APRIL / MAY 2014 — If you would like a personal copy of this newsletter, please call Lyn on 6926 4400

HIGHLIGHTS G'day!! Available Every Day ANZAC

♦ Heated Pool I think our war veterans and service ♦ Gymnasium people are amongst the toughest, most resilient and most worthwhile people. ♦ Library They volunteered to fight wars to protect WEEKLY ACTIVITIES priceless freedom. They spilled blood, sweat and tears so others would not have Monday to. They’ve seen things that they wouldn’t ♦ 9:00 am wish on anyone. They worked together to Happy Wanderers overcome adversity. They know how lucky we all are to live where we live and Walking Group have what we have in this great country. They’ve paid the price for what we have ♦ 2:00 pm today. Carpet Bowls, Cards and Games On 25 April 1915, in the darkness, before dawn, the ANZACs stormed ashore at ♦ 2:00 pm Gallipoli. It was our first major contribution to the world as a nation - Australia was Bible Study only 14 years old. And after Gallipoli, the hell of the Western Front. Sadly, there Tuesday have been several other conflicts – WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, East Timor, ♦ 10:00 am Iraq, Afghan as well as conflicts and peacekeeping efforts in Indonesia, Malaya, Manager’s Somalia, Solomon Islands, Rwanda to name a few. This ANZAC Day, we Morning Tea especially welcome home our people who have served in Afghanistan. At RSL ♦ 2:00 pm ANZAC Village at Narrabeen, we are dedicating an Afghan Memorial and Gentle Exercises recognising the 40 Fallen with the planting of 40 Peace Roses. The ANZAC Wednesday March and Service will feature Afghan Vets and families of the Fallen. Daniel ♦ 10:00 am Keighran VC is guest speaker at our ANZAC service and will be officially opening Thai Chi the Afghan Memorial.

♦ 2:00 pm A little bit about Daniel – born on the Sunshine Coast in 1983, his family later Book Club moved near to Bundaberg on 40 acres where his parents bred horses. Daniel was Thursday a torchbearer for the 2000 Olympics and he joined the Army that year, serving in East Timor and Iraq prior to his deployment to Afghan. Daniel was awarded the ♦ 10:00 am Yoga Victoria Cross for his actions while serving with 6RAR in a fire fight with insurgents during the Battle of Derapet on 24 August 2010. During the battle, ♦ 2:00 pm Daniel, "with complete disregard for his own safety", repeatedly exposed himself to Mah Jong enemy fire to draw fire away from a team treating a battle casualty (Keighran's Friday friend, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney). Daniel’s actions were key in allowing ♦ 11:00 am the forces to withdraw without further casualties. Aqua Aerobics Every one of our villages and services will be holding their own ANZAC service HAPPY HOUR and/or participating in community events. Please thank our vets, in particular this year our returning Afghan men and women. Drinks & Dinner ♦ First Friday At our services, RSL LifeCare will be accepting donations for Soldier On, a of month 5:00 pm contemporary veterans organisation with whom we are linked, who focus on ♦ Third Wednesday helping veterans recover from physical and mental injuries of war. Please think of month 5:00 pm about giving to help today’s vets who are struggling. RON THOMPSON, CEO

RSL LifeCare amalgamates I am pleased to advise RSL LifeCare has

signed a contract with Anglicare (Diocese with Anglicare Aged Care of and Southern NSW) to purchase five villages and community care in Canberra and South Coast service located in Canberra and the south coast of NSW:

 Gininderra Gardens, Page, Canberra: 136 aged care beds and 27 retirement living homes;  Brindabella Gardens, Curtin, Canberra: 112 aged care beds;  Village, : 52 aged care beds and 115 retirement living homes;  Mariner Park, Tura Beach, Merimbula: 66 aged care beds and 14 retirement living homes;  Nullica Lodge, Eden: 27 aged care beds;  Community Care: 87 aged care packages.

From a strategic perspective, RSL LifeCare seeks to develop in NSW and the ACT in key regional areas. With regards to Canberra, this city is a strategic location and Anglicare offers two villages located in separate areas (north and south). Key positives are: Canberra is a major centre; Provides a base in southern Canberra to supplement the existing Morshead (north) facility; They are located in a growing area; Ageing population; Major infrastructure; Regional health care centre; Limited risk. With regards to the South Coast, the Merimbula area is a regional centre and the three villages offer key positives: Merimbula is a regional centre; Provides a base in southern NSW; They are located in a growing area; Ageing population; Limited risk.

RSL LifeCare’s growth has been significant and with the Anglicare linkage, our total residential care beds will be 2,000, retirement living homes 1,750 and community care clients 1,900. A decade ago, RSL LifeCare comprised two villages comprising 500 nursing home beds and 500 retirement living homes plus 30 community care packages. It is anticipated that the linkage with Anglicare will take place in about three months, around May. RON THOMPSON, CEO Hello from Elizabeth

Whenever I visit The Grange, I am amazed by the growth since my last visit. It seems as though villas just keep popping up all over the place.

