Community Visitors Newsletter
Friends For Older People
SEP 2019
Hello Volunteers & Friends
Welcome to our Spring CVS newsletter!
Hello everyone, Spring is here, with beautiful sunny days, one of the reasons we live in regional Victoria. We are excited to announce that CVS has a new program coordinator Liezel Jonker. Liezel has a strong background in communication and marketing. So over the next few months Liezel’s focus will be on raising community awareness of the CVS program, with the aim of recruiting new volunteers.
Please contact us if you would like to meet Liezel when she is in town, or if you would like our new brochure sent to a community group or a personal contact you think will be interested in joining CVS. Thank you for your participation in the CVS Survey. Feedback has indicated that you, our volunteers, are happy with your involvement in the program.
However, we can improve our service delivery by providing you with greater support and communication. In response, we are working on improving our phone contact, and Liezel will get out and will make regular visits across Hume and the aged care facilities.
Our newsletter has had a facelift, and we are continuing to work on providing you with relevant and interesting topics.
The Community Visitors Scheme: 1800 682 710 Email: [email protected] The majority of you said that you would like to read stories from other volunteers, whether it is about what you do with your resident, or the friendships you share. Please let us know if you would like Jess, The Centre’s Communication and Events Coordinator, to write and capture a story you have to share.
We are only a phone call away, and welcome any input so we can improve our service delivery to benefit you all. Christmas is almost here. The CVS team is already planning ahead for an early celebration in November. This year we have selected central locations to hold our Christmas functions. The greater the attendance the greater the fun, so please note on your calendars the date and location nearest you. Thank you for your ongoing support of CVS
Being a community Visitor can be a tough gig at times, I Anita know. You perform a role that can sometimes be challenging to say the least. For this, we at CVS are very grateful and the people you visit are very fortunate. Thirteen years ago, my own mother had a significant stroke and was moved into a nursing home in Bendigo.
My Mum had lost complete mobility in her right side, her ability to speak. Despite this, she hadn’t lost her determination and somehow managed to navigate herself around the nursing home in her wheelchair.
Like a lot of Australian families, my sister and I lived a few hours away in Melbourne. My first born was barely one month old, and although sad at the time, I am grateful to have been on maternity leave. This meant I had time to visit regularly, helping to reduce Mum’s isolation and loneliness.
During the in-between times, we were forever thankful to the staff and service providers who could be there when we were not. How valuable a community visitor would have been?! A regular friendly face can touch the lives of many, and not just the person you visit. Over the following 18 months I got to know many of Mum’s inmates, and my baby daughter brought smiles to the faces of residents and staff.
I understand how it takes a strong and caring individual to brave the sometimes enclosed and stuffy surrounds, and see past the frailness of others, to connect with and see the real person inside. A task that even family and friends can find challenging. Your ability to do this makes a valuable difference to their day and lives.
For this we are grateful.
My name is Liezel and I have just recently joined the Community Programs team in the role of Program Meet Coordinator. Liezel! My background before joining The Centre was quite varied with experience working in pharmaceutical sales, advertising, marketing and customer service. This role is incredibly exciting. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to get out into our community, to get to know the different community members and to learn more about this incredible region we live in.
I love to be able to make a difference, and this role provides an incredible opportunity to reach out to those in the community in need, and make an impact. I look forward to developing connections, creating new opportunities and adding value to the varied organisations and partnerships of the CVS and Volunteer Skillsbank programs.
Home for me is the family farm in Milawa, in Victoria's North East, where calving season has just arrived and is particularly exciting but also quite hectic.
My role is very official sounding: Volunteering Programs - Program Administrator, but what it really involves keeping Shari in touch with you, our lovely volunteer visitors and completing the general admin of the CVS program! Being able to get feedback on the difference you’re all making (from visitors or facility/home care staff) is my favourite part of the role.
I have recently bought a new house, my first house! It’s fairly old and needs a bit of work done so that’s taking quite a bit of my time.
The week I moved in I also adopted 3 cats from Albury Cat Rescue. The cats are very shy/grumpy and won’t let me pat them, but I knew that they’d take a long time to adjust when I chose them. they had all been at the Rescue since they were kittens and they’re now 3yo, 5yo and 9yo, so I thought they deserved the chance to have their own home.
We have had a great year so far and I really look forward to catching up with you at our Christmas Luncheons! The Victorian Seniors Festival 6 – 20 October 2019 The festival encourages seniors from across the region to come together and participate in a number of events including indoor and outdoor activities, come and try’s and concerts. Local community and sporting groups put on various free or low-cost activities to encourage our seniors to get out, get active and socialise.
