WINTER 2019 |

IN M STORE RE

Magic in the Music We talk to Graham Abbott, guest conductor for the Philharmonia Orchestra

The Thrill D-Day Colour in of The Chase Landings the Cold Shaun Wallace from hit TV show Metlifecare residents recount WW2 Find out what to plant in your The Chase visits Pinesong Village memories and visit Omaha Beach winter garden What’s in Store

COVER STORY P 08 FIND YOUR FIT Magic in the Music P08 Read our exclusive interview with IN ONE OF 25 UNIQUE VILLAGES Graham Abbott, guest conductor at the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Your unique pursuits, passions and preferences don’t retire just because you have. No matter how you pictured your ideal retirement lifestyle, you’ll fi nd it in one of 25 distinctive FEATURES Metlifecare villages. Each has a range of accommodation options, from villas to serviced apartments to care homes, P04 From the CEO’s desk all with the highest quality facilities. P06 The Thrill of The Chase P12 Star Trekker Ann Franks To fi nd out more, call us on 0800 367 847 P16 The D-Day Landings or visit metlifecare.co.nz P19 D-Day 75th Anniversary P22 Quiet an achievement P30 Short snippets

HAPPENINGS

P15 Village fundraisers P06 P12 P20 Anzac Day commemorations P24 Sports & Recreation P26 Mid winter celebrations

REGULAR P28

GARDENING Publisher: Metlifecare Ltd P28 Editor: Kate Drury Colour in the cold Contributors: Kate Drury, Vern Walker Cover: APO guest conductor RECIPES PO Box 37463, Parnell Graham Abbott P32 Super Soups Auckland 1151 For all editorial enquiries, please contact metlifecare.co.nz [email protected] 0800 909 303 Apple Metlifecare’s More in Store magazine Back Cobbler has a distribution of 8,700 and is available online at metlifecare.co.nz /metlifecare

RAD4334 metlifecare.co.nz 03 From the CEO’s desk elcome to the winter edition We have reached another milestone at Gulf Rise, of More in Store. We’re where we can now invite you to step inside our delighted to bring you so new fully furnished display villa. Potential residents many stories about our are experiencing the attractive open design and residents and staff doing modern finishes in our villas for themselves and Wamazing things; from Longford Park Village imagining themselves in their new home. Nurse Manager Ann Franks walking the length of We have been engaging with local community New Zealand to resident Cheryl Sinclair groups close to the proposed retirement village in providing over 55 years volunteer service for St Pine Harbour, seeking advice and feedback on the John’s Ambulance. plans and proposed village amenities. We were The Avenues care home We’re also pleased to delighted to recently reveal the new name and Artists’ impression announce a new logo, along with a glimpse of the initial plans for sponsorship with the ‘Pohutukawa Landing’. their feedback. This process is invaluable because Papamoa Beach Village care home Auckland the input we receive from the local community is Artists’ impression Philharmonia actively used to shape and improve the design of CEO Orchestra. Music Glen Sowry the village. plays such an important part of Our data tells us that three out of four residents in life in our villages, our villages come from the local community so so we are delighted the local area engagement process is fundamental to help the APO to our approach to new developments. achieve more of their We want to ensure we build villages with authentic community outreach goals, identities that genuinely reflect and celebrate the The team at Somervale have recently celebrated with the benefit that many of our residents are uniqueness of their local communities, so residents another milestone as the Care Home successfully enjoying exclusive open rehearsals and first-class will feel a true sense of connectedness and secured four-year certification – the gold standard musical performances at their villages. We’re very Design concept for Pohutukawa Landing belonging. in the Ministry of Health certification process. excited for all that is still to come as our Another great outcome for our Clinical team. partnership develops. Shortly, we’ll be celebrating the opening of not As well as consulting with the Pohutukawa one, but two new Care Homes in the Bay of Plenty As we enter a new financial year, we look forward Since our last edition, we have also achieved community, in June we conducted the first at our villages in Papamoa Beach Village and The to continuing to focus on our residents and put momentum with several of our new village community engagement sessions at the site of our Avenues in . This has been a significant them at the heart of everything we do. developments. Stage one of Gulf Rise is almost proposed Botany village in East Auckland, right on project for Metlifecare, not only the largest complete and we are delighted that our first of the Pakuranga Golf Course. recruitment project in our history with over 100 residents will shortly be moving into their spacious We were pleased to welcome hundreds of people roles to be filled, but also in extending our new villas. to view the initial design concepts and provide continuum of care in the Bay, and opening our first dementia care unit.

Inside the show villa at Gulf Rise Botany Village design concept NZACA award The new care homes follow our NZACA award- winning ‘homestead Glen Sowry model’ of care, designed CEO - Metlifecare to achieve better consistency of care, increase socialisation, provide a more homely atmosphere and a friendly place for family and friends to visit.

04 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 05 The Dark Destroyer - Shaun Wallace

Pinesong’s resident quiz masters go head to head with Shaun The Thrill of The Chase

t was standing room only in the Sea Breeze Lounge at Pinesong village when Shaun Wallace, also known as ‘the Dark Destroyer’ from popular UK TV show The Chase, came to Auckland. He made time Iin his busy schedule to speak to a packed audience of excited residents. The professional quizzer and ex-Mastermind champion made the West Auckland village the very last appointment on his whistle-stop tour of New Zealand to promote his new autobiography ‘Chasing the Dream’.

