10
Thursday December 15, 2016
readers have their say... Find out the WORD on the Street.
Q: What does Christmas mean to you?
Ben Finefeuiaki Holy Cross School, Miramar
Fletcher Hunt Holy Cross School, Miramar
Abbey Yan Holy Cross School, Miramar
Elissa Hanna Holy Cross School, Miramar
Tilomai Mapu Holy Cross School, Miramar
“Coming together with family and giving presents to each other and having fun.”
“It’s about family and giving. I did something called shoebox Christmas which is where you get presents for less fortunate people.”
“Celebrating with family and friends and also gathering together to have fun.”
“It’s a time of year where people celebrate the birth of Jesus, with family and friends around.”
“We remember back to the story of Mary and her baby Jesus and families come together to remember when he passed away.”
Kayleigh-Ann Smith Holy Cross School, Miramar “Christmas is the time baby Jesus was born and when we think about Christmas we pray for Jesus.”
LETTERS to the editor Letters on issues of community interest are welcomed. Guidelines are that they should be no longer than 150 words. They must be signed and a street address provided to show good faith, even if a nom de plume is provided for publication. The editor reserves the right to abridge letters or withhold unsuitable letters from publication. Send or fax them to the address on page two, or email them to nikki@wsn.co.nz. Please note that your name and street address must also be provided in e mails.
Bah Humbug Dear Ed, The pre-Christmas junk mail seemed to start sooner than ever this year, in early November. As I draw near the grave, I opine that Scrooge was right in the first place: “Bah, humbug!” Further, I think the English Puritans, during the 17th Century Commonwealth and Protectorate did the right thing by abolishing Christmas.
The Puritans well knew that Christmas is a combination of paganism and Popery; but commercialism was added to them in the 19th Century. It is ostensibly to observe the Nativity of Christ; but this was grafted on to the Roman festival of Saturnalia, not long after the Roman Empire became nominally Christian: it was in
OPEN HOME
At Woburn Apartments, 29E Wai-iti Cres, Woburn, Lower Hutt Wed 18 January, 10-11am
Woburn Home and Retirement Apartments
Some things make for happier, healthier living, no matter your age or ability. At Enliven’s Woburn Home and Apartments, we’ll work with you to achieve the things that are important to you. Woburn Apartments offer you the independence of your own home, but without the hassle. If you’re looking for peace of mind and security, Woburn Apartments could be for you. Woburn Home offers rest home, hospital and dementia care, as well as a relaxed and engaging day programme and short term respite care. Best of all, residents enjoy the caring, friendly and vibrant environment. Together, Woburn Home and Apartments is perfect for couples looking for different levels of support or those planning for the future. For more information call us, toll free, on 0508 36 54 83 (that’s 0508 ENLIVEN).
www.enlivencentral.org.nz
approximately 340 AD that the Nativity first became a fixed date in the Church calendar. In any case, Christmas has always been, in practice and popular observance, that same Saturnalia: the Twelve Days of Christmas meant a time of idleness, boozing, gorging, and temporarily tolerated bad behaviour in some form or
Kilmarnock Heights Home leading the way
other. In recent years, I’ve had a lot of empathy with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland: it’s only festival is Sunday, the weekly Christian Sabbath - no other festivals are permitted or recognized. I don’t belong to that denomination, but have some admired Christian friends who do. Hector Westfold, Miramar
Kilmarnock Heights Home manager Bronwyn Drennan with resident Betty Rankin.
Enliven’s Kilmarnock Heights Home in Berhampore is leading the way in creating an elder-centred community. The home has now become one of just three rest homes in Wellington and six nationwide to gain full Eden Alternative registration. Kilmarnock Heights Home manager Bronwyn Drennan said the Eden Alternative philosophy (Eden), was a unique elder-directed model of care that follows ten principles that work to alleviate the plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom – which are major issues as recognised in the government’s Health of Older People Strategy. “Eden is unique because the focus is on making sure a person’s entire wellbeing is catered for, including their spiritual and emotional needs, which has led to a notable difference in people’s overall happiness and quality of life,” said Bronwyn. Bronwyn said at Kilmarnock Heights Home everyday life included companionship, variety and spontaneity, and opportunities to give as well as receive care which gave elders a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. She said examples of the Eden Alternative
was the inclusion of pets and the empowerment of decision-making “A human habitat is created by including animals, plants and people in the elders’ lives. “We recognise that many people have animals as companions and allow them to move in with their owners. We also have home budgies, cats and rabbits. Relatives, volunteers and staff also make regular visits to the home with their dogs,” said Bronwyn. “The Eden Alternative also embraces an environment where elders and staff are active decision makers. Together they have created a Kilmarnock Heights values statement where respect and valuing differences in others is acknowledged. This is what makes Kilmarnock Heights a home.” Kilmarnock Heights Home resident Johnnie Wood said the Eden Alternative was what made a rest home feel like a home. “Some people see rest homes as places where people sit and do nothing day after day, but Eden doesn’t allow that to happen,” says Johnnie. “Here [at Kilmarnock Heights Home] I’ve never been so busy in my life. There’s always something for me to do.”