Since my greater involvement in Canberra, with RSL LifeCare’s expansion into the ACT, it is very apparent how important it is for us to use every opportunity to market all of the Villages across the group at every opportunity. To this end, when we had an Open day at Gardiner Grove Retirement Village in Canberra recently, we also used the opportunity to “market” The Grange. Similarly, there will be a Retirement Living Expo in Canberra on 20 March where we will do the same.

The ANZAC Day Service is planned for 22 April 2014 and we hope to see Elizabeth Jenkins you all there. Executive GM Southern HAPPY HOUR AT THE GRANGE Thank you, Judith, for welcoming my family to Happy Hour. I am sure you all know my husband, Jock, (on the left). Steph, (the tall one in the middle) is my son’s lovely girlfriend. It appears, however, that one is missing and that would be my son! Apparently, he had a date with his brand new boat and fishing rod. The next two lovely ones are my daughters, Haley and Leisa. And last, but not at all least, my stepson, Jordan, on the end. GREETINGS FROM LYN

The long hot summer is now but a memory and the cooler months are coming our way. I am sure the cooler weather is a welcome change for the tradesmen working tirelessly to develop this fast growing Village. By the end of May, we expect to have 73 occupied villas and 122 residents living at The Grange as well as the ongoing construction of new villas.

The commencement date for the development of the next stage of roads is swiftly looming closer. The Bowling Green is well under construction and the Maintenance Shed has been completed. With the cooler weather upon us, it is certainly a good opportunity to get a community vegetable garden underway.

The piano now has pride of place in the Community Centre and we have come to realise we have a lot of hidden musical talent lurking in our villas as residents are slowly but surely coming forward to entertain with a sing-a-long at Happy Hour. I have been secretly told that we have a chorus in our midst and they are practicing for their debut in public some time in the near Lyn Pearce future. Manager

CANCER COUNCIL PRESENTATION AND BUNNINGS SAUSAGE SIZZLE One of our modest residents, who would prefer to remain anonymous, asked if we could promote skin cancer awareness at The Grange. The Cancer Council volunteered to give us a presentation on “Saving our Skin” whilst Bunnings, volunteering for a good cause, came to our rescue to cater for the multitude of tradesmen, residents and the developers with a Sausage Sizzle. KEVIN & JANNETTE CAMERON ENJOYING HIGH TEA AT THE GRANGE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY “We were married in 1958 in Grafton and are celebrating 55 years of marriage. We have four children and six grandchildren spread across the continent from Calgary in Canada to Hobart in Tasmania.

Kevin was a Bank Manager with ANZ Bank and we moved many times and experienced many different lifestyles from Broken Hill to and quite a few other places in between. Life has been a roller coaster ride and we have loved every minute.

When we retired, our daughter in Wagga Wagga asked us to come and have a look at The Grange and from the moment we walked into the display villa, and looked out onto the courtyard, we felt at home and both agreed instantly that The Grange is where we wanted to be. We loved the whole ambience and we love the lifestyle.” ENJOYING THE LIFESTYLE Residents all dressed up and heading off for a night on the town.

“We were picked up at the front door and then off to the movie premiere, “Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom”.

“We all enjoyed the movie.

The night was topped off nicely with a complimentary glass of champagne, juice and cheese and biscuits on arrival and then back home to The Grange.”

WHILST WE LOVE WATCHING THE MANY VARIETIES OF BIRDS IN THE VILLAGE, WE DON’T LIKE SHARING OUR FRUITS OF THE VINE WITH THE BIRDS. SO, IT’S ALL HANDS ON DECK TO GET THE NETS OUT TO PROTECT THIS YEAR’S VINTAGE.

The Grange resident, Barry Briggs, has fulfilled his dream to lead an excursion to the Coleambally Irrigation Area. Sixteen residents, including Barry and Jenny, made the trip.

First stop was at the home of Greg and Mary Briggs on Farm 40. Their hospitality was much appreciated by the visitors with Mary’s cream and strawberry topped sponge cake being a real hit. Greg spoke to the residents of the ways and wherefores of irrigation farming and of how it has changed over the years with each visitor receiving a bag containing rice products. Then it was off to view the irrigated paddocks of rice and soya beans of Farm 80 where more on-hand information was provided by Greg and his son, Joe. The computerised flume gates, which have replaced the Dethridge Wheel, were also inspected. A hearty lunch followed at the Coleambally Bowling Club then a thorough inspection of the town’s points of interest including sporting fields and amenities, Lions Park and the ‘wine glass’ Water Tower featuring mosaic artwork. Brolga Place and the main shopping centre were also thoroughly canvassed.

Barry and Jenny called Coleambally home for many years, however, they both agree that they have made the right choice in moving to The Grange and are loving every minute.