art galleries and shops with ever-rotating stock. In addition, there are at least three book shops, including the recently acclaimed ‘Auckland’s Best Second-Hand Book Store’, The BookMark. Paradox Books, further up the road, is a charming independent
bookstore if you prefer to be the first to crack the covers! For those with a sweet tooth, Devonport Chocolates is a must-visit. Peek through the window of the chocolate kitchen to see the artisans at work. The handcrafted chocolates offer a dazzling array of special editions, irresistible award-winners and delightful family favourites.
Surrounded by nature, Devonport is also rich in walking opportunities. If you are an adventurous soul and confident on your feet, you can walk around the headland over the rocks from Narrow Neck to St Leonards Beach. The long stretch of sand on Cheltenham Beach is delightful for a beach walk or picnic, and the surrounding streets boast many beautifully restored Victorian villas. If you prefer green hills, head up one (or both) of the volcanoes and enjoy sterling views across the City of Sails, and possibly see pods of orcas and dolphins making their way across the Hauraki Gulf. Maungauika / North Head is rich in fascinating military history and is regarded as the most historical coastal defence site in New Zealand. There is a great self-guided tour available. If you prefer to ascend the heights with assistance, Bush and Beach offer daily bus tours and takes in other sites in the Auckland area, or you could join the
Magic Broomstick Segway Tour and whizz up to the top in moments. While North Head has vehicle access and parking, Mount Victoria has walk access only, unless on a bus tour.
Back on the ground, the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum is a great day out, accessible, crammed with exhibits and information… and the site of a lovely café! Devonport Museum, in Cambria Reserve, may be smaller, but it is packed with photos, exhibits and memorabilia.
Fancy a sit-down? Devonport is home to Australasia’s oldest cinema, The Vic, which not only offers a sympathetically restored historic theatre, but also some of the finest gelato to be found in Auckland. Welcome to Devonport! As the welcome sign says, you’ll never want to leave.
STATS
Region: Auckland
Airport: Auckland Airport
Main road: Lake Road, SH1, SH16
Population: 5,130
Top L–R: North Head Guns, Cheltenham Beach, Andelin Guesthouse, view from Takarunga / Mount Victoria.
Green Update
As part of our sustainability efforts to cut emissions, electric vehicles are the new reality rather than a future focus for Summerset. With a growing fleet of EVs across our villages, we are embracing a cleaner, quieter way of driving.
Summerset’s first EVs were launched in 2022, following a successful trial at the Avonhead, Rototuna and Heritage Park villages. Since then, a further 22 villages have followed suit. Our fleet are a mixture of Lexus and Mercedes, selected for their reliability, range and comfort. At the villages with EV chargers installed, a resident carshare scheme has been introduced, which enables our residents to book and drive the EVs for their personal use. This popular initiative invites residents to explore the freedom of living without their own vehicle and to discover if it’s a lifestyle that suits them. A bonus has been how much easier residents have found it to get in and out of the higher-seated EVs compared to the old petrol-driven Summerset fleet.
KIDNEY KIDS – BOTTLE TOP COLLECTION STATION
Summerset at Pohutukawa Place saves all the wine bottle caps and bottle tops from the Summerset Shout and has a collection point where residents can bring theirs from home. These caps are then donated to the charity Kidney Kids, who fundraise by selling the metal, which get smelted down and reused. The charity is close to organiser and resident Carol Pickering’s heart, as her niece received the life-changing gift of a kidney transplant. Summerset on Cavendish residents also support the charity and have set up their own recycling bins for their metal tops and tabs!
Summerset EVs are popular with residents and staff alike.
Residents embraced recycling initiatives.
PLASTIC FREE JULY – OUR VILLAGES LEAD THE WAY
Our villages embraced Plastic Free July with a huge range of recycling initiatives. Here are a few examples.
Summerset at Bishopscourt introduced reusable bin liners and substituted bin liners at the bar with laundry bags.
Summerset on Cavendish residents are addressing textile waste and are helping women in the Pacific Islands in the process! They have teamed up with Inner Wheel New Zealand to donate lightly worn bras, which Air New Zealand then ships for free to the Pacific Islands.
Cling wrap is a common single use plastic culprit, and to reduce its usage Summerset Mount Denby residents learned how to make their own reusable wax wraps.
