Issue No. 139
ECHo! The qua r ter ly maga z i ne of EC H I n c
Autumn 2010
Award winning resident living life to the fullest
EC H enriches the lives of older people th r o ug h i n d ep en d en t l i v i ng u n i ts , c o m mu n i ty s er v i c e s a nd r e s id en t ia l ca r e
A u t u m n 2 010 – I s s u e N o .139
ECHo! ECHo! is the quarterly publication of ECH Inc Please share this publication with your family and friends. Opinions quoted in this publication are not necessarily those of the editorial team or the ECH Board of Directors. ECH Inc 174 Greenhill Road Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 08 8407 5151 Facsimile: 08 8407 5130 Email: admin@ech.asn.au Website: www.ech.asn.au
ECHo! is printed with vegetable-based inks using world’s best practice ISO14001 Environment Management Systems
Award winning resident living life to the fullest
2
Changes to the Independent Living Division
4
Forming furry friendships in residential care
5
Capital works update
6
Backpacking through retirement
8
It’s never too early or too late to maximise your independence
10
Living life in residential care
13
Continuing our professional development
14
Wedding bells are ringing for residents
16
It’s a small world
19
Social pages
20
Proudly Australian
22
Forty degrees and fifty years
25
Recycling residents
26
A century of change
27
Volunteer focus
28
Farewell to feathered friends
29
Making masterpieces from manchester
30
Woolly and warm
30
Folk dancing fun
31
Premier visits Holly
32
Sporty resident celebrates 100 years
32
Dates to remember
33
Seven nights by the sea
34
2010 holiday unit bookings
35
Contact us
36
cover story
Award winning resident living life to the fullest COVER PHOTO: June with her COTA award
June with husband Nevil
For many, being born with a genetic disease depriving you of 92 per cent of your vision would seem to be an extremely limiting and frightening prospect.
From that moment June’s dedication to bowls quickly grew and within the same year she formed the SA Blind Bowler’s Club which is still operating today.
For June Goodhand, being legally blind hasn’t stopped her from chasing a successful career in lawn bowls, in both blind and sighted competitions, and from being continually active in life and in her community.
“You can get hooked! It’s just one of those games,” June says about bowls. She has a very competitive nature and enjoys winning but says that there is so much more to her love of the game. “I also love the social interaction with people. I just like to see people happy and enjoying life,” June says. “It’s not just about winning… it’s about taking part.”
Now June can add another achievement to her long list of medals and overflowing folder of certificates. On 27 October 2009, June, a resident of ECH’s Rotary Village, was announced as the winner of the COTA Every Generation Physical Activity Award for 2009. When June heard her name being called out at the COTA Every Generation awards dinner she was very excited. “I nearly fell off my chair,” June says. “I was absolutely thrilled and very honoured to receive the award.” June has Stargardt’s disease which deprives her of central vision leaving her with only 8 per cent of normal eyesight. There is no cure for Stargardt’s disease but June’s positive, ‘try anything’ attitude has led her to represent Australia at three World Blind Bowls Championships and the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. “I’ve had a very full life and my eyesight has never stopped me from doing almost anything I wanted to do,” June says. In 1979, June started playing lawn bowls as part of a program run by the Royal Society for the Blind. They asked her if she would like to try her hand at this sport to which she responded “I’ll try anything”.
2|
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Playing blind lawn bowls, however, isn’t easy. “It’s a terrific mental strain as well as physical,” June says. To win a gold medal you have to play ten games of two hours duration each. During competitions of blind bowls June would have a coach or ‘helper’ who would assist her with visualising the playing field and the placement of the bowls. The mental strain came from having to keep a constant focus on what she was being told by her helper and visualising this in her mind. A particularly special moment for June was when she, without a helper, played with the Broadview Ladies Fours team in 93/94 to win the shield in the state competition for sighted players. “That was very special to me, mainly because I played with sighted people.” June has had an impressive 16 year career in bowls at both a national and world level where she would play singles, ladies pairs and mixed pairs. Her medals are kept in an ornate wooden box which has been cleverly crafted by her husband Nevil. Her most memorable moment was when she won
June with long-time blind bowls helper Nancy Miller
her first gold medal in 1982 at the national blind bowls competition in Melville, New South Wales. “I remember it because it was all so new to me,” June says. “When I actually won the game I just dissolved into tears!” She remembers her helper Colin Winter being just as overwhelmed as he had never been a blind bowls coach before. “He was in tears too!” June remembers. In 1989 June travelled to Zimbabwe to compete in the World Blind Bowls Championships. She remembers that security in the country was very tight and there was often barbed wire around the places she visited. During her stay there, June visited Victoria Falls and went on two safaris. The playing field was also very different. “The greens were brown and uneven!” June remembers. “How we could play on that I just didn’t know… but we did!” At the Commonwealth Games in Canada, June, along with an athlete who was in a wheelchair, was chosen to lead the Australian team at the opening ceremony. “We were in front of the whole team. I will really cherish that moment.” June’s competitive career unfortunately came to an end at these games when she succumbed to a back injury.
The Broadview Team
While she was devastated to have to give up competing, it hasn’t stopped her from being active in many other ways. June started a carpet bowls night at Rotary village and enjoys an active social life, often going out to the movies and visiting with other people. Continuing on from a long history of community and volunteer work, June has been heavily involved in the local chapter of the Australian Retired Persons Association as assistant coordinator for five years and a committee member for 14 years. “I’ve always been on two or three committees almost every year for 52 years since my babies were born,” June says. June is an inspiration and a source of encouragement to many. We congratulate June on winning the COTA Every Generation Physical Activity Award for 2009! June in action
June with helper Colin Winter
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
|3
Changes to the Independent Living Division Accommodation Services and Independent Living Services come together When you telephone ECH Corporate Reception or Independent Living Services you may hear some new voices on the other end of the line. Manager of Independent Living Services Helen Harmer retired in December last year and this facilitated the merger of Accommodation Services and Independent Living Services under one manager and two team leaders. Tania Kelly, previously Manager Accommodation Services, is now Manager Retirement Living Services. Many of you will know Luke Say, who has taken up the role of Team Leader in Independent Living Services, and also Coralie Griffiths, who has taken up the role of Team Leader in Accommodation Services. We are very fortunate to have Judie Bilske back in the position of Corporate Receptionist with Jennifer Moloney moving to Independent Living Services as Administration Assistant. Residents may run into Ngaire Merritt at some point while she visits sites in her new role as Resident Liaison Officer. While many existing staff have accepted new roles within ECH, we have also been fortunate to have Melissa Evans join the team as a Coordinator in Independent Living Services.
Melissa Evans
Melissa comes to us with a degree in social work and experience in coordinating aged care packages both here in Adelaide and in Sydney. She has previously worked for Anglicare and most recently has been involved with assisting people in supported residential facilities with a focus on advocacy. Her role at ECH as a Coordinator involves supporting independent living unit residents by providing information and advocacy and linking them in to appropriate services to help them stay living in their own home for as long as possible. Residents in Melissa’s designated area will most likely see her out and about, visiting residents in their homes or facilitating group meetings on site. She is also available to provide support over the phone. Melissa is enjoying the face to face contact with residents and being able to assist them with information and referrals. Outside of work she enjoys a range of activities including walking her dogs, going to the gym, reading and socialising with friends and family.
Independent living unit residents can contact Independent Living Services for information, advocacy and links to appropriate services to help them stay living in their own homes as long as possible. This service is available from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. The team includes Team Leader Luke Say and Coordinators Julie Lawrie, Chris Clohesy and Melissa Evans (all pictured above).