With characteristic delays in Auckland’s traffic only on NZ-specific trivia. Pinesong’s resident Shaun was very gracious with his fans and spent adding to the flurry of anticipation regarding quizmasters were game enough to go head to so much time signing autographs and books and Wallace’s arrival, the English TV personality head in their own quiz competition with Shaun taking pictures that his management looked very and barrister finally entered the lounge to a who scored a resounding victory, showing the nervous as they finally ushered him into his car to rapturous reception from over 250 residents killer instincts which have made him so popular leave. We later found out he made it to the and staff. His arrival was so hotly anticipated as a Chaser on the TV quiz show. airport with only moments to spare before his that extra chairs had to be brought in from all flight home to the UK departed. over the village to cater for the huge turnout. It was clear from the queues to meet Shaun With hugs, handshakes and kisses for the afterwards and the bustle of excitement around audience, Wallace took centre stage to deliver him that he has a huge following at Pinesong. an engaging presentation about his life and career, revealing that he is the only Chaser that still maintains a career outside of the TV show. Shaun’s popular with He spoke candidly about his law career, fans of all ages passion for history and thirst for knowledge which ultimately led him to his unusual role as a professional quizzer, including winning Mastermind UK before taking up his regular slot on The Chase.

Pinesong fans didn’t let Wallace leave without grilling him with quiz questions of their own, testing his mettle with tricky topics such as international currencies, as well as asking what the going rate is for a Chaser (about $5000 per show apparently!). His general knowledge is impressive but he also showed his human side, getting a few questions wrong though mostly Book signing

06 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 07 Graham Abbott at the Auckland Town Hall

Becoming a conductor seems like a strange plays, art exhibitions are all inherently communal choice for a kid with no musicians in the activities, important opportunities to join family. With no set career path to together with other people. follow as a conductor, Graham Listening to music stimulates Magic in likens his process of our brains and provokes becoming a music our emotions while we professional to that of are listening, but the an budding actor. benefits continue First learning the after the the Music craft, working for performance. nothing, aligning When we have yourself with shared that Graham Abbott, guest conductor professionals experience with for the Auckland Philharmonia through others, when we internships and talk to each Orchestra’s ‘Unwrap the Music’ series, taking every other about what talks to Metlifecare about his musical opportunity to we thought, how learn and gather it made us feel career and the vital role music plays in experience. and discuss the making and maintaining connections. Followed by literally music we enjoy, Conductor knocking on doors and Graham Abbott when we make creating a career through recommendations, we unwavering perseverance create deeper connections and passion. Graham’s belief in with other people. That’s the real raham Abbott’s first memory of Graham’s mother was key to fuelling this interest the power of music is what compelled magic; the connection music brings conducting is as a young boy in music and not just by letting him borrow her him to follow this uncertain path. He feels that between people. The musicians and the growing up in suburban Sydney. knitting needles. She purchased Graham his first music can ‘speak to our brains in ways that no conductor, the audience and the performers, the He remembers pilfering his classical records; squirreling away some of her other activity does’. Graham recalls a study audience and their friends and family.” mother’s steel knitting needles to housekeeping money to buy him a subscription carried out on a composer, monitoring the Graham is the perfect choice of presenter of use as batons, energetically conducting an to the World Record Club. His first two change in his brain activity when he is at rest, Metlifecare’s Unwrap the Music series. It draws Gimaginary orchestra in his lounge. With no recordings to arrive in the post included Handel’s when performing music and finally when on his unique skills as a conductor, a history musicians in his large family to mimic, Graham Water Music. Graham still recalls the thrill of composing; at which point his brain activity enthusiast, a music journalist and teacher. Now assumes he must have first seen an orchestral receiving that record aged eight years old and literally lights up the screen. He also refers to the in its tenth year, each concert in the series performance on TV. This chance viewing listening to it over and over. This piece kick- success of studies on Alzheimers patients and focuses on a well-known classical piece of ignited something in Graham; starting his started a life-long obsession with Handel and his stroke victims involving musical stimulation. music. This year’s selection includes Handel’s lifelong passion for classical music. compositions, as well as the Hanoverian period Water Music as well as Mozart’s Clarinet of European history and historic events Concert and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. In Through his career to date, Graham has explored surrounding Handel’s career. Graham has gone Listening to music each performance, Graham unpacks the piece, his relationship with music from many different on to conduct Handel’s ‘Messiah’ no less than 74 stimulates our brains sharing the context for its creation, information angles. Starting out teaching music as a young times, his first aged 19, with his 75th performance and provokes on the composer and pointing out significant man, Graham went on to take internships both due to take place later this year in . He signposts in the music. The experience is part with orchestras and established conductors, has also conducted 42 of Handel’s operas. our emotions ... slide show, part history lesson, part music before graduating to more senior roles and Despite his devotion to performing them, these appreciation. It puts the audience - some of landing prestigious conducting positions with are not his favourite pieces by Handel. That With the benefit of regularly witnessing it first- whom are hearing classical music performed live choirs and orchestras across Australia and New accolade goes to two of Handel’s Oratorias; hand, Graham knows better than most how for the first time – in a unique position; Zealand. As well as teaching and performing ‘Saul’ and ‘Solomon’. (Not having heard of them, music helps us to form connections. As a empowering them with the knowledge and tools music, Graham also worked as a music journalist. I dutifully look up these lesser-known pieces society, he feels we are losing opportunities to to appreciate subtleties within the score and the Many recognise Graham from his long stint as a after our interview and they are indeed amazing come together and share experiences. “Concerts, interpretation which otherwise may be missed, radio presenter on ABC Classical in Australia. - Editor).

08 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 09 Members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra have also been performing a series of concerts at Metlifecare villages and residents have been enjoying exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ passes to rehearsals. Plus exclusive discounts on all APO performances are available for Metlifecare residents and staff. Ask at reception for details.

APO performance in the Town Hall Photo credit Adrian Malloch

and in a much more engaging way than notes in Graham’s unique presentations and evident a printed programme provides. By unwrapping passion, along with the unbelievable skill of the the music, Graham helps the audience feel like APO musicians. As well as appreciating the insiders - like experts - regardless of their prior classical music, the audience learned so much musical experience. about the History of Mozart’s Clarinet Symphony and of Handel’s Water Music. Graham believes the “worst thing we can do as musicians or performers is to be snobby or After two successful performances, we can’t wait inaccessible. That is not what music is about”. until Graham returns to unwrap more music in The first two concerts in the series in March and the next concert in the series. June were performed to a packed Auckland Town Hall and were anything but elitist. A diverse crowd from teens to retirees, first-timers to seasoned concert-goers, were captivated by Pictures of Metlifecare residents enjoying an exclusive Open Rehearsal.

