ANZAC Memorial Walls Take Pride of Place In
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The 100 Club: Celebrating ANZAC Memorial Walls Take Pride Our Residents Who Hit Food Week Celebrated of Place in THC Homes the Century! in Our Homes Welcome to the 18th edition of Thompson Health Care News The past couple of years have been engaging and rewarding for both residents and staff. 2018 marks the Centenary of the Armistice, observing one hundred years since the tragic battles of World War I came to an end. Thompson Health Care has been a longtime advocate for the commemoration of the sacrifices countless Australians gave for our freedom. Sacrifices from servicemen, servicewomen and their loved ones that continued past the Great War through all the peace keeping missions, wars, border protection We have updates on our current building works planned and global operations that have followed. for Dural and Oran Park, and a preview of the soon to be opened Macleay Valley Village in Northern NSW. This Many of our residents have treasured memories of these first-class build will cater to independent retirees over times, including photographs of loved ones in uniform. 55 looking for outstanding quality in their home, as well In residential aged care, reminiscing and reflection as the reassurance from the superior service unique play an essential part of care. In this issue we look at to Thompson Health Care. A luxury Country Club will how Thompson Health Care and the Thompson family form the centre of the Village, providing a lifestyle have contributed to this process through Anzac Spirit of distinction for future residents. memorials in all homes, and a commissioned work at the Australian War Memorial. We’ve included some stories I hope you enjoy this edition of our magazine. As we make from our residents as a tribute to their resilience and time to regularly reflect on the past and the sacrifices sacrifice. In keeping with the theme of centuries, we also made to give us the Australia of today, the Thompson meet some residents who have recently celebrated 100 family look forward to a future providing quality aged years and beyond. care and retirement living. We strive to continue strengthening Thompson Health Care’s passion Thompson Health Care has always believed in the and dedication to excellence. importance of food as a means of nourishment for both body and mind, a form of holistic medicine. We discover how our dedicated chefs and staff Warm wishes manage this philosophy through outstanding food services, as well as the inaugural food week celebrated in each of our homes this year. As always, we hear all the news and see photos from our annual staff graduation events, celebrating the hard Douglas Thompson AM study, work and enthusiasm our remarkable staff put Proprietor into making a difference to the daily lives of residents. Contents Our Anzac spirit 2 Food Week 9 Centenarians in Our Homes 17 Graduation Ceremonies 22 Discover Our New Homes 28 Macleay Valley Village 30 Elevation of the senses Ewen Coates (2015), Bronze Useful Contacts 33 This sculpture commemorates the vital role and contribution of Explosive Detection Dogs and their handlers in war. The tunnel through the base of the ON OUR COVER sculpture alludes to the rigorous training undertaken (from left to right): The Hon Brendan Nelson by the dogs, while the rocky outcrops atop the columns AO BMBS FRACP (Hon) FAMA FRSN Director of the represent the foreign landscapes to which the dogs and Australian War Memorial, Daniel Keighran, VC their handlers are deployed. The elevation of the dog on 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment the central column, where it crouches eye-to-eye with Afghanistan, Douglas Thompson AM Proprietor its handler, highlights the deep bonds that are forged Thompson Health Care. between the two, as well as the mutual dependence on which their work is based. Daniel Keighran, VC was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, in recognition for the most Acquired under commission through the conspicuous acts of gallantry and extreme devotion vision and generosity of Doug Thompson… to duty in action in circumstances of great peril at Derapet, Afghanistan on 24th of August 2010. “for the love of them all.” Daniel is one of only 100 Australians to be awarded the Victoria Cross medal. The Explosion Detection Dogs who attended the unveiling of the Elevation of the Senses Sculpture with their handlers Issue 18 | 1 Our ANZAC Spirit No group of Australians has given more to our country than the two million past and present servicemen and women of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force. Through their dedicated service and the sacrifices made by their families, they have given us the Australia of today. Paying respect and reflection is an important part of life memorials in each home to help them with this process. for our residents. This can be as simple as contemplation Memorial Walls are used on a daily basis and provide a over the many precious keepsakes and mementos place of quiet thought or commemoration on important residents keep in their rooms – memories of lives well days throughout the year. We sincerely thank the many lived, photographs of loved ones in uniform, medals well Thompson Health Care residents who have lived through deserved. Over the past year, our residents have received or served in war and peacetime. 