JACQUI HAMMERTON
LOCAL SCENE
OVER THE FENCE LUCY MCGRORY is a live-in carer four days a week for an elderly Malvern East resident, next door to IT specialist (and handyman) PETER ROOKE LUCY It was work that brought me to the area. I live in the country, in Castlemaine, three days a week and I am a private carer four days a week for the elderly lady who lives here. I bring my dog, Honey, when I come to stay. Peter has always known the lady I work for and he’s always done heaps of things to help. He’s not shy to knock on the door and help out. And the lady I look after isn’t shy about asking for help, either! The front fence needed some work recently. The quote to fix it was $1000 so Peter just put some screws in and replaced a board and painted it and it’s held together since then. One night he saw the car lights on when someone came to stay, and knocked on the door and saved them from a flat battery. Peter has a coffee every morning around the corner,
opposite Central Park. One day I was out walking Honey past there, and Peter offered me a coffee so we had a bit of a chat.Well, I found it a bit cold sitting there so we decided to set off on a walk together. Now we walk all the time, after he’s had his coffee, solving the problems of the world while we walk through Hedgeley Dene Gardens. We don’t always agree on everything, but that’s half the fun. Being neighbours to me means not being judgmental.Take people as they come, be understanding and try to be helpful. Peter is just like that.
PETER My family connections in Stonnington go back to the 1890s and when I was a boy I went to Malvern Memorial Grammar School [now Caulfield Grammar Junior School]. I’ve been in this house 14 years.
We already knew the lady who lived in the house and we know the live-in carers next door and we’ve helped out over the years. I first got chatting with Lucy across the fence and now we do our regular walks through the neighbourhood together with her dog. Walking Honey has really got me out more the in the neighbourhood. People always stop to chat when you have a dog with you and it enlarges your friendships. We’ve had so many happy days here and it’s good knowing people are always there next door. JACQUI HAMMERTON jhammerton@mmpgroup.com.au
LOCALSAY Are you friends with your neighbour? EMAIL US » centraleditorial@mmpgroup.com.au.
APRIL 17, 2013
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STONNINGTON REVIEW LOCAL 13