Metlifecare Unwrap the Music series

The next concert BE IN TO WIN in the series is: a double pass including flights and one nights accommodation! BEETHOVEN’S PASTORAL SYMPHONY Just email [email protected] with your name, contact telephone number Date: Wednesday 25 September and answer to the below question: Time: 6.30pm Which prestigious conductor presents Venue: Auckland Town Hall the ‘Unwrap the Music’ series?

You don’t need to live in Auckland to enjoy the APO. If you live outside Auckland, the prize includes flights and one night’s accommodation. Pinesong welcomed the ‘Orbit Trio’ as part of Metlifecare’s partnership with the APO. See www.metlifecare.co.nz for Terms and Conditions

10 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 11 Cape Reinga

flat-bed truck to be transported between stages! The Great NZ Trek from Cape Reinga to We had an engagement between a couple on the Slope Point Trek; Kitty’s son met his partner on one of the stages. In due course they had kids and brought the children on later stages of the trek!

Another family used the trek as their reunion Star Trekker every year, travelling from across NZ, Australia and the UK to take part in the stages together.

Ann Franks walked the length Ann Franks trekking of New Zealand for charity over 14 years

his year Ann Franks, Nurse What was the Trek all about? Manager at Longford Park Village, It was founded by a chap called Steve Old who was a horse trainer and trek organiser by trade. completed the final part of an epic camping gear; tents, bed rolls, food and so on. His mother had died of Multiple Sclerosis so he trek across NZ. In March this year As the temperature varied we even carried hot wanted to create an event which would honour Ann arrived at the finishing point of water bottles, hats, mittens and scarves for some her memory, and raise awareness of, and funds the Great New Zealand Trek, marking her of the chillier stages. With 14 years of adventures, the event was a for, MS research through the Malaghan Institute. Tfourteenth consecutive year taking part in the unique in that it spanned so much time. Some of charity event which has raised over half a The routes took us across farmland (with The Great NZ Trek was born in 2006, offering the the horses that started the trek were nearing 20 million dollars for Multiple Sclerosis since its permission of lovely landowners). Hepa worked chance to horse ride, cycle or hike from Cape by the time it was completed. Getting together inception in 2006. with local Māori and farmers along the route to Reinga one stage at a time, for several every year led to many of us becoming very allow us to trek across their land. We had to be days each year over 14 years until close friends. It felt like meeting up with family. Ann spoke to More in Store to give careful walking through paddocks, closing gates reaching Slope Point (the more I guess doing something gruelling and helping us the inside track on her behind us and taking all our rubbish away. inspiration for her amazing southernmost point, even each other through adversity helps to bring walk and expressed her further south than Bluff!) in Volunteers set up camps with huge catering people closer together. 2019. marquees, water, showers, rubbish collection gratitude for the support Was it tough going? How did you get through it? she received from staff points, toilets and food and caravans for the Steve got the trek up It was hard work. We walked in all weathers and and residents at Longford horses. We had nurses and vets on hand and the and running before a the ground was rutted as we didn’t do any Park on her fundraising course had to be marked out with ribbons. couple called Kitty and walking on the roads. Some hills took two hours journey. Hepa took over after Who else took part in the Trek? to climb up and were really taxing. We had How did you find out the first two stages. I started the trek with my husband who bravely injuries on the trail. Many people suffered really about the Great New Together with some cycled the first leg with me, then he rode on bad blisters and lost skin off their feet. A horse Zealand Trek? awesome volunteers they horseback with one of my daughters in year two. rolled at one stage and the rider suffered a As a little girl I had a pipe pulled off an absolutely After that my sister ended up joining me and took punctured lung and had to be flown out by dream about travelling around amazing feat of part in all but three of the stages, which made the helicopter. organisational planning every experience extra special. It was a proper catch up NZ on horseback. It’s funny It helped to have something to take your mind off Ann Franks year. every year for us without all the usual distractions thinking about it now as though my the task. Walking with my sister Sandra was a and time together which I will always treasure. daughters both ride, I was definitely not a How did the Trek work? real help and we had a friend Donna who used to rider. But when I saw the Great NZ Trek in an Around 300 people walked or cycled each stage There were trekkers of all ages some aged 80 walk with us too. I would play mind games with article in one of my daughter’s horse magazines, along with around 60 riders on horseback. It was plus and some young teens too. One trekker myself to distract myself like counting the fence something about it grabbed my attention. a real outdoors adventure. We carried all our completed the stages on a mule called ‘The posts and generally trying to keep up a good Colonel’ who used to jump up on the back of a pace.