4|
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Forming furry friendships in residential care An unusual group of therapists continues to do the rounds at some of our residential care centres. At Charles Young Residential Care Centre, residents receive weekly visits from a four legged friend equipped with charming manners and beautiful, soft fur perfect for receiving pats. Only 16 months old, Crystal the Burmese Mountain Dog is a seasoned professional who also regularly visits a primary school and kindergarten. Crystal is accompanied by her owner Julie and resident Gerda and Gerda’s daughter Doris. The visits are of special significance to Gerda because when she was living in Vienna she introduced a pet therapy program called Caring Canine Companions for which she received the Key of the City. Crystal is recognised throughout the centre and has a special bond with some of the residents. If you’re at Charles Young Residential Care Centre on a Wednesday morning, be prepared for uncontrollable smiling!
Top: Jolly Swagman, Doug Furze and Jane Armstrong. Top right: Gerda and Crystal. Bottom left: Audrey McKenzie with Jolly Swagman. Bottom right: Gerda, Doris Julie and Crystal.
Meanwhile, at Holly Residential Care Centre, residents are enjoying regular visits from a distinguished, award-winning guest. Jolly Swagman, double grand champion and voted Cat of the Year for 2009 across the show circuit, stops by the centre almost every fortnight. His owner Jane Armstrong, Lifestyle Assistant at the centre, has been bringing cats in for visits ever since she was working back at the old Bellevue Residential Care Centre. Her oldest cat is now eight years old and Jane started bringing her when she was just a kitten. Residents are able to get up close to Jolly Swagman, a British Shorthair, or even nurse him. Jane reports that the residents love having Jolly Swagman stop by and he gets an amazing response from even some of the quietest residents.
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
|5
Capital Works update What’s happening with upgrades to independent living sites? The last few months have been a busy time for the Capital Works team. Upgrades, installations, landscaping – it’s all happening at ECH’s independent living sites.
Site upgrade program As we identify sites requiring upgrades, the Resident Liaison Officer will conduct meetings with residents to discuss specific details of any site works which may affect them. This site upgrade program will run over the next five to six years and will include: • Gardens and landscaping, including planting of native and drought resistant plants and installation of automated irrigation systems. • Pathways will be made wider, wherever possible, to provide more accessibility for residents. • Window treatments will be applied to units which meet certain criteria, making the inside temperature more comfortable. • Stormwater will be managed more efficiently. • Fencing will be reviewed and plans for new fencing, where required, will be developed. • Lighting in communal areas will also be reviewed.
6|
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Please note that we are communicating with residents as sites are due to be upgraded. If you have not heard from us then your site is not currently scheduled for an upgrade.
Unit upgrades Entry Contribution Units Residents of units which have not had works undertaken since 1994 will be offered the opportunity to have an upgrade at no cost. Upgrades may vary but can include a new kitchen, bathroom, flooring, paint and window treatments. Resident Funded Units Residents of these units will have the opportunity to increase the amount of insulation in their roof and have their windows tinted. If you are contacted by ECH about possible upgrades to your unit it is your choice whether or not you would like to participate in the upgrade program.
Insulation and Supavents The Federal Government has cancelled its roofing insulation initiative. As a result of this initiative ECH was able to increase the amount of insulation in approximately 75% of our Entry Contribution Units. ECH understands that the Federal Government is now reviewing the insulation program. Future government initiatives will be assessed for suitability to ECH and our residents. We will notify you when more information becomes available.
Roofing insulation provides benefits such as consistent unit temperature and an overall reduction in energy costs. The program was delivered at no cost to residents and ECH. As part of the insulation program, ECH funded the installation of Supavents in roofs. Supavents are wind driven ventilators that exhaust heat from the roof space assisting in maintaining the unit’s temperature at a comfortable level. Should a resident want additional Supavents they can be arranged at the resident’s expense.
Insulation and fire safety Some of you might have heard that there have been issues regarding insulation and fire safety. The products used in ECH units are Bradford Gold Batts and Knauf Earthwool. Both products are fully fire resistant. Neither have any toxic chemicals which could put installers’ or residents’ health at risk.
Landscaping at Cavender Court Major landscaping work is nearing completion at Cavender Court in Brighton. The new landscaping design incorporates sustainable principles, including drought resistant plants and automatic irrigation systems. A key feature of the landscape design has been the consideration of plants that are suitable for a beach area.
Tapleys Court ECH has purchased a block of eight, two bedroom units on Tapleys Hill Road at Seaton. The site is suitably located near shops, public transport and a medical centre. Tapleys Court has been refurbished with residents occupying units from mid March 2010.
In addition, ECH engaged the services of the Energy Efficiency Centre (EEC) which has been in business for 48 years. EEC are Bradford Insulation’s oldest and largest distributor. All their staff are fully trained in occupational health and safety and are skilled in laying insulation correctly. Units with downlights have been managed according to the law and are safe. jkkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjk
Cavender Court
Who can you contact for more information? In regards to all works planned for ECH sites and individual units, you will be given as much information on the work to be done as possible and the opportunity to ask as many questions as you would like. We will do our best to make sure the upgrades are carried out with the least amount of interruption to your lifestyle as possible. Please contact Ngaire Merritt, Resident Liaison Officer, on 8407 5165 if you have any questions or concerns.
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
|7
Backpacking through retirement Sailing down the Amazon River, travelling the Silk Road and eating yak stew in the Himalayas. This is how Jo Johansen has been spending his retirement. During his earlier years, Jo worked all over the world, training first as a chemist and then as a general nurse, specialising as an operating theatre technician. His work took him to the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong. He also joined the Australia Navy, serving for 20 years. In his retirement, Jo has continued his thirst for travelling and from the age of 50 until his late 70s he backpacked alone through 63 different countries. “I travelled a lot in the navy and it’s probably in my genes to travel,” Jo says. His interest in backpacking began when he approached a travel agency to book a trip to Japan. The following experience with the travel agency, which even saw him taking on the role of tour guide, meant that he learnt all about the costs involved and found that a vital element was missing in the tours being offered. What was missing was the opportunity to be spontaneous and actually interact with the people of that country, experiencing their culture and lifestyle. “You see the city but not the people,” Jo says. The desire for these experiences led Jo to backpacking. “You live and do what the people do. You experience the culture of the people there, not the city,” Jo says. “It’s enormously satisfying to sit in a footpath café and watch the interaction of the local people.” His memories of his travels take him back to the time when he went sailing along the Amazon River and stopped by a local village where he fished for piranhas with a hook attached to a bamboo stick by a piece of string.
8|
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Backpacking allowed Jo the freedom to see what he wanted and go where he wanted, spending as much or as little time in each place as he wished. His general rule was to spend no less than six weeks in each country. This would allow him time to take things in and even have “chill-out” days if he needed a break. Jo usually gave himself two to three days to find his feet in a new country before he ventured out too far but was always eager to start exploring. “As fast as possible I’d head off into the country, not knowing what I was doing tomorrow,” Jo says. Often he could average about $20 a day on food and accommodation. “You live and travel as the indigenous people of that country,” he explains. Although he travelled by himself, Jo wasn’t alone. “There is camaraderie with backpackers,” Jo says. Backpacking often involved staying in small hostels with other travellers but also involved friendship and a chance to share experiences and information. “You tend to be very protective of each other,” Jo says. He also says there’s no age restriction to this type of travelling and encountered people of all ages, particularly young students in their gap year, middle-aged workers enjoying a break from their jobs and retirees looking for adventure. Late one night, Jo was on a plane to Hanoi. It landed at an airport 40 kilometres from the city at about 11pm. Jo walked out of the airport to find that there were no taxis or buses. “Behind me, they started to lock the place up,” he recalls. Despite being apprehensive about his situation, Jo approached the man who was locking up the airport. This local man was able to give him a lift into town where Jo faced a second predicament. “I got out of this fella’s little van and here I was standing on a deserted little street in Hanoi at midnight!”