2 | Thompson Health Care News Our ANZAC Spirit Avalon House Our Anzac Spirit Pool of Reflection Memorial Wall in each Thompson Health Care home The thousands of etched names cloaking In addition to the new bronze sculpture memorials, all homes now proudly display an Anzac Spirit Wall the Pool of Reflection at the Australian with a series of photographs of Australian Service War Memorial form an outstanding personnel and animals. Sourced from the collection at the Australian War Memorial, they span from Gallipoli commemoration to courage, bravery to Afghanistan. First World War nurses, young men of and service. bomber command, infantry in Vietnam and sailors; all reminders of what they and their uniforms represent In the gardens outside sits the bronze sculpture Elevation – a life of value in the service of Australia. Among the of the Senses by artist Ewen Coates. Commissioned by images is one of the soldier from the bronze sculpture, Douglas Thompson, it depicts the vital role played by Combat Engineer Sapper Darren Smith and EDD Herbie, Australian soldiers and their Explosive Detection Dogs along with Sapper Jacob “Snowy” Moreland (both men in Afghanistan. were 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Afghanistan) Thompson Health Care recognises the importance relaxing prior to the patrol that killed all three. of those in aged care to reflect on the past, and the necessity for residents to pay respect whenever they desire. To meet this need, Douglas Thompson once again commissioned Ewen Coates to reproduce a smaller bronze sculpture for Thompson Health Care homes. The work depicts the equality in service of man and dog and engraved on each sculpture are the names of Australian Explosive Detection Dogs killed in action. For Douglas Thompson, himself a former national serviceman, it’s pretty straightforward, “these residents are of the generation that Elevation of the senses made Australia, gave us what we have, and made us who we are. This is our small way These walls provide a place for residents to interact at of showing respect not only for them but significant events during the year. Or simply have a cup those who underwrite and continue of tea while reminiscing through the poignant images. to protect our freedoms.” The walls are also a great place for residents to take visiting children and grandchildren to teach them of the times they lived through and must never be forgotten. Issue 18 | 3 Poppies knitted with love Resident Margrett Salter of Bowral House presented bags of beautifully hand-knitted poppies to Australian War Memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson AO. The poppies formed part of a Remembrance Day installation at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Each of the featured 62,000 hand-knitted poppies created by volunteers, represented an Australian life lost in World War I. Mrs Salter said she was proud to contribute to the installation. “As I knitted each poppy, I thought ‘I wonder who this soldier is’, it really touches you,” she said. “I’m not just Brendan Nelson, Margarett Salter knitting a poppy, I’m knitting a poppy for and Collette Beaufils a soldier. It’s given me a purpose in life.” Dr Nelson said the installation was designed to have a lasting impact on visitors to the Australian War Memorial. “If you say to someone Australia had 62,000 young Australians killed in the First World War, people will think that’s a lot,” he said. “If you actually present that (number), in this case with poppies the emblem and a symbol of commemoration, and they can physically see a poppy for each Residents of Bowral House Australian that was killed, it has an impact very visiting the poppies on display difficult to describe. It hits you and it’s very emotional.” Poppies on display at Australian War Memorial 4 | Thompson Health Care News Our ANZAC Spirit Stories of Service from our Residents Gloria Healey Gloria served in the Volunteer Air Observation Corp during World War II. She had training to be part of a secret service which involved covertly catching a bus from a Sydney train station to a secret underground location. At work one of her most important duties was plotting the location of aircraft. Gloria now lives in Avalon House. Fred Westphal Fred Westphal enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of 20. He served in Egypt and Syria before returning to Australia.