12 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 13 I believe that our minds are our completed the trek on his Village Fundraisers strength. Even when I had horse and held a service to excruciating shin splints on an remember him where we let off early stage at 90 Mile Beach, I balloons. He had planned to 1 Coastal Villas decided to turn down a ride to go on to bike Stewart Island so 2 residents raised funds the end of the stage on a quad some of the riders went on to Edgewater staff and for with bike. I just really wanted to do that to honour him. It made residents look pretty their cake stall complete the stage myself. At the completing the trek even more in pink for Breast Cancer end I collapsed and could have significant doing it in his Hepa’s horse awareness slept all night just where I lay on honour. the ground but somehow got up Will you miss trekking? and pitched my tent, ate and showered and then did it all again the next day. Part of me is relieved that it’s over – remember I’m 14 years older now than when I started! Also I liken the challenge of the Trek to what I see a lot it was hard to train for the walk whilst being on of residents push through every day. Their call and ensuring I am around for residents. So ongoing tenacity and the training walks Makers market makes a packet for Ann’s cause strength of character (up to 20km each) is absolutely an took up a lot of inspiration to me. my time off work My residents are for a while. great teachers and definitely inspired me However my sister to keep going. and I have loved walking together How did you feel so we’re planning when you reached to carry on 3 the end of the final trekking. We’re Greenwood Park stage? planning to walk residents raise funds at Absolute elation! the Waikeremoana a pink ribbon breakfast There was a lot of track next. camaraderie at the Tell us about the finish point. We all took photos with a sign support you received from Longford Park pointing back up to Cape Reinga. I just thought Village? ‘how cool is that?’ I have been lucky to have a body which allowed me to walk and I didn’t have I am absolutely blown away by the support I to miss any years through sickness or injury. have been given. What a village! As well as giving Only 59 people completed the whole thing and donations (including a very generous anonymous of them only 14 on foot. donation online), residents from our Busy Fingers group spent ages creating items to put on a 4 What are your most treasured memories? Makers market. So much work went into creating Walking with my family and the friends I made gorgeous items for sale and they donated all the A local fashion store in over the years. I created so many memories. I got profits to support my fundraising. Together with Kerikeri ‘i-style’ and Oakridge to experience NZ’s fantastic terrain, taking my online donations they have helped me raise Villas joined together to hold bridges and crossing streams, walking alongside around $1500! It’s so neat that people have a fashion parade to raise rivers over stones, boulders and hopping over jumped on board and done that. funds for Mid North Women’s logs. I feel I got to see much more of NZ by Refuge. Congratulations on an amazing achievement Ann. getting off the roads. Surely now it’s time to put your feet up? Sadly Hepa died a week before the final stage started this year after an illness. His wife Kitty

14 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 15 A watercolour painting, by the author, depicting a landing barge approaching Omaha Beach.

machine gun fire or blown apart. No place to precious time, and rushed reinforcements to hide from the German juggernaut of death and Normandy. Omaha became one of the most destruction. difficult amphibious landings in military history, with steep cliffs to scale that were 30 to 50 Today it is like any other beach. Have a swim and metres high. lie upon a towel. A beach for a family picnic. Historic sands, nonetheless, for it was from these Spielberg relied on Tom Hanks and his men to very same shores that William the Conqueror win the day and overrun the Germans along the sailed - in the opposite direction, to kill Harold at clifftops. In reality the Americans were literally Hastings, and to become the King of England. between a rock and a hard place. To advance up the cliffs was to invite possible annihilation. To As I was to discover, beyond the sands of retreat was unthinkable. Omaha - where there should be sand dunes - there is a mammoth cemetery, the American The Allied destroyers came close to the shore. cemetery. A tidy and well laid out So close that at times the prow of the testament to mans’ folly in the face vessels almost nudged the sand in the of total war. shallower waters. From here they delivered an intense and brutally I entered the vast area of effective fire power at point- internment. A small sign So, what happened blank range at the German asks you to be silent and concrete bunkers that dotted to revere. Like Private upon Omaha Beach the hilly terrain. Only then Ryan, in the opening those 75 years ago? could the ground troops, stanza of the film, I This beach, around eight using grenades and hand- walked with measured held rocket-firing bazookas steps along the top of the kilometres long, became overpower the enemy. Sadly, cliffs, among the Austrian the focus of the world. The D-Day Landings the Allies paid a fearful price pines, past row upon row of in exchange for a few metres of white crosses. Unlike Ryan, I Hell Upon The Seashore sand and dune, as fear knocked did not step upon the carefully By Vern Walker, Pinesong Village Resident hard at the door, and faith and blind manicured grass to reach the nearest courage opened it. grave site. I strongly felt that it was not my place to tread on such sacred ground. Ground so I stood upon the top of the cliffs, at the edge of June 2019 marked 75 years since winds its way, helped along here and there by painfully forced from the Wehrmacht in a tidal the cemetery and looked down upon Omaha the greatest sea-land invasion in strategically placed waterwheels. Other features wave of troops that worked as a team in order to Beach. I reverently recalled the film, and history, the D-Day landings on the of Bayeux include honey-coloured stone advance up the cliffs and to destroy the pillboxes wondered what kind of miracle had caused the Normandy beaches of France. buildings, half-timbered dwellings and a towering from which came the blazing machine gun fire. Americans to succeed. Behind me were the final cathedral. In memory of the American invasion Mesmerised by Steven Spielberg’s resting places of 9,386 servicemen and women there is a life-size statue of the Supreme Allied So, what happened upon Omaha Beach those 75 epic 1998 war movie, ‘Saving Private spread over 69 hectares (Eden Park number 1 Commander, General Dwight Eisenhower. In so years ago? This beach, around eight kilometres Ryan’, I decided to visit Omaha Beach, field is 1.6 hectares) of crosses, all standing in honouring Churchill and Eisenhower, Bayeux long, became the focus of the world. And it 6 long rows. Never-ending rows straight as an Normandy, and to see for myself the sands upon does so in the knowledge that it was the first caused one combatant to declare: “As my which so many Americans lost their lives. arrow, no matter from what direction or town to be liberated. landing craft crunched into the sand, myself and viewpoint you looked upon them. My route to the coast recalled the tumult of my mates became a visitor to hell.” Standing alone above Omaha Beach, I placed another age, as I stopped at the city of Rouen. Bouquets of flowers were laid out here and there myself in the army boots of actor Tom Hanks, the If the Germans were going to stop the invasion, it Here in the market square, Joan of Arc had at the feet of some brave and once-petrified main role in the film, as he struggled ashore. I let would have to be on Omaha Beach, an expanse barely reached the full flower of womanhood, souls, placed there by family. Engraved on stone my mind go and imagined what it was like with with no cover. Pillboxes, bunkers and machine when she was incinerated, whilst tied to a stake. tables in The Garden of the Missing are the your face in the sand as the hellfire poured out guns covered every inch of the beach. Without names of 1,557 whose remains lie somewhere in from the concrete bunkers from the cliffs above. I victory at Omaha there would be a huge gap Passing fields of dazzling daffodil-yellow a French field. An asterisk identifies those dwelt on the sheer horror and the bombardment between the Americans at Omaha, and the British coloured canolla, I arrived in Bayeux. Today this subsequently recovered and identified, including as the young manhood of America were at Gold Beach. A gap so significant that the quaint town is a peaceful place, and even has a twin brothers. The cemetery is flanked by masses paralysed by fear as their mates were pierced by Germans could have outflanked the Allies, gained Hotel Churchill located here. The River Aure of cypresses, laurel and oak, and two American