But Jo found his way, as he always did, and he says that this is the part of backpacking where some people wouldn’t be able to cope. The uncertainty and the absence of comforts which we often take for granted. Such as the situation he encountered on a flight from Russia to China. Before he boarded the plane, a hostess standing on the tarmac handed him a paper fan. He soon discovered that this was because the old airliner had no air conditioning. Jo says you have to weigh the risks against the benefits. “If I don’t do that, I won’t get where I want to go and see what I want to see,” he would say. “Life is enormously different outside of Australia,” Jo says. “To be a backpacker you have to immediately forget all your preconceptions of what is the right thing and what is the wrong thing.” What he gained from backpacking was a sense of all the things that are taken for granted. “You appreciate more and more of what you’ve got,” Jo says. “What we take for granted is other peoples’ existence.” He remembers staying with a local family in the Himalayas. He joined them for a festival where he sat on the ground in the dirt sharing a large pot of yak stew. These people didn’t have a lot of possessions but Jo was impressed by how content and happy they were without them.
Jo’s motto for life is: “Not only look but see. Not only hear but listen. Don’t wait, make it happen.” Although he had to give up backpacking due to its heavy physical demands, he still applies this motto to his everyday life and enjoys helping to organise bus trips for the residents at Marten Retirement Village, where he is a resident, and also taking regular trips to parts of Australia. His advice to others who are thinking about backpacking is to be cautious but not scared and to research as much as possible. He also picked up tips along the way from fellow backpackers and added a strip of Velcro to his pockets to protect his wallet (above left). In addition to this advice, Jo is adamant that we should always enjoy everything. “Live in the moment,” Jo says. “Always have the constant thought in your mind ‘I’m going to enjoy this’.” He also asks us to recognise the value in everything. “Never compare one thing that you’ve seen with another. As soon as you start that comparison you’ve lost the value of what you’re looking at,” Jo says. “You can find something to like about it.” “Make it happen,” Jo repeats, “don’t think about it, just go and do it!”
ECH Inc| ECHo! Autumn 2010
|9
It’s never too early or too late to maximise your independence Join the team! Enhance your lifestyle through fun and effective therapy which works with you to achieve your personal goals... Ruth Dignam has been a physiotherapist for over 30 years, 14 of these spent at ECH, and has noticed a positive shift in the way the heath industry is approaching the care and treatment of clients. “We’ve shifted away from the traditional medical model. It’s more about working together,” Ruth says. “We’re working towards the goals the clients want to achieve.” Rather than being told what to do by their doctors, people are taking an active role in their health care by working with a range of professionals to achieve individual results. There is also a focus on teamwork between allied health professionals to ensure that clients are receiving the best available treatment. “We like to work together to maximise the benefits to the client,” Ruth says. This positive approach is an integral part of Ruth’s workplace, ECH’s Greenacres Therapy Service, where she works with people from the age of 60 to assist them with sustaining the level of mobility required for maintaining independence. The term ‘physio’ is often used to refer to the treatment of a range of musculoskeletal injuries or weaknesses but the profession has a much more diverse role to play in health care. “We’re involved in the way the body moves and we’re always looking to optimise body function and movement and assist with anything that might be getting in the way of that,” Ruth explains. Physiotherapy also involves educating people, motivating them to practice what they have learnt and be more aware of the factors that may be affecting their mobility.
10 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
“Every day is different,” Ruth says. As a physiotherapist at ECH, she is involved in various programs and sessions designed to respond to a range of individual needs, abilities or goals. With a particular interest in balance work, Ruth is involved in running the Steady Footsteps class and also individual sessions. This part of her role involves assessing what factors may be affecting a person’s balance such as strength, vision, footwear or home environment and providing support to overcome these. “The best way to develop balance is to practice balance,” Ruth says. “Here they can practice balance in a safe environment.” With her balance work, Ruth maintains a focus on safety and also on encouraging people to challenge themselves. “It’s really exciting to see someone who has been scared to move feeling safer about moving around,” Ruth says. Ruth also assists with exercise classes together with other staff members. “Exercise is a way of prolonging your independence and maintaining mobility,” Ruth says. Programs such as Conditioning, Strong & Stable and Fit & Fiesty allow clients to exercise in a safe, controlled environment. “It’s simple but true,” Ruth says, “move it or lose it.” People who wish to seek assistance with optimising their mobility are assessed to determine their current level and are then involved in the planning of their therapy program. “That’s why people feel so comfortable,” Ruth says. There is also the option for water-based exercise known as aquatherapy. “The water provides a marvellous medium for people to move about painfree,” Ruth explains. Many people may also not be aware that physiotherapists can assist with the management of continence issues. Ruth says the program is very successful with some minimal interventions
Ruth doing balance work with Mrs Messmer
producing amazing results. She also assists with reducing the occurrence of headaches by providing advice and support to manage or prevent them. “A lot of people put up with things thinking that it’s a part of getting older and there’s nothing they can do,” Ruth says. This isn’t the case and Ruth can assist clients with not only addressing current conditions but also with using therapy and exercise as a way of preventing such conditions from developing or getting worse. “It’s never too late to address your mobility concerns!”
How can physiotherapy help you? If you are aged 60 or older then you may be eligible for assistance from ECH. We provide treatment and support for people living with: • Back and neck problems • Joint and muscle pain
ECH has a therapy service located in the southern, western and north-eastern suburbs and also in Victor Harbor. Each location has a range of allied health professionals, including physiotherapists like Ruth, who provide a varied schedule of programs and services. Contact your nearest service for more information.
ECH Therapy Service locations Southern Therapy Service 126 Pimpala Road, Morphett Vale Ph: 8322 5700 sts@ech.asn.au
• Headaches
Greenacres Therapy Service
• Post surgical rehabilitation
1/1 Rellum Road, Greenacres
• Stroke rehabilitation
Ph: 8369 3393
• Neurological disorders
gcts@ech.asn.au
• Continence issues
Victor Harbor Therapy Service
• Balance problems
33 Cornhill Road, Victor Harbor
• Strength or flexibility concerns
Ph: 8552 8380 vhcts@ech.asn.au
We are also available to assist with: • Education and advice • Preventative therapy • Fitness or exercise programs
Western Therapy Service 168A Cudmore Terace, Henley Beach Ph: 8356 3169 wects@ech.asn.au ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 11
Exercise with ECH! Exercise Classes
Water Therapy
Almost all older adults, regardless of their age or medical condition, can safely improve their health, wellbeing and independence by participating in some form of regular exercise.
Water therapy is rehabilitation carried out in water by a physiotherapist. Water therapy uses the properties of water to achieve maximum benefits for the client. Benefits include:
Exercise assists with:
• Pain relief
• Maintaining or improving mobility
• Easier movement
• Ability to remain independent at home
• Strengthening of muscles
• Improving strength
• Improved balance and coordination
• Reducing the risk of falls
• Joint mobilisation
• Reducing the risk of disease, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes
• Decreased stiffness
• Maintaining bone strength • Improving overall wellbeing Through its four therapy sites, ECH provides a range of exercise programs for those aged 60 and over. Every person is assessed prior to commencing an exercise program. Individual goals and abilities are determined and a program is tailored to your fitness level. Regular reassessment will help you to monitor your progress. If you are interested in improving your physical activity, achieving better health and having fun at the same time, contact your nearest ECH Therapy Service (see details on previous page).
12 | ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
• Improved peripheral circulation • Improved general fitness • Relaxation • Deep water confidence Water therapy is an individually designed water based exercise program. Sessions are held in a specifically designed pool of water at a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. You do not need to be able to swim to benefit from water therapy. If interested, you will be assessed by a physiotherapist and an individualised treatment plan will be developed with you. Water therapy is conducted in a group setting over the course of 10 weeks. At ECH, water therapy is only available through Greenacres Therapy Service.