Seniors Festival preparation in is full swing in Wangaratta with the rural city securing 70’s superstar, Colleen Hewett, for the annual free country concert. Hewett was one of the most successful and popular female artists of the 1970s and regularly performs in clubs around Australia. The concert, held at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, is a sell-out each year and is a highlight for many festival-goers.
The Alpine Shire has secured Lady Beetle, a show rediscovering The Beetles' immortal catalogue. The show even invites audience members to join in during the big numbers.
For further information on what is happening during the Seniors Festival in your region, head to:
https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festivalsandawards Let's Celebrate 2019!
We invite you to celebrate this past year with us by attending one of our Christmas luncheons being held this November.
All CVS volunteers are invited to attend and are welcomed to bring a plus one to join in on the festivities!
Our Christmas Celebrations will be held:
Monday 11th Nov at 12pm Cafe 3641 at 56 Mai n St, Strathmerton
Thursday 14th Nov at 12pm The Wangaratta RSL at 2 T empleton St, Wangaratta
Friday 15th N ov at 12pm Giddy Goat Cafe at 6606 Maroondah Hwy, Yarck
Thursday 21s t November Royal Hotel at 26 E mily St, Seymour
Friday 22nd N ov at 12pm Feathertop Winery at 6619 Great Alpine Rd, Porepu nkah
To RSVP, please email us at [email protected] or call (03) 57210200 and request the CVS team. RSVPs close on the 18th of October.
Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of RSVP
VS team We hope to see you! T h e C I feel lonely. What can I do?
This Month in the CVS Kitchen: Pastry Pinwheels This month we are loving Pastry pinwheels. Not only are they absolutely delicious and incredibly simple to create, they are also a guaranteed crowd pleaser at any party or afternoon tea they’re served at!
Lay a sheet of thawed puff pastry onto a chopping board.
Add your ingredients to your pastry, the options here are endless!
Some of our favourite combinations are: Ham, Pizza Sauce, Cheese, Cream Cheese Cheese and Vegemite Bazil Pesto and Cheese Bacon, Onion and Cheese Sweet Chilli Sauce and Cheese Nutella & Banana Pineapple and Brown Sugar sprinkled with Icing Sugar
Once you have added your ingredients, roll your pastry up tightly
Slice your roll into 12 even slices and place on a baking tray lined with paper.
Bake until golden brown and cooked through.
You can even bake these ahead of time and freeze them for a later date!
Images via: https://bit.ly/2WlSbGD
Did you give this recipe a go? What fillings did you decide on? Do you have a favourite recipe you would love to share?
We would love to see some photos of your creations to share Send your photos, recipes and cooking tips through to [email protected] to feature in our next edition! Residents currently awaiting volunteers
Please spread the word about our residents currently awaiting volunteers.
1. Benalla - Women in her early 70's. Previous nurse and Salvation army officer still living at home but is socially isolated due to her health, limited mobility and anxiety. She has many interests, such as craft. She misses female company and would love sharing her love for craft with a female volunteer. She is married with 3 grown sons.
1. Tallygaroopna (Greater Shepparton) Women in her early 90's Still living at home in a small town, she is lonely and socially isolated. She would love to have a visitor that is caring, happy, bright and outgoing.
2. Tatura (Greater Shepparton) - Gentleman in his 70's A gentleman who tends to socially isolate himself and would benefit from a visiting volunteer on a regular basis. His interests are golf, gardening, painting, fishing, bird watching. He loves a cuppa and a chat.
3. Shepparton - Gentleman in his mid 80's Living in an aged care facility. He spends most of his time in his room and due to health issues, he is socially isolated. He is an intelligent and knowledgeable man who loves to talk. He is a family man who has a diverse working career as a shearer, truck driver, & grave digger. His hobbies are woodwork and reading. He would truly benefit from a male volunteer visiting.
To find out more, please contact the CVS team by emailing [email protected] or call 1300 843 236 Community Visitors Scheme Photoshoot
We have recently had a photo shoot with a few of our visitors and residents they visit, we’d like to thank the visitors, residents and the facility staff for their help on the day! The photos will be used for new CVS marketing material, some will be on our website, some on brochures and some may even appear in the newspaper! A tribute to George – Such a delightful character. 1933 - 2019 It is a privilege to visit and get to know characters in our ageing community, and George was certainly one of them. Neville, George's visitor, recently became involved with the CVS program in Wangaratta.
Neville was encouraged by his wife, who is also a CVS visitor, and his previous CVS experience when they lived in Townsville, QLD.
Neville met George earlier this year. Initially George wasn’t keen to have a visitor, no doubt apprehensive about meeting and conversing with a stranger. However, it didn’t take much to break the ice, and with a few simple questions Neville soon got George talking, and before too long a strong bond of friendship was formed.