16 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 17 D-Day 75th Anniversary “Memories of Service” by Frank Sanft, 7 Saint Vincent Resident

rank served in the Royal Navy during what we had to do.' '... but then one of my thrills World War II. He received the of later life is the iPad, and looked up on the Legion of Honour, France’s highest Internet ‘Force PLUTO’, and I saw that General order of merit, as a recognition of his Eisenhower said it was the second biggest role in ‘the liberation of France’ contribution to the success of the war!' during World War II. This is Frank’s . F Frank's first experience 'down under' was with the It was on the third day of Frank Sanft's guard Australian prisoners of war held in Changi prison, duty in Cherbourg, in which he was startled by a Singapore. These men were completely starving loud *PING!* and suddenly he saw by the time the Japanese surrendered. troops running off in all directions, Taking pity, Frank offered some food as the odd noise continued to one soldier when a physician Frank dutifully stood quickly stopped him - these assiduously. An American men had been famished for soldier running past so long, their stomachs howled: SNIPER! could only endure baby The American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, food! The recovered Normandy, France. Later that day the sniper Australians were then was caught, marking brought home to Sydney one of the more - a wonderful end to humorous (yet flags fly aloft atop towering flagpoles. War cemeteries dot the Normandy landscape, Frank's service during harrowing) experiences and today there is a growing interest in tourists wartime. Today the farming folk of Normandy get on Frank had during the wanting to see for themselves the history that Frank Sanft’s with their lives. Probably from time to time the shaped the last century. Being valorous in battle Second World War. service medals Frank, believes that his deeds of 6 June, 1944, are passed on to the the Americans make full use of their right as greatest service was carried out rising generation. The grey stone villages and Frank Sanft was born in liberators to make a patriotic statement about after the war in New Zealand, winding lanes amid the rolling countryside are London, England and came from sacrifice and bravery, in their neatly tended exemplified by his leadership in the peaceful, but once torn asunder by the a family who were quite caught up in hectares of repose. A little down the road is a Auckland sea cadets. He describes one screeching of tanks and their withering the strife of the early 20th century. His father British cemetery, a locale which is a little less memorable case: A rambunctious youth was firepower. Today locals clutch their long, crisp from New Zealand served in the First World War. dramatic. And at a nearby German cemetery? tearing up Queen Street in his car, terrorising the bread rolls and croissants as they attend to His brother was killed in the North Atlantic - Here the lessons of wartime stupidity have not local police. The police went to Frank and the their shopping before enjoying a local wine or torpedoed by Kretschmer, the deadly German been realised: some grave sites have been sea cadets for help. “We took him out and gave cider and their renowned Camembert cheese. commander who sunk nearly 50 ships. vandalised. him all the dirty jobs to do and things like that,” Frank says. “... this boy turned out one of the There are of course permanent and personal Frank’s ship was part of Operation ‘PLUTO’, an One of the very few New Zealanders to take finest lads I've come across. If he hadn't had that reminders of man’s inhumanity to man, fuelled acronym for Pipeline Under the Ocean (the part in the D.Day landings was the highly experience, if we hadn't done that for him, you by the political power struggles of the time, English Channel really), designed to supply fuel decorated Brigadier James Hargest. He landed could easily think the worst, couldn't you?” Frank ill-balanced decisions, as well as military and from storage tanks in southern England to the at Gold Beach with the 50th British Division, five explains: ''Discipline is a good thing, it's not a bad national pride. There are the permanent Allied armies in France, without which any hours after the initial landings. He was killed by thing. We all need a bit of discipline.” Like the reminders of D-Day: polished and preserved territorial gains would soon be lost. Indeed, fuel shell-fire two months after the landings, and is disaffected youth in his car, many young people tanks, pillboxes, gun positions, memorials and is a very real issue in wartime that we often buried at the Hottot-des-Bagues War Cemetery, today are having trouble making use of the barbed wire are there for all to see. A little to overlook - after all, while tanks and men fight, located between Bayeaux and Caen, France. potential good they could be doing. Perhaps, just the east at Arromanches-les-Bains is yet how can they mobilise without fuel? The The James Hargest College, Invercargill, is as Frank found his service in both times of war another museum, as well as the brown-rusted importance of PLUTO was initially overlooked by named in his honour. and peace fulfilling, future generations can find hulks of craft that formed the artificial harbour Frank himself. 'I was of the opinion that because their place in lively, meaningful service (and with that brought ashore all the military machinery the landings were so successful, we weren't a bit of discipline!) needed for such a mighty invasion. needed as much as I thought,' he says. 'And I was of the opinion that we did a good job, we did

18 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 19 Anzac Day Commemorations

1

Highlands residents’ Anzac Day service

3 Longford Park residents commemorate Anzac Day

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The Orchards residents’ Anzac Day service

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Waitakere Gardens residents gather for Anzac Day