Living life in residential care In the last edition of ECHo! we included an article about the Lifestyle Model of Care we are implementing in ECH residential care centres. This model recognises that providing care in a way that reflects a resident’s choice of lifestyle is not just about recreational activities. It is about the ability of the resident to choose the pattern of their daily life without feeling pressured to conform to the routines of the care centre. This model is gradually filtering through our care centres with positive results as residents are able to continue their lifestyle in ways that may not have been thought of before. Staff are embracing the chance to be creative, bringing in new programs and taking on enhanced roles. At Charles Young Residential Care Centre, resident Merv shared his passion for electric organ music with Freda, a lifestyle assistant. After discussion with the Lifestyle Coordinator, Freda contacted the Capri Theatre, known for its magnificent 4 manual 29 rank organ, to see what could be arranged. What followed was more than both Freda and Merv ever expected. What was supposed to be a 15 minute visit to view the organ turned into a two hour long adventure where Merv was allowed onstage, despite access usually being restricted, to view the organ and its inner workings up close. “She’s a mighty big organ,” Merv says. Merv and Freda had the whole theatre to themselves and sat up front for a preshow performance. At the end of visit, the pair went to Pizza Hut as Merv had never tasted a pizza before. He selected three different types and brought them back to the centre to share with a good friend.
Freda and Merv
Linda Fletcher
The Lifestyle Model of Care has also empowered staff to take on enhanced roles, providing a more complete and personal level of care. At Marten Residential Care Centre, a new role has been developed which has come to be known as the ‘lifestyle carer’. Essentially, this role is a merger of the lifestyle and personal care roles which has allowed some of the most important aspects of the care centre to come together in a unique way. This role is put into practice over the shift involving time spent caring and time spent focusing on lifestyle but ultimately with a flexibility to assist in both where required. Instead of a set program run by a separate group of staff members, lifestyle activities at Marten are being tailored to the needs and specific interests of each resident. As the staff member organising lifestyle experiences for residents is also involved in their personal care, the lifestyle carer is more in tune with the individuality of each resident and is able to interact with them on more than just one level of care. Also in action at Marten is a new gentle exercise program which is run by a lifestyle carer. This program has been developed by Active Ageing and is known as Easy Moves for Active Ageing (or EMAA). Linda Fletcher, a lifestyle carer at Marten, is trained in the EMAA program which aims to slow the rate of decline and maintain function in older people. Having Linda involved in lifestyle programs as well as being a trained carer offers the residents a more complete and enhanced package of care, meeting both their social and physical requirements.
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 13
Continuing our professional development ECH is committed to providing quality services to its residents and clients. This commitment involves encouraging and supporting staff to undertake further education to update their skills and learn new ones. Recently, we’ve had some exciting achievements in the area of professional development and we’d like to share these with you. Graduate Nurse Program Lesley Jesser (below left) and Craig Griffiths (below right) were the first ECH participants in a Graduate Nurse Program specifically designed for the aged care sector. The program is a transitory course which assists participants to adapt to their newly acquired roles as registered nurses. It also fosters a greater understanding of nursing in aged care and highlights the benefits of nursing the older person as a specialised career path. The achievements of Lesley and Craig were celebrated during a morning tea held at Walkerville Residential Care Centre which was attended by staff members who taught or mentored them throughout the program. Carmel Siebert, who has been instrumental in running this program at ECH, and Judi Coombe, General Manager Residential Care, presented Lesley and Craig with their certificates and spoke about their hopes for the future of the program. This year, Jiani Wang from Charles Young Residential Care Centre has been accepted into the program.
14 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Business Traineeship If you’ve called Maintenance Services lately, you may have spoken to Administration Assistant Deana Batters. At the end of 2009, Deana attended a graduation ceremony after completing a traineeship during which she attained a Certificate 3 in Business. She was also one of three students to receive a nomination for the 2009 Reg Burgess Agencies Student of the Year in Business Award. During her studies Deana learnt about OHS&W, customer expectations, professionalism, various computer programs, marketing strategies and office administration. Deana also says the traineeship has boosted her confidence, assisting her in talking to contractors, residents and other staff members. Deana is currently responsible for providing administration support at Maintenance Services, meaning her job is often varied but she enjoys the challenge. Deana is pictured above with Lynne Nicoll, Kelly Mendes and Graeme Dolman.
Food Processing Kitchen Assistants at ECH’s Food Services have not only been busy preparing meals they have also been busy completing Certificate III in Food Processing. Hollie Harrison, Karla Terry, Yasemin Uysal, Neil Johnson and Tali Grant (pictured left to right) undertook the course over 12 months, further increasing their knowledge and skill base. Graduating from the program in December 2009, the group studied a range of modules which included learning about implementing food safety and occupational health policies, applying mathematical concepts in the workplace, operating various production procedures and equipment, and participating in improvement processes. They are pictured with Head Chef Jon Gaff (back row) and Food Services Manager Trevor Cook (far right).
Want to be on the ECH mailing list? If you would like to be added or removed from the ECH mailing list please contact: Coordinator Publications ECH Inc Reply Paid 83158 Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 8407 5160 Email: publications@ech.asn.au
Do you know someone who prefers their publication in large format or on tape? This can be arranged as the Royal Society for the Blind kindly translates our publications. For a copy contact: Coordinator Publications ECH Inc Reply Paid 83158 Parkside SA 5063 Telephone: 8407 5160 Email: publications@ech.asn.au
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 15
Wedding bells are ringing for residents Overseas trips, competitive sports, volunteering, socialising – our residents are always doing something interesting but recently we’ve been receiving news of a different kind. Engagement announcements, wedding plans and honeymoon destinations have been a recent topic of conversation at ECH’s care centres and independent living sites.
Mary and Peter Recently engaged Mary Ruwette and Peter Presland, of Rotary Village, never imagined they would end up together. They met at the Parafield Gardens Community Club where they both attended for social activities and gatherings. A club trip was approaching and Mary, knowing that Peter might be feeling a similar awkwardness to what she did about having to travel alone, said “If you come, I’ll sit with you on the bus.” The trip was to the Barossa and they both had a great time. “We had the same taste for wine,” Peter says, smiling and laughing over the memory. At another social event, Mary was dancing with her friends when Peter walked onto the floor and took her in his arms. “He got hold of me and we danced together,” Mary remembers. When Mary had to go to hospital, Peter offered to take her. On her first day in hospital Peter gave Mary a hug, on the second day she received a kiss on the cheek and on the third day Peter gave Mary a proper kiss.
16 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Now they are inseparable. “We do everything together,” Mary says. “We just had new knees!” Peter says smiling, despite the pain they both went through during their knee replacement operations. In early December of 2009, Peter said to Mary, “Come on, let’s go to the shop and I’ll buy you a ring!” “So we went to the shop and we picked a ring,” Mary says. They haven’t made any concrete plans for the wedding yet but are considering some time in 2011. Mary never dreamed she would get engaged at this point. When she moved into her unit she bought new furniture and settled in. “I thought, right I’m done now,” she says. “Then life changed!” They have a very busy social calendar for this year, including visiting Peter’s sister in England who he hasn’t seen for 47 years and visiting Mary’s relatives in Holland.
Pat and Carl Recently married Holly Residential Care Centre was bubbling with excitement last November when residents Pat Pierce and Carl Sims announced they were getting married. “Being the first wedding here it’s caused quite a stir!” Pat says. The pair met at the centre, with Carl arriving in December 2008 and Pat shortly after in early 2009. They can’t remember the exact moment they met but the most important thing to them is that they did. “Don’t know how we met.. but we did!” Carl says. “It was God that pulled us together.” After they met, Pat went away on a trip for a few days and Carl missed her terribly. When she returned he told her never to leave him again and exclaimed, “You’d better marry me!”
Pat and Carl were married on 28 November 2009 in the chapel at the care centre with the reception hosted in the hall. Pat’s matron of honour was her granddaughter Tamara and Carl’s best man was carer Darren Cooper. Pat wore a beautiful blue ensemble and Carl picked up a suit for the occasion. They kept the details of their Port Noarlunga honeymoon a secret until the days leading up to the wedding. Pat loves Carl’s naturalness. “There’s nothing put on about him,” she says. “What you see is what you get.” Carl responds by saying, “You can’t get into trouble that way!” Carl adores Pat also, saying “I love all of her, not just a part, all of her.” Together they have the task of going to the local shop most mornings to purchase the items required for the centre’s café. They also enjoy playing cards but Carl, a self-confessed “stirrer by trade, stirrer by nature”, jokes that this only lasts until Pat falls asleep in the afternoon!