Summerset by the Lake residents are turning waste into warmth by collecting chip packets to make into thermal blankets for Kiwis living rough.
1. Compostable bin liners. 2, 3 & 4: Chip packets for the Chip Packet Project.
World Alzheimer’s Month
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
September is World Alzheimer’s Month – a coordinated global movement to raise awareness and advance care and science on dementia mate wareware.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect how effectively our brain works. Dementia can affect anyone, and as people get older the changes of developing dementia increase. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia is one of New Zealand’s most significant and growing healthcare challenges. It impacts more than 55 million people globally; those living with dementia and their carers. In New Zealand, almost 70,000 Kiwis have dementia, and that number is expected to almost triple by 2050. A survey conducted in 2017 concluded that 4 out of every 5 New Zealanders knows or has known someone with dementia.
This year’s theme for World Alzheimer’s Month is #AskAboutDementia to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia. The theme seeks to change peoples’ perceptions, and normalise asking questions and learning more about the condition.
Registrations are now open for Alzheimers NZ’s Solving the Dementia Challenge Summit with People, Partnership and Innovation.
The Summit will have multiple sessions and events spanning two days, including:
• People and whānau-led services
• Integrated primary and community dementia care
• Professional development workshop Register now to join the Summit on 23 and 24 September in Auckland and online at https://alzheimers.org.nz/ explore/events/
POET’S CORNER
Getting old
Some say I have bats in the belfry and that there’s nothing in my attic.
I’ve heard there’s pigeons in my loft; now that would be dramatic.
I am not going round the bend, nor am I up the creek, and I’m not without a paddle, however one may speak.
I may have lost my marbles in the snow
But that was as a child so very long ago.
I don’t know what I can declare to counter that I’m not all there.
There was a time when words would flow from my lips like flakes of snow.
‘Mnemotechnics’ and ‘atavism’ came easily to hand till ‘anomie’ and ‘amentia’ began to make their stand, and cyclothymia came to play upon my nerves both night and day.
Now I stumble to get things right. Loss of intellect is becoming my plight. People’s names go in one ear, never again to reappear.
I put things down and can’t think where, which often leaves me in despair.
It is as I’m so frequently told I should just realise I’m getting old.
By Philip Dickinson Summerset at Karaka
If you would like to submit a poem for consideration in Poet’s Corner, send it to magazine@summerset.co.nz
BRAIN TEASE PUZZLES
DOUBLECROSS
Reveal a completed crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.
SUDOKU
Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9
The Christchurch nights might be chilly, but Lynn Lyndon doesn’t need a hot water bottle, as she has the warmth of two very snuggly King Charles spaniels.
Twelve-year-old Pepe and 11-year-old Toby both sleep on her bed and do a good job as bedwarmers. “I often have to move one of them to make room for me,” says Lynn from Summerset on Cavendish. “Pepe is a real lap dog. He loves to sit on me. Toby prefers to sit next to me instead.”
King Charles spaniels are known for being affectionate companion dogs and Lynn got Pepe to keep her company. “Our local publican in Kirwee owned a pair who had a litter. I got Pepe as a puppy.” A second litter a year later resulted in Lynn’s sister Wendy bringing Toby home. “Pepe tends to sleep most of the day away now, but they love their daily walks and adore the local dog park,” Lynn says. They are also very fond of their food, especially fruit. “I swear they can smell a mandarin a mile away!” laughs Lynn. “They love mandarins, apples and bananas. Toby especially lives for his food.”
Pepe is laidback but Toby is more excitable. “We have a lot of diggers in the village at present, and he does not like those,” remarks Lynn. “He likes to bark at them.” Woe betide any geese or fellow dogs that pass by their window too. “We look out over the swale and he likes to say his bit to anyone that comes on his patch.” Both the dogs like to ‘talk’ to other animals on the TV, with a particular fondness for Country Calendar . “Cows, sheep, farm dogs, horses...they bark at them whenever they appear!” says Lynn.
Lynn and Wendy both moved into Summerset on Cavendish in 2023. When Wendy passed away, Toby moved in with her. “He knew us very well, so it wasn’t too much of an adjustment, and they both like living in the village. They enjoy meeting people, and they love getting a big fuss from other residents.”