2 Kapiti Village residents pay their respects on Anzac Day

20 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 21

anuiet achievement

A clever idea for a ‘quiet happy hour’ has created a close-knit community at Forest Lake Gardens

arrived at Forest Lake Gardens, situated that I could tell) tells me that many people’s right on the edge of the racecourse in Te speaking voices tend to quieten as they age and Rapa, Hamilton on a beautiful, clear the softer voices are harder to distinguish. autumn morning to meet with Fran Jones, and head off to a cozy area of the residents’ hear what was going on. I would stay home Maree Leet, Forest Lake Garden’s Registered the mastermind behind the quiet happy lounge complete with armchairs, carpet and soft instead if it wasn’t for this group.’ Nurse joins in the conversation and makes a hour movement and convener of the group. furnishings which help to absorb background great point, that the use of hard materials and There is also an unwritten rule in the group that noise. IAlong with Fran, I am pleasantly surprised to be surfaces in modern buildings can create everyone gets to have a say and be listened to, greeted by quite a large, friendly assembly of acoustics which naturally amplify rather than As well as catching up for their weekly happy which seems very important to Fran (who is residents; all chatting away together happily in a deaden background noise. hour, the group have also taken sign language clearly a gem). I later find out from village staff cosy corner of the lounge. I had asked Fran if lessons together, organised group meals and that Fran dedicates a lot of her time to the village As if to perfectly demonstrate the issue, the she could bring along one or two group drinks and even attended a play together which community, helping to keep residents involved village’s hip-hop dance group are finishing up members so I could ask them about their happy used sign language as part of the performance. and ensuring no one feels left behind. As if to their practice in the activity room next door and hour concept, but am delighted when she They even put on a skit about sign language as demonstrate how important it is to Fran that though it sounds like they are having lots of fun, introduces me to almost the whole group! part of the last village variety show which was everyone feels included, she also makes a point the small increase in background noise I sit down with them to chat and see lots of fun. of speaking more than once about Eddie and does make it quite difficult to straight away that they are lovely Mike, a couple of group members who couldn’t communicate. The hip-hop Without the quiet happy hour community, many bunch; clearly very close and make it to our meeting due to other group are kind enough to turn of the group’s members felt they would have no problems chatting some of us commitments and is very keen that they are also their music down to allow us probably otherwise avoid the social gathering. away together in our quiet recognised as a key part of the group. prefer to socialise to continue our chat, but it area. Their hearing difficulties mean that even chatting highlights the challenge in restaurants or at family gatherings with in smaller groups A photo including Eddie and Mike I ask the group why they or find joining a large facing many residents with background noise can pose problems and think having the quiet hearing difficulties. Of sometimes it’s just easier to stay at home, even happy hour option is group of people course, as Fran points out, though they welcome the chance to sit and chat important. They tell me that intimidating we’re all different - ‘some of with others. socialising in big groups has us just prefer to socialise in proved difficult for them for a smaller groups or find joining a When I ask what the group means to them, they number of reasons. Some of the large group of people more all talk about it being like a family. Providing members just find it easier in smaller intimidating than others’. companionship, communication and the chance groups as their hearing is not as good as it used to meet and chat with like minded people. It Recognising these needs, Fran started the quiet to be. Others with hearing aids would like to join stops them from becoming anti-social and keeps happy hour group around eight years ago. The in but struggle with background noise also being them connected to friends in the village. membership has changed over the years, but the amplified which means they can’t pick out a Judging by the smiles and camaraderie evident popularity of the group remains. While other ‘It’s so nice to be a part of’ says group member conversation from the mêlée. Nancy Marwood, at Forest Lake Gardens, I say hear! hear! village residents happily socialise in the hall, the Mollie O’Connor, ‘I tried to join in the regular 96 (allegedly the village’s oldest resident, not quiet group grab their drinks, chips and snacks happy hour down in the hall but I just couldn’t

22 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 23 Sport & Recreation 3

1 Hillsborough Heights putt Dannemora Gardens, tournament Highlands, Edgewater & Longford Park Villages got together for a friendly competition of bowls Eileen from Highlands was the winner of the ‘spider round’

1 2

The entire motley crew ready to go

Somervale 4 scooter outing

Michael Leggott Peter Brown

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Kapiti Coast Inter-Village Sports Day

2 Waitekere Gardens Bowls at Henderson A nice game of cards with friends Bob Pardoe, Christian Cullen and Jim White

24 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 25 Mid-Winter Celebrations

Campbell Street Boys provide entertainment with a variety of songs from yesteryear

1 Kapiti Village residents enjoyed a wonderful Winter Solstice dinner with great food, entertainment, and dancing 4 Palmerston North Village

Village Manager Wendy 2 Longford Park Village Duffy welcomes residents, families and Activities Coordinator Tracey friends to the mid-winter Wheeler receives a rose from dinner lead singer Bruce

Anne Haugh and Don McLaughlin are Jean and Colin Miller and a festive hug having a laugh 5 Powley Queen’s Birthday Celebration

Time to celebrate mid-winter All dressed for the party Trevor and Margaret McDougal share a Christmas with all the trimmings laugh with their friend

3

Cheers from Crestwood Village

Colleen Lockey, Patricia Toyne, June Cresswell and Ivy Hutton are Lewis Morson playing the Ken Birt Kath Thacker with Barbara Hibbs-Clark dressed for the season piano dressed as our Social Co-ordinator