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 17
Jenny and Norm Approaching their first anniversary Norm had three minutes to get to know Jenny, whom he’d never met before, and introduce her as a new member at his Probus Club meeting. It was that moment when they both felt something they’d never expected. “It was like an instant mutual attraction,” Jenny says. “I’d felt as if I’d known Jenny for years after the few minutes we’d been together,” Norm recalls. At first, Jenny felt tentative about going to the social events arranged by the Probus Club as she had to go on her own. Before one outing to the theatre, Norm asked Jenny if she was planning to attend but Jenny wasn’t sure where to go. So Norm met her at the club and they went together from there. They did this a few times and their relationship grew. “It’s really the Probus Club’s fault!” Jenny says, joking about how they came to be together. Before they met, Jenny and Norm weren’t looking to get married again. Jenny had been on her own for 20 years and Norm for seven. “You might not like it but you get used to it,” Jenny says. It was new territory for them both but Jenny remembers the moment she felt sure she should be with Norm. When Jenny travelled without Norm to a conference she realised she missed him terribly. Jenny laughs when she remembers how she came to be engaged to Norm as her younger friend had just recently received a classically romantic moonlit proposal and wanted details of Jenny’s moment. “We were on the bus and he just said it was a good idea and I agreed!” Jenny says. “It would’ve been very difficult to get down on one knee in the bus,” Norm says. “It was very crowded!” They were also planning to have a low-key wedding but the Probus Club assisted with the arrangements, turning it into a bigger affair. “We were going to get married in the telephone box down the corner,” Norm laughs.
18 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
They were married on 22 June 2009 at the Campbelltown Probus Club during the club’s birthday luncheon. Despite a dreary forecast, the weather was perfect. Jenny wore a beautiful red evening blouse and a flowing black skirt and was escorted down the aisle by 15 of her grandchildren. When asked if the bride was late, Norm and Jenny remember only one delay. “When I got there the grandchildren were all waiting outside and jumping around saying Nanna!” Jenny recalls with a smile. “So we had to have a few cuddles first.” They spent their honeymoon travelling by car up to Darwin, stopping at all the tourist spots along the way, then on to Queensland, down through New South Wales and back to Adelaide. Jenny and Norm enjoy travelling together and have also been to New Zealand, Canberra and Mount Gambier since getting married! Leading a very active lifestyle, Jenny and Norm enjoy going to the theatre, attending Probus Club activities, playing cards, walking and visiting friends. “We seem to go out a lot,” Jenny says, “We’re never home!” Jenny is a member of the local camera club and also spends many hours translating books into Braille. She took up the challenge to learn Braille after retiring from her work as a special education teacher. Norm is a cricket fanatic, retiring from work five years before he retired from playing cricket. “I can ask for anything when the cricket’s on,” Jenny says, laughing. “I’m the luckiest man in the world,” Norm says about being with Jenny. “We laugh a lot,“ Jenny says. “We have a quirky sense of humour that’s similar.” Jenny and Norm live at ECH’s Marchant Court in Athelstone.
Anneliese, Coralie and Tom
Anneliese, Coralie and Tom
It’s a small world!
Tom Diprose and Anneliese Beckel are neighbours at Smithfield Residential Care Centre but were amazed to discover that they’ve shared more than a wall.
have been made over the years but there is a shepherd’s hut on the property which they believe to be from the 1800s. “That was from the early days,” Tom says, “when it was station country.”
“I overheard you say you had a big house halfway between Tarlee and Stockport and I thought I know that house!” Tom said to Anneliese, remembering the time when they realised that they have both lived in the same house. “We could’ve gone years without knowing,” Anneliese says. “It was only by accident!”
Coralie and Tom recall that there was no electricity in the house until 1960 and Anneliese remembers having to renew the electricity in the house from the old 32 volt system to 240 volts. Coralie also remembers the kerosene fridge that her family had which would smoke up the walls.
Previously known as Meryl Glen, the house stands about 34 kilometres out from Gawler. Anneliese and her husband, who came to Australia from Germany, bought the house at auction in 1981 and she still has the advertisement they found in the paper. When Tom and Anneliese got talking they realised it was the exact same house which Tom had moved into 42 years before Anneliese. Tom’s name is even on the old newspaper clipping!
Another thing which Tom and Anneliese share is that they were both born in July. Tom will be celebrating his 102nd birthday this year and Anneliese her 88th. Tom is a fifth generation Australian while Anneliese moved to Australia 51 years ago.
Tom and Anneliese both have wonderful memories of the house. “The best time was when we finished painting and all the children came to visit,” Anneliese remembers. Tom remembers that the bluestone house had thick walls and high ceilings. His daughter Coralie, who lived in the house for 21 years, remembers the underground room where they could sleep if the weather was too hot. They are unsure of the exact date the house was built as additions
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 19
Social pages
Marten Village bus trip
BBQ at Australia Day Nailsworth Ellen Court in L-R: Ellie, Jo, Molly, Lorna, Beth, Sue, Beth, May, Kay, Peg and Ernest
her certificate Pat Sims receiving on from Gay Thomps
ra Abel, ilitator Deb Thompson c a F e rs u o C ay r Reynell G For Member fo fficer for Engineering O lic b i u and P zkowsk arbara Ros Humanity B
Grad
r emony fo uation cer
ents
Holly resid
Residents Gillian Brougham, Audrey McKenzie, Loris Bulger, Doreen Freeman, Pat Sims, Margery Mann and Renee McNamara recently completed a community learning program. They studied time management, teamwork and self improvement strategies. Local MP Gay Thompson presented the residents with their certificates on 2 February 2010. L-R: Gillian Brougham, Loris Bulger, Audrey McKenzie, Doreen Freeman and Pat Sims
Want to be a part of our social pages? Send your photos to: ECH Publications, Reply Paid 83158, Parkside SA 5063 or email publications@ech.asn.au
Margaret Eady with Chantelle Preiss
Rosemary Osborne
Christmas concert at
Kenneth Metcalfe
Walkerville
lia Day Celebrations
Rotary Village’s Austra
Rex Fuller
elebrations Christmas c rt at Baker Cou
Marie, Carmel and Joan
Singing the National Anthem
Baker Court residents
Proudly Australian On 26 January each year many Australians pause to celebrate Australia Day. It is a time for us to honour the breathtaking natural beauty of our country as well as the vast history and culture of Indigenous Australians and the people who have come from so many different countries. The history which led to the modern celebration of the day goes back over 200 years. The National Australia Day Council’s website has a range of interesting resources about Australia Day which can be accessed by visiting www.australiaday.org.au. In “Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day”, Dr Elizabeth Kwan explains in detail the timeline of the significance of the date. A summary has been provided below. A brief history The significance of 26 January 1788 First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1804 Publications began referring to 26 January as First Landing Day or Foundation Day 1818 Officially acknowledged as a public holiday by Governor Macquarie 1871 Australian Natives’ Association formed – became an advocate for federation of the colonies 1888 Leaders from the colonies met in Sydney to mark 100 years since first European settlement 26 January, known as Anniversary or Foundation Day, and was becoming more of a national holiday 1901 Federation of the colonies occurred 1935 States and territories agreed to a proposal to have 26 January celebrated as a national holiday known as Australia Day (on a Monday to make a long weekend) 1938 State premiers met to celebrate the Sesquicentenary - Aboriginal leaders also met to observe a Day of Mourning and to seek full citizen rights 1948 The Nationality and Citizenship Act was created 1954 Present day flag design became the national flag 1960 First Australian of the Year – Sir Macfarlane Burnet 1979 National Australia Day Committee in Canberra established 1984 Advance Australia Fair replaced God Save the Queen as the national anthem 1988 The states and territories agreed to celebrate the holiday on the 26 January rather than on a Monday - Aboriginal leaders renamed the day ‘Invasion Day’ 1994 Celebrating Australia Day on 26 January became official 2001 Centenary of Federation 2004 The presentation of Australia Day awards became fixed in Canberra Present Day “Debate over the date and nature of Australia Day continues as the National Australia Day Council seeks to meet the challenge of making 26 January a day all Australians can accept and enjoy,” writes Dr Kwan. We acknowledge the diversity of cultures and experience among our residents and decided to meet with a few people to find out what being Australian means to them.