Neville recalls talking to George on the first day they met, and how he thought to himself how very intelligent George was, and wondered what he did for a job, possibly something that required high intelligence.
George’s story was quite different. George was a humble and generous man spending most of his life in Melbourne, caring for his parents at home, and with a career as a council worker. Having never married he moved to the North East where he enjoyed retirement on a small farm, with his beloved 3 dogs. He lived a happy independent life, always ready to help others in need, until the day he fell and broke his hip.
With no friends or family in the area to visit him in the nursing home, George was referred into the Community Visitors Scheme. And that is when Neville came along. Neville laughs as he recalls how animated George was and the type of character he was. “He was a good listener with plenty of practical advice”, enriching Neville’s life with many stories from the past. “Time would disappear. We always had plenty to talk about and to share about each others lives.
It was a two-way relationship. “George was always a pleasure to be with, our time together was always fun” Neville was able to visit George 6-7 times over the last few months. Each visit “was really good” Neville comments, finding common topics to discuss, tell stories about their lives or share life issues and problems.
Time spent together would be sitting and sometimes having a cuppa. For Neville it was “a nice chance to be close to another human being and share in their life”. “George would trigger things in my memory and I would be able to tell him a yarn or two about it, and he would listen well”. “I thoroughly looked forward to my visits with George every Wednesday” said Neville – although the CVS program only requires visits to be once a fortnight, Neville often visited more frequently, and the hour would soon turn into two.
George also enjoyed the visits. Neville had a smile in his voice when he recalls the day he postponed his Wednesday visit and went Thursday instead. George was quick to scald Neville for not letting him know.
It is a privilege to get to know the residents and hear their tales and experience their lives through stories they tell. “George was a delightful character, he was a new friend and a very good friend.”
Many Thanks to Neville Quigley for sharing his story of friendship with George. Our thoughts are with you.
If you have a resident you would like to pay tribute to or share your experience, please contact the CVS team and we will write a piece on your behalf for the next newsletter.
The Centre’s Volunteer Skillsbank recruits volunteers by matching their knowledge, interests and skills to opportunities within their local community.
Interested in Volunteering? Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to your community and make a difference to the people around you.
You can find out about the opportunities available by:
Visiting our website at http://www.nevictoria.skillsbank.com.au/ Finding us on Facebook at @VolunteerSkillsbank Contacting the Volunteer Skillsbank team on 1800 682 710 Emailing [email protected]
Bronwyn has been a volunteer with the Volunteer Skillsbank program for 5 years. She is the voice you will hear on the other end of the phone when searching for a volunteer role in your community. Bron is strongly committed to the role, regularly working two days a week and extra hours to assist others or complete a task.
Bronwyn is very personable with people seeking volunteer opportunities and Not-For-Profit organisations needing volunteers. Her cheerful and enthusiastic personality makes her extremely competent and effective in appropriately matching volunteers and organisations.
Last week Bronwyn was the dual recipient of the 2019 Anne Pennington Award. The Anne Pennington Award celebrates engagement with, and enjoyment of learning of the learners, participants and volunteers at The Centre. Congratulations Bron!
Anyone can develop dementia.
Dementia doesn’t discriminate, but we can change how we respond to and behave around people living with dementia.
Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia.
Dementia has become the leading cause of death among Australian women, and remains the second leading cause of death across all Australians. JULY SEPTEMBER
Roger Bell, Glenis Cardillo, Val Lockman, Cedric Hall, Bernie Holmes, Rob McDougall, Cath O'Connor, Sally O'Rourke Philomena Robinson, Jennifer Stephens, Kay Tyers
AUGUST OCTOBER
Lynette Allen, Daniel Anderson, Lyn Barclay, Jenny Chuck, Jennifer Gale, Jo-Ann Karen Blick, Dawn Bray, Chris Gooden, Gooden, Neha Karinyaniya, Liz Madden, Ray Leanne Monro, Des Moylan, Tae Jana Magnus, Marida Pawsey, Neville Quigley, Pollack, Sherren Tilson Sheryl van den Akker, Lena Vicary, Carol Vick
Congratulations to those celebrating their birthdays!
We looking forward to catching up with you and hearing more of your stories as we complete our visits over the next few months. Our next edition of the CVS newsletter will be released in Novemeber
To submit stories, please email us on the contact details below.
team The CVS
The Community Visitors Scheme: 1800 682 710
Email: [email protected] Have you submitted your visitor report for this quarter?
Thank you for taking the time to submit this information. It is essential that we maintain accurate records of our community visits to allow us to renew our funding and continue the community visitors scheme.
Reports are collected quarterly, and can be submitted via email or post. We are happy to recieve them in whichever manner is most suitable for you.
Need further information or have a question about the reporting requirements of community visitors?