26 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 27 habit and keep it trimmed to the right size for your space. Camellias will bloom for weeks 10 tips for your and weeks from early winter and are happy in the sun or shade. As an added bonus, you can pick camellia flowers and enjoy them in a vase winter garden indoors when it’s wild out. 1 Winter is the time to prune your trees and shrubs. Make sure your secateurs and Daphne is another winter-flowering shrub. It’s loppers are clean and sharp to help small habit makes it ideal when you have prevent disease. Cut out any branches that limited space, and its pink and white flowers are dead, dying, damaged or diseased. have a strong and heavenly scent, guaranteed to make you smile. 2 Extend the flowering season of your annuals by regularly snipping off the dead flowers. This will promote new blooms. 3 While it’s cool, plant citrus, blueberries, Colour in the Cold and deciduous fruit trees. There is a great range of dwarf edibles available, ideal for the small garden or pots on the patio. s the weather grows increasingly and planters too. Pansies and violas come in every 4 Now is the time to feed your garden. Apply dreary, it’s lovely to bring pops of colour you can think of – as well as delightful fertilizer and mulch to ensure the best colour into your home to brighten the multicoloured blooms – and will flower repeatedly blooms and healthiest veggies next season. dull days. Fresh flowers are the perfect for months on end with very little attention. Watch the water. Plants in pots on the solution, and flowers that you grow yourself bring 5 A patio can inadvertently get waterlogged if it Primula have frothy heads of white, pink or lilac extra pleasure. and will happily flower in the shade, while rains for several days in a row. Remove the During winter, the garden goes to sleep to recharge saucer under the pot and ensure the water for the season ahead, but there are plenty of plants can drain freely from the hole in the that buck this trend and offer some truly bright bottom. colour in the gloomy days. Many bulbs are a case Take the opportunity to change the potting in point – often people are misled in thinking 6 in your pots and planters. Over time, flowers such as daffodils are a spring blooms, when not only will your plants take all the in actuality, especially in warmer climates, the first nutrients from the soil, but the water of the jonquils are flowering while winter is still in Take a trip to your local garden centre to see retention granules will degrade, and the its infancy. what’s in bloom and what takes your fancy. mix can become home to pests and If you do fancy a few cheery daffs to brighten your You can either buy bigger plants that are diseases. garden, patio, or kitchen, you’re a bit late to plant already in flower for instant impact or opt for Plant strawberries in pots or the garden for bulbs. However, many garden centres, and even smaller seedlings and plant a variety in either 7 some sweet treats in summer. Allow five supermarkets, will sell potted bulbs ready to bloom the garden, a planter, or a big pot, and enjoy plants per person. for weeks on end. It’s a great option – not only do them grow, bud and bloom over the coming they last longer than cut flowers, but at the end of months. primroses and their cousins polyanthus are 8 Potatoes should go in now too. These can the season you can save the bulbs in a paper bag available in bold and stunning colour combinations. be successfully grown in pots on the patio until they’re ready to be potted up or planted out in – talk to the experts at your local garden the garden next autumn for another year of For something a bit different, you may like to plant centre about the right pot to do the job. flowering. ornamental kale – these cabbages are gorgeous in green, white, pink and purple colour combinations, New season roses are in your garden If daffodils aren’t your thing, tulips are another 9 and guaranteed to be a talking point when visitors centre now. Get in early for the best range winter stunner, and hyacinths are a great option pop by. to choose from. that have the bonus of a heavenly scent. These too are readily available, potted up and about to bloom. If you’re after something bigger and more 10 Plan now what you’d like to see flowering permanent, camellias are an excellent option in the in summer. Things like lilies, gladioli, Winter flowering annuals are ideal for bringing garden or a pot. Choose one with a smaller growth dahlias, and tuberous begonias can be colour to your garden and work very well in pots planted from late July.

28 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 29 SHORT SNIPPETS Hillsborough Heights Resident named The girls with several names by SPCA ‘Most Devoted Volunteer’ submitted by their friend at Pinesong Village Hillsborough Heights with receipt and letter resident Valerie Garner folding. In Pinesong we know them as JUNE AND The INFAMOUS TWO left the village armed with has won the ‘Most NANCY, but to our friends around the village they secateurs to trim the vegetation that hangs out “Our department could Devoted Volunteer’ award have other names. In the past year they have over the footpaths & slaps them in the face. This not operate without in the 2019 SPCA Purina become known as THE BIKIES as on fine days gives rule to the next name SNIP & SNAP. Surely Valerie. She can fold and Volunteer Awards after you will find them venturing out on their scooters. the locals must be pleased with their pruning stuff 500 receipts in one clocking up more than programmes? day which is absolutely 2500 volunteer hours. incredible. Valerie is As the first scooter moves along at a good pace it The award is one of six quick, efficient, and has is necessary for number two to keep the other in awards given by SPCA an eye for detail.” sight as they venture further afield. and Purina during Valerie said she began After one very windy night a tree had blown over National Volunteer Week. volunteering because she and blocked the footpath, Nancy managed to The awards celebrate the wanted to help out in the turn around but June had to back up quite a way 5,000 volunteers who best way she could, and before she could turn. Local folk came and tried give their time, talent and because she always to move the tree but to no avail. energy to SPCA across loved animals, she chose its 39 centres and 56 Op Another adventure of these INTREPID TWO was SPCA. on a blustery day and a pharmacy sign had Shops. “I have thoroughly blown down and was being run over, the sign at SPCA Supporter Care enjoyed all the time I have had volunteering at Craigavon Park at the top of Portage Road was the BP station went down too and then a rubbish Administrator Zoe Baikie nominated Valerie for SPCA. Volunteering is well worth your time, as the scene of a bogging when the mud made itself bin joined in the fun. A surprise rain storm then the award. She said Valerie has been part of the you help the animals who can’t speak for known to them and their scooters were a sight to caught them and they arrived home a pair of volunteer team since 2009, assisting the team themselves,” says Valerie. behold. DROWNED RATS. Mondays are stay at home days as the footpaths Having mobility scooters has certainly been a are loaded with rubbish bins making the way hard boon to these ladies - to quote one of them “I to negotiate. never thought that in my 90’s I’d be having so much fun!” Cheryl Sinclair recognised for service to St John’s Ambulance Margaret’s 104th Amazing Greenwood Park resident, Margaret, made it large in the Bay of Plenty Times in July, Starting as a 23 year-old volunteer first-aider with St birthday! featuring on the front page and on their website. John’s Ambulance, Cheryl Sinclair has seen some gory Intrepid traveller Margaret shared fascinating sights in her time but none have deterred her from her memories from her life, including how she turned passion for the service. She was recently recognised by down a career in agriculture to study nursing, St John’s with a certificate for her amazing 55 years of how she learned Arabic, and how she once ate support, working both in the field and more recently at Christmas lunch with the future leader of Kuwait. Middlemore Hospital as a Friend of the Emergency Her advice for the younger generation as she Department. Cheryl has said she intends to keep celebrated her 104th birthday was “Don’t do volunteering as she enjoys it so much. Her amazing anything to the extreme!” Thanks for sharing your achievement also made front page news of the Papakura amazing adventures with us Margaret! Courier. Congratulations on your amazing service record Cheryl.