22 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Junette Rowett A proud Australian, ECH resident Junette was born in South Australia and has been here all her life, living in such areas as Stirling, Sefton Park, Cudlee Creek and now Modbury. “I’ve never wanted to leave Australia, even for holidays,” Junette says. She has only been overseas once and this was when she visited New Zealand with friends. “Deep down, I’m a dinkum Aussie,” she says. Junette loves travelling through the outback and supporting Australian sportspeople, she even attended the Australian Open last year. She also appreciates Australia’s uniqueness. “I love to hear all the Aussie birds,” she says. “And nobody else has kangaroos and koalas!” Junette is proud of not only the country but also of the people who live in Australia. “It’s just everything,” she says. Volunteering at Modbury Hospital and with Meals on Wheels, Junette gets to see firsthand the nature of the people in her community. “I think it’s wonderful the way Aussies do so much volunteer work.”
The advantage of what we can learn from our multicultural society and the social and political freedoms we are provided with are also why Junette is proud to be Australian. “I think we’re fortunate that we have freedom of speech and of religion,” Junette says. “We’ve got so many choices. Australia is known as the lucky country… and it is.” When she thinks about the conflicts overseas she feels fortunate to live in a country where this is not occurring but acknowledges those people we have lost during their service with Australia’s military. This is also part of the reason why she has a special place in her heart for the Australian flag as those who fought for Australia did so under this flag. She also remembers it being a major part of her childhood years. “I’m very proud of our flag,” Junette says, “I think because I grew up under the flag and in school we saluted the flag.” On Australia Day, Junette celebrated by attending an early morning raising of the flag followed by a barbecue breakfast. “Everything about Australia is great in my mind!”
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 23
Bill and June Gillespie Bill and June haven’t always lived in Australia. Both born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Bill and June came to Australia in 1963 on a two year trial. Bill had travelled the world with the merchant navy and had visited Australia previously. “I didn’t feel I could live in Ireland because of the coldness,” Bill recalls. June agreed to come out to Australia with their children on the trial. They travelled to Australia on the SS Canberra, which some of you may remember from the story of Mr and Mrs Derham in the previous edition of ECHo! The Gillespie’s daughter helped out with the children on board the ship and was chosen to participate in the crossing of the line ceremony with athlete Herb Elliot. They arrived at the Adelaide Railway Station on a Red Hen Train, welcomed by a blistering hot day of 103 degrees Fahrenheit. They remember that the bus they had to travel on next had been left in the sun and all they had to cool themselves with were tiny fans. After the two year trial was up, Bill and June decided to stay. “I just settled in so well and that was it,” June remembers. In 1983, twenty years after their arrival, they formalised the move by becoming citizens. Like Junette, Bill and June
24 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
love everything about Australia. Bill particularly points out that it’s “the freedom to do everything you want to do” and “the space around you” that makes Australia a great place to live. “I know our accents aren’t, but we really consider ourselves Australian,” Bill jokes. “Our hearts are in Australia,” June says. “It was a good decision that we made and we’ve never regretted it.” “And we’ve helped to populate it!” Bill says with their family of three children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren scattered across Australia. They were excited about Australia Day and had their green and gold shirts ready to wear. “It’s a celebration for the people that are here, the life that they lead,” June says.
Forty degrees and fifty years On a scorching hot November day, Marie Darling’s uncle was about to walk her down the aisle when he cheekily whispered, “You still have time to back away!” Fifty years later, Marie is celebrating a milestone anniversary with husband Ron. They met while working for the same spare parts supplier in Pirie Street. Marie worked on the Comptometer and Ron delivered spare parts, first on a motorbike with a side box and then in a range of utes. After two years of being an item, Ron proposed one night after they’d been out. Another two years later they were married at the Methodist Church on Pirie Street. “It was a very hot day,” Marie said, “and nothing was air-conditioned in those days!” The temperature was 104 that day, which would be about 40 degrees Celsius on today’s scale. The reception was held at Prospect Town Hall which also lacked air-conditioning! Their honeymoon was a caravan trip to Mildura, stopping at places along the way such as Gawler and Lake Bonney. “And that was hot,” Marie laughs. “Everything was hot!” Marie also says that was her “one and only” time travelling with a caravan. “Caravans then aren’t what they are today,” she says. Ron remembers that their caravan even had an ice chest.
For their anniversary, Ron and Marie were just going to have a quiet celebration by themselves but other residents at their Fullarton site, Grainger Court, came together to throw them a party. They were going to have an outside celebration but the weather didn’t want to cooperate so one of the residents opened their home to everyone. “I told her, we won’t fit in there!” Marie remembers. “But she said yes we will… so we squeezed in!” Marie and Ron are football fanatics, previously following Norwood team in the SANFL. “We used to go to every match at every ground,” Marie remembers. Now they watch the sport from the comfort of their lounge room, following the Crows in the AFL. Ron has also collected many model cars over the years and he estimates he has over 200 in his collection. He has to store some in his shed as there is just no room for them all! Ron and Marie share a continuing joke about new additions to his collection. Marie would often find new models appearing after she’d told Ron he couldn’t have any more. “We have a little thing with these cars,” Marie says, “I’d say, where did that come from?” to which Ron would reply “Oh, we’ve had it for years!” Ron’s smallest car would fit in the hand of a child. “I always tell people I washed it one day and it shrunk!”
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 25
The Baker Court group: (Back row) Lorraine, Graham, Delys, Helena, John, Cristina, Bob, Shirley, (sitting) Erica, Doris and Dot. Absent from the photo were Jamie and Yvonne.
Bob, Shirley and John at the recycling bin
Recycling residents The residents of Baker Court have found a way to look after each other while also looking after the environment. Since the beginning of last year, the Alberton group has been saving their cans and bottles and placing them in a shared bin. Residents Bob and Shirley Trask sort the cans from the bottles and take them to the recycling depot. The money raised from the group’s efforts is put towards certain site events such as Christmas lunch or any items that might be required. The fund also covers small gifts which are purchased for residents at the site when they are sick. The residents were friends before the recycling scheme was introduced and continue to enjoy an active social calendar which isn’t limited to what the recycling fund covers. As a group, the residents at Baker Court work well together and enjoy each other’s company. ‘We’re a family,” Shirley says. “We work together and everybody helps one another.” Apart from being environmentally conscious, the residents are also socially conscious with many of them volunteering their time for duties outside of the site. Shirley Trask volunteers at Marten Residential Care Centre in the coffee shop and helps out with bingo while Lorraine Wyness assists at a nursing home in Lockleys and also organises bus trips for the Baker Court group.
26 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Want to get involved in protecting the environment? Most areas will have a general recycling program but these may vary so the best thing to do is to check with your local council. If you have a recycling bin that has been provided by your council then the information may be on the lid. In general, you can usually recycle: • Aluminium cans (rinsed) • Bottles • Glass jars • Glossy brochures • Newspapers • Milk cartons To receive money back for your cans and bottles you will need to locate a recycling depot which provides this service. A list can be found online at www.recyclesa.com.au or by calling Recyclers of South Australia on 8326 1813.
A century of change Celebrating Irene Drury’s 100th birthday As a little girl, Irene remembers asking her parents if she could go outside to watch the attendant lighting the gas street lights with a pole. She also remembers listening to a crystal set radio with the family and seaside land being sold for 50 pounds a block. Born in 1909, Irene lived with her family in Prospect. Her mother was the youngest of ten children and most of Irene’s relations lived in the same area. Irene used to walk up to Main North Road to attend lessons at Nailsworth Primary School and then Prospect School. Irene has seen many changes over her lifetime, from the introduction of electricity and cars to the creation of more recent technology such as CDs. She was also involved in many activities, including community and volunteer organisations, even ballroom dancing in her youth.
In May, Irene will reach another milestone as it will have been 33 years since she moved to Downing Court. The number seven has stuck with Irene, who moved to Hove in 1947, to Downing Court in 1977 and then to her second unit at Downing Court in 1997. Irene remembers when Hove was a rural area. Homes were on one side of the street, fruit trees on the other and cow paddocks were over the fence. Happy 100th birthday Irene!
Last December, she celebrated her 100th birthday with family members during a luncheon at a restaurant. She was also treated to an afternoon tea by the residents at her seaside site, Downing Court in Hove.
Irene with family at her birthday luncheon
Did you know? Crystal set radio A crystal set radio was a simple radio receiver which required no power source. It was popular in radio’s early days and was powered by radio waves received by an antenna. Its name comes from the crystal detector which was a vital element of the radio. Irene on her birthday
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 27
Volunteer focus Celebrating the interesting lives and extraordinary commitments of our volunteers Ruth Love ECHo! Distributor For almost a decade, Ruth Love (pictured above) has been distributing copies of ECHo! and Profile at her site, Rundle Court, in Fullarton. This year also marks Ruth’s tenth year as an ECH resident and the next distribution of ECHo! coincides with her 80th birthday. “If you’re doing something for someone else it gives you a good feeling,” Ruth says. Each quarter, Ruth receives copies of our magazines for distribution at her site. When she delivers them she doesn’t knock on every door, sometimes leaving the copies on front porch seats or tables. “I find it very satisfying to do and it doesn’t take up a lot of time,” Ruth says. Being a distributor also helps Ruth keep in touch with people on the site which has over 40 units. “There’s a lovely group here because we know each other and we care about each other,” Ruth explains. She often uses ECHo! as a conversation starter when new people have moved into the site. Ruth also enjoys the convenience of living at the Fullarton
site as it is close to local shopping centres and public transport. “The main benefit to us is the location of the site,” Ruth says. Apart from an interesting on-site life, Ruth also has a particularly remarkable story to tell about her family. Ruth is a mother to four sons and nine grandsons. “We’ve been waiting for a little baby girl,” Ruth says. “Not one has come though!” There hasn’t been a baby girl born into the family in over eighty years. Adding to this, three of Ruth’s friends have only grandsons as well. “When I shop at Burnside, all I see is little girls,” Ruth says, laughing. But Ruth absolutely adores her grandsons Christian, Jackson, Joshua, Myron, Aidan, Rick, Ethan, Harry and Hudson, displaying photos of them around her house. Being a single mother to her four children, Ruth led a busy life. She remembers working five days a week for a clothing agent while also working three nights at a Chinese restaurant.
The distribution network needs you! Ruth is part of a wider network of volunteers who assist ECH with distributing ECHo! to residents. ECH is extremely grateful for the hard work of this network, which allows our publications to be distributed quickly and at minimal cost. We couldn’t do it without them! We currently require distributors for the following sites: Murray Court, Prince Court, Mervyn Graham Lodge, Ardrossan Retirement Estate, Crichton Court and Bowden Towers. If you live at one of these sites and are able to volunteer your time for this task, please contact Sarah Tomlinson, Publications Coordinator, on 8407 5160 or email publications@ech.asn.au.
28 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
(left) Cathy’s wheelchair is no barrier to her work with the residents and often allows her a more personal connection with some of the residents.
Cathy Thorogood Charles Young Residential Care Centre Volunteer Running knitting groups, joining singalongs, giving hand massages, visiting with residents and more, volunteer Cathy Thorogood is very versatile and always busy at Charles Young Residential Care Centre. Judith Tanti, Lifestyle Coordinator for the centre, says that the residents feel very comfortable with Cathy and are very caring towards her, particularly in Dryandra, the memory support unit of the centre. “We get on well together,” Cathy says of the residents, who always come straight to her. Judith says this is an amazing response as many of the residents living in this ward have dementia or are cognitively challenged.
Recently, Cathy has been busy knitting ducks for the upcoming Easter celebration. Continuing on from the excitement of the ducklings at the centre, each resident will receive one of these ducks with their meal at Easter. They have been creatively designed to sit on a chocolate egg. Having Cathy as a volunteer is a great advantage to the centre but she also acknowledges the benefits it brings to her personally. “Knowing that I’m able to do something to help others gives me a sense of achievement,” Cathy says. “I know I can do it and I look forward to coming here.”
Farewell to feathered friends You may remember the article about the ducklings that had been born at Charles Young Residential Care Centre in November 2009. Their birth was a great source of excitement at the centre and a competition was held to give names to the nine ducklings. The winning names included: • ‘Kadli’ (meaning wild animal) by staff member Leesa Gunn • ‘Fluffy duck’ by resident Mrs Donaldson • ‘Sneezy’, ‘Bashful’, ‘Doc’, ‘Sleepy’, ‘Dopey’, ‘Grumpy’ and ‘Happy’ by resident Mrs Good Sadly, staff and residents had to say goodbye to the ducklings as they were trying to escape from the courtyard as they grew older. They were relocated by the RSPCA to the wetlands at the race course near the centre.
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 29
Making masterpieces from manchester In 2007, manchester retailer Sheridan donated over 500 bed skirts and valances of varied colours to ECH. Since then, residents, staff and volunteers at our care centres have been creating all kinds of useful or festive products, including a buffer for an indoor bowling game, quilts, cushions, curtains and even a stuffed Santa!
Jeanette, Lynda and Ann. This group has been working on a special project which has been constructed with a quilted gold back drop. Over six weeks, each resident designed a patch which represented something personal to them. These patches have been brought together to create a ‘memories quilt’.
A second donation was made in October of 2009 which consisted of quilted skirts and valances in gold and silver. This has seen the creation of beautiful table runners, placemats and special wall hangings to which posters can be attached, protecting the walls from pins.
Ruth, a resident at Marten, chose to decorate her patch with a group of colourful turtles. “I just love turtles,” Ruth explains and even helps to feed the turtles in the pond at the centre. Gladys, also a resident, included flowers and dogs on her patch as she adores these animals and always remembers having one as a pet. The group plans to enter the quilt into the next Gawler Show.
At Marten Residential Care Centre, residents meet for a weekly craft group run by volunteers
Woolly and warm! Over 20 years ago, ECH volunteer Betty Martin often found herself alone after the evening news when her husband Colin, also an ECH volunteer, would retire to bed early so he would be able to do the milk rounds the next morning. So Betty started using this time to crochet rugs for charity and has continued to do this ever since. The rugs are given mainly to organisations and centres which care for people. Can you help? If you have wool which you could donate to this cause, please call Betty on 8379 3863.
30 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Folk dancing fun for all!
Premier visits Holly
Did you think that folk dancing is only suitable for really fit and young, energetic people?
On 24 November 2009, Premier Mike Rann visited Holly Residential Care Centre for morning tea with residents and a tour of the site. Mr Rann was greeted by ECH Chief Executive Rob Hankins, residents and staff as he toured the centre. He even met Jolly Swagman the cat!
Not at all! Folk dancing can be done at any age and it’s an excellent way to get gentle exercise whilst having a good time. You don’t need any equipment except for comfortable shoes and you don’t need a partner. Over the past three years the Friendly Folk Dancers have been learning simple dances from Europe, South America, Japan and other parts of the world. The dances are modified to suit the physical ability of dancers, so anybody can join in. Holding hands helps to give you better balance and moving in time to music is far more interesting than just plain walking. You can sit down at any time if you feel like taking a rest and, as you don’t need a partner, you can drop out before the end of a dance if you would like to watch the others and listen to the music.
Mr Rann, who arrived with local MP Leon Bignall, was impressed with the centre saying, “I have never seen anything better than this. It’s a lovely home-like atmosphere.” About 30 residents and 20 staff and visitors gathered for morning tea where the Premier recounted a few anecdotes about people he had met with over the years.