30 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 31 SERVES 4 • Recipe by Olivia Galletly • Photography by Olivia Galletly Tomato Soup with Super Cheese Toasty Fingers Rich tomato, basil and parmesan soup with crunchy sourdough and cheddar toasty fingers. Soups INGREDIENTS 1 brown onion, diced 1 parmesan rind, roughly 5cm wide Delicious, warming soup 3 cloves of garlic, sliced ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes, optional recipes, perfect for cold 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons of soft brown sugar 1 teaspoon of dried oregano 8 slices of sourdough winter evenings 2 tins of tomatoes 100 grams cheddar cheese 1 cup of chicken or vegetable stock salt 10 large basil leaves, roughly chopped ​freshly ground black pepper

METHOD In a deep dish over a medium heat, fry the onions and garlic in olive oil until soft and golden.

Add the oregano and fry for a further 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low and add the tomatoes, stock, basil, parmesan, chilli flakes and brown sugar. Simmer for 30–45 minutes until reduced and thickened. Either with a regular blender or stick blender, blitz soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Melt a large knob of butter in a cast iron pan over a medium heat. Place a piece of sourdough in the pan and layer with slices of cheese and another piece of bread. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Continue Do you have a winning winter soup recipe? with remaining toasties. Cut into fingers just before serving. Share it with More in Store readers and your soup could feature in our next issue as well as scoring you a special prize. Send your winter soup recipes to [email protected]

32 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 *For more recipes visit dish.co.nz metlifecare.co.nz 33 SERVES 4-6 • Recipe by Claire Aldous * Photography by Aaron McLean * From issue #49 SERVES 4 • Recipe by Claire Aldous • Photography by Aaron McLean • From issue #49 Ham hock and Grilled Cheese, Onion Vegetable Soup and Ale Soup This is a soup I grew up with and have always enjoyed. The fabulous aromas of the smoked hocks A twist on a great classic, the apple adds sweetness and balances the slight bitterness that beer can simmering away are still just as enticing and result in a light but full flavoured stock. sometimes impart. Use a good quality beef stock for a rich, dark soup packed with onions and topped with delicious melting cheese. INGREDIENTS TO FINISH 8 small pickling onions or shallots INGREDIENTS 2 smoked ham hocks 6 large brown onions, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard TO ASSEMBLE ½ cup pearl barley, rinsed and drained 1 onion, halved peeled and sliced 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce slices sourdough bread, 3 cloves garlic, peeled 2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped 2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1 tablespoon brown sugar lightly toasted 2 teaspoons finely 2 tablespoons plain flour 150 grams grated Gruyère cheese 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns 2 cups roughly chopped Savoy cabbage chopped rosemary 1 cup light ale 4 ovenproof soup bowls 1 carrot, roughly chopped 1 cup frozen peas 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 cups beef stock small handful chopped flat-leaf parsley ½ teaspoon sea salt 2 tablespoons butter sea salt and freshly ground pepper sea salt and freshly ground pepper 3 cloves garlic, crushed

METHOD METHOD Slash the skin of the hocks in 3 places Heat the oil and butter in a large with a sharp knife. Put the hocks, saucepan and add the onions, apples onion, garlic, peppercorns, carrot and and rosemary with a good pinch of salt in a large saucepan and add 12 salt. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, cups of cold water or more if needed stirring occasionally and adding a to cover by 3 cm. Bring to the boil splash of the ale if the onions start then simmer gently, half covered with catching on the base of the pan. the lid for 2½ - 3 hours until the meat is Uncover and cook for a further 15 very tender. minutes until a good golden colour. Stir in the garlic, mustard, Remove the hocks and strain the stock Worcestershire sauce and the sugar into a clean saucepan, discarding the then sprinkle over the flour and cook vegetables. Taste and season with salt for 1 minute. Gradually add the and pepper until well flavoured. remaining ale then the stock and Pull the meat off the bone and remove season. Simmer for 20 minutes. all the fat and skin. Shred into bite- Preheat the grill to its highest setting. sized pieces. To assemble: Place the bowls on a To finish: Peel the onions, leaving the baking tray and ladle in the hot soup. root end intact. Halve through the root Top with the bread then scatter over if large. Return the meat to the soup the cheese. Place under the grill and with the onions, pearl barley and cook until the cheese is bubbling and carrots and simmer for 30 minutes golden. until tender. Add the cabbage and peas and cook for a few minutes until the cabbage is just tender. Stir in the parsley.

To serve: Divide the meat and vegetables between shallow soup bowls and ladle over the hot soup.

34 MORE IN STORE | December 2018 metlifecare.co.nz 35 SERVES 4-6 • Recipe by Claire Aldous • Photography by Jessie Casson • From issue #66 Apple Cobbler Tender, juicy apples get topped with soft pillows of cinnamon and orange-scented scone dough. A perfect pudding for cooler autumn evenings.

INGREDIENTS FILLING 1 kilogram apples (I used Braeburn) ¼ cup caster sugar ¾ teaspoon ground mixed spice ½ cup sultanas zest and juice 1 lemon 3 tablespoons water

COBBLER 1⅓ cups plain flour 1¼ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon pinch sea salt ½ cup caster sugar finely grated zest ½ an orange 60 grams cold butter, diced 1 large egg 2 tablespoons milk

TO FINISH 1 tablespoon milk ¼ cup sliced almonds 1 tablespoon caster sugar 26cm ceramic pie or baking dish

METHOD Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake. Filling: Peel, quarter and core the apples then slice 1cm thick. Place in the baking dish and add all of the remaining filling ingredients and toss together. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once. Set aside. Cobbler: Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, sugar and the orange zest in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles small crumbs. Stir the egg and milk together and pour over the top of the dry ingredients then mix together to form a soft dough. To finish: Dot the dough over the top of the apples then brush with milk. Sprinkle over the almonds then the caster sugar. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the cobbler topping is golden and cooked through. Serve hot with cream, custard or ice cream.