The Friendly Folk Dancers also meet socially from time to time to watch videos, to share lunch or just to chat. If you would like to join them you will receive a warm welcome. Tea and coffee facilities available. Place North Adelaide Community Centre, 176 Tynte Street (behind the library) Time 10am to 11am every Tuesday Cost $5 per session For more information, contact Audrey on 8269 4948 or Delia on 8338 5907.
Bus drivers needed! ECH has buses available for residents’ day trips. While we have the buses, we are reliant on volunteers to drive them for us. If you are a licenced (LR) bus driver who is able to volunteer some time to help, please contact Danielle Lewis, Community Relations, on 8407 5135.
ECH Inc | ECHo! Autumn 2010
| 31
Sporty resident celebrates 100 years
Born down the road from the Alberton Oval, Vera Condon has always been active and became interested in sport at a very early age. When Vera was five years old her father took her to her first football game at Alberton Oval. Over nine decades later, Vera remains a strong supporter of the Port Adelaide Magpies and, more recently, the Port Adelaide Power. Vera has not only been an active supporter of sport but has also been an active participant. When she was ten years old, she learned to play tennis at the Cheltenham Congregational Church. This developed into years of activity, with Vera being involved with several tennis clubs and later moving on to bowls and croquet right up until the age of 90. Vera feels this is the reason for her longevity. “I’ve played sport all my life and that has kept me going,” Vera says. At the age of 14, Vera started working at the local C.V. Bird Printers. It was here that she met her husband Arthur who was a compositor/printer. Arthur proposed to her by asking her outside a jeweller’s store on the “Bee Hive Corner” if she would like a ring. She agreed and they were married at the Alberton Baptist Church in 1932 and honeymooned on the popular steamship Moonta which toured the Spencer Gulf.
A long-time ECH resident, Vera first moved into an independent living unit in Glenelg with Arthur in 1972. After Arthur passed away ten years later, Vera remained in her unit and still remembers the lovely neighbours she had for company. It wasn’t until 2006 that Vera moved to Bellevue Residential Care Centre. She now resides at Walkerville Residential Care Centre where she celebrated her 100th birthday with residents at a morning tea during their weekly sing-a-long. Earlier in the week, Vera was also treated to a celebration with some of the Port Power players. On 10 March she became a local celebrity in the Port Adelaide area when she was featured in the Portside Messenger. Although Vera’s eyesight is failing due to macular degeneration, she still has an active and social life. “I’m vision impaired but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying things,” Vera says. Vera has two children, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and even one great-great-grandchild, making up five living generations. Happy 100th birthday Vera!
32 |
ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Share a little part of yourselves Dates to remember 2-5 April 2010 Easter 25 April 2010 Anzac Day 3-9 May 2010 Heart Week
Please tell us if you have a story you would like to share with fellow residents, you may even have interesting ‘site’ happenings that others would like to hear about. While we can’t promise to publish every story we will do our best. The final publishing decision will be made by the ECHo! publications committee. Each story should be a maximum of 300 words.
Please forward them by mail to: Publications ECH Inc Reply Paid 83158 174 Greenhill Road Parkside SA 5063
or email publications@ech.asn.au Telephone queries can be directed to Sarah Tomlinson on 8407 5160.
30 May-5 June 2010 Kidney Health Week 14 June 2010 Queen’s Birthday 11-17 July 2010 National Diabetes Week 1-7 August 2010 Healthy Bones Week
Remember to include with your article:
Topic: Author: Site: Phone:
22-28 August 2010 Hearing Awareness Week
Email: Image available:
Yes
No
Independent Living
Resident/Client
Community Services
Family/Friend
Residential Care
Staff Member
Seven nights by the sea The Glenelg holiday unit offers ECH independent living unit residents low-cost, furnished apartment style accommodation in one of Adelaide’s most historic seaside suburbs. Relax and enjoy a peaceful stroll along the jetty or peruse the myriad of stores lining the main street. With the shore barely 100 metres from your doorstep and main street only a minute’s walk away, you can unwind in whatever way you wish. There’s something for everyone! Where else can you enjoy a seven night holiday by the sea for under $180? Call ECH now on 8407 5151 to arrange a booking.
34 | ECHo! Autumn 2010 | ECH Inc
Need to get away? ECH provides three well appointed holiday units at Ardrossan, Glenelg and Victor Harbor which are available to independent living unit residents. Making a booking is as easy as completing the form opposite, cutting it out and returning it to: Corporate Office Reception ECH Inc 174 Greenhill Road PARKSIDE SA 5063 The holiday units at Glenelg and Victor Harbor are one bedroom with two single beds whilst the two bedroom unit at Ardrossan sleeps a maximum of four people - one double bed and two singles. A few things to remember: • The holiday booking is for seven nights at each unit. • Your week commences on a Thursday with check in after 2pm and check out prior to 10am the following Thursday. • Your booking request will be confirmed in writing. • You will receive a reminder letter one month prior to your holiday with all the relevant information about what you need to take with you.
2010 Holiday Unit Booking Form Name Address Phone Mobile
Ardrossan Unit 14, 32 Oval Terrace Fee for seven night stay 1 person/per night $20 = $140.00 2 people/per night $25 = $175.00 3 people/per night $40 = $280.00 4 people/per night $50 = $350.00 Note: No taxi service is available, bus arrives at Ardrossan in the evening.
GLEnelg Unit 1, 13 Moseley Street Fee for seven night stay 1 person/per night $20 = $140.00 2 people/per night $25 = $175.00
VICTOR HARBOR Unit 7, 7 Acraman Street Fee for seven night stay 1 person/per night $20 = $140.00 2 people/per night $25 = $175.00
BOOKING PREFERENCES 1 2 3
Contact us
Web www.ech.asn.au • Email admin@ech.asn.au
ECH Inc Corporate Office Chief Executive Reception Community Relations
174 Greenhill Road Parkside 5063 174 Greenhill Road Parkside 5063 Volunteering - bequests - donations
8407 5151 8407 5151 8407 5189
Independent Living Accommodation Services Independent Living Services Maintenance Services
Retirement unit information for ILU residents for ILU residents
8407 5151 8407 5111 8355 6333
Community Services Community Programs North/East South Southern Regional West
598 Lower North East Road 433 Goodwood Road 33 Cornhill Road 358 Findon Road
Campbelltown 5074 Westbourne Park 5041 Victor Harbor 5211 Kidman Park 5025
8337 2334 8271 2166 8552 8380 8353 0844
19 Dawkins Avenue 19 Cornhill Road 168a Cudmore Terrace 160 Walkerville Terrace
Willaston 5118 Victor Harbor 5211 Henley Beach 5022 Walkerville 5081
8522 3255 8551 0600 8356 3169 8342 8367
1/1 Corner Rellum and Fosters Rds 126 Pimpala Road 33 Cornhill Road 168a Cudmore Terrace
Greenacres 5086 Morphett Vale 5162 Victor Harbor 5211 Henley Beach 5022
8369 3393 8322 5700 8552 8380 8356 3169
Day Programs James Martin Day Program Ross Robertson Day Program Sundowners Plus Walkerville Day Program
Therapy Services Greenacres Southern Victor Harbor Western
Residential Care Centres Referrals and Respite Carinya Charles Young Holly Marten Ross Robertson Smithfield Walkerville ECH Food Services
174 Greenhill Road 39 Fisher Street 53 Austral Terrace 16-24 Penneys Hill Road 110 StrathďŹ eld Terrace 19 Cornhill Road 1 Warooka Drive 160 Walkerville Terrace 358 Findon Road
Parkside 5063 Myrtle Bank 5064 Morphettville 5043 Hackham 5163 Largs North 5016 Victor Harbor 5211 Smithfield 5114 Walkerville 5081 Kidman Park 5025
8407 5192 8130 6444 8350 3600 8392 6700 8248 9555 8551 0600 8254 4700 8342 8300 8353 7433