Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected
The Wallsend Wrap-Up
Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected.
Autumn
Contents
Message from Facility Manager, Bronwyn Message from Lifestyle Coordinator, Mandy
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4
Community Happenings
5 - 7
Message from the Clinical Team, Colleen
8 9
Meet the Team, Paul
Chefs Corner, Vincent
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Meet the Resident, James (Jim)
11 - 12
Quality Corner, Lee Autumn Highlights
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14 - 16
Noticeboard
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Games Corner
18 - 19
Games Corner answers
20 - 21
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Bronwyn
Facility Manager
Autumn is a busy and special season for our residents. We celebrate Easter and Mother’s Day, enjoy beautiful seasonal artwork, and spend time appreciating our wonderful back garden. The end of daylight savings also brings a welcome change to our daily routines.
One of the reasons I love autumn as a Facility Manager in residential aged care is the beautiful weather. The days are mild and pleasant, while the evenings become cooler and more comfortable. The autumn leaves create a stunning display of colour throughout our grounds. In our courtyard, the main trees begin to lose their leaves, no longer needing to shield us from the intense summer sun. Instead, the sunshine is able to filter through, providing warmth and comfort for residents to enjoy each day. Autumn encourages everyone to spend more time outdoors. Our residents can sit, socialise, wander through the gardens, and enjoy the fresh air without the discomfort of hot temperatures. We no longer need to seek refuge in air-conditioned rooms and can make the most of our beautiful outdoor spaces. On a personal level, autumn allows me to spend longer hours outside with my horses, enjoying rides in the sunshine and cooler weather. Most of all, I enjoy watching the smiling faces of our residents as they relax outdoors, connect with nature, and enjoy everything this wonderful season has to offer. Autumn is truly a season of comfort, beauty, and enjoyment for everyone in our home.
Bronwyn Facility Manager
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Message from Lifestyle Mandy
Wow, where has the last three months gone? It has been a busy and joy filled few months here at Wallsend Manor, filled with music, laughter, community outings and plenty of celebrations along the way.
March kicked off with Ken and his ukulele, followed by our residents’ firm favourite, the ice cream social. We celebrated St Patrick’s Day with coin toss and leprechaun hat knockdown, enjoyed a lovely lunch at the 3 Sicilians at Stockton RSL, and crowned Ken Price our putt-putt golf champion and John Thompson our new Big Pong champion. We also got creative with Easter craft and an Easter paint and sip session. April was just as lively, with bus outings to Bunnings, the beach, plane watching at Williamtown, and Donut King for a sweet treat. We marked Easter with a themed happy hour, and our wonderful volunteer Trevor visited with Easter eggs for everyone, which meant so much to us all. We reminisced at Floats and Tunes and our milkshake social, cast our votes for local mayor, and enjoyed a midweek concert from the beautifully voiced Connor Wink. Our first cooking club put the new air fryer to work with a scrumptious homemade damper, Margaret Holding claimed her third Big Pong title of the year, and we celebrated our Facebook page reaching 1000 followers. We also paused to reflect, with a meaningful Good Friday service and a beautiful Anzac commemorative service featuring Byron Dodd on the bagpipes, supported by Cardiff RSL sub branch. May brought Cinco de Mayo celebrations, a beautiful Mother’s Day happy hour, and a bus trip to Anna Bay to take in the camels and beaches. We celebrated our wonderful nurses on International Nurses Day, made new friends on our first intergenerational outing to a local pre-school, and enjoyed entertainment from the Wangi Singers, Grace and Bob, and the talented Wayne Rogers. An ice cream trolley brightened a gloomy day, Christine Sewell was crowned our new bugling champion, and Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea gave us cake, a good cuppa and great conversation before we danced along to the Newcastle 50s Rock and Roll group. It has been a truly memorable three months at Wallsend Manor, and we can’t wait to share what’s still to come. Mandy Lifestyle Coordinator
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Community Happenings Autumn We have had a wonderful autumn at Wallsend Manor, and there has been no shortage of moments worth celebrating. Friendly competition and new faces One of the early highlights of the season was our Big Pong championship, which brought out the competitive spirit in all of us. We are so pleased to congratulate John on taking out the title - well deserved. Around the same time, we were thrilled to welcome Billy, a volunteer hairdresser with a truly impressive portfolio. Billy came in during happy hour and gave a few of our gentlemen a makeover that left everyone amazed. We are very much looking forward to having him back regularly. Easter and acts of kindness Easter brought some beautiful moments. A very special thank you goes to Trevor, who arrived with Easter eggs and handed them out to residents with such warmth and generosity. It was one of those simple gestures that reminded us how lucky we are to have people like Trevor in our community. We also enjoyed biscuit baking and indulged in milk arrowroot biscuits loaded with all the good extras - some things never get old.
Community Happenings Autumn
Getting out and about Autumn gave us plenty of excuses to head out, and we made the most of every one of them. A short trip to Donut King at Wallsend Plaza turned into a wonderfully indulgent sugar rush that had everyone smiling. We also made our way to Fletcher Coffee Hub, where the staff made our residents feel especially welcome over exceptional coffee and a delicious snack. Getting out together, even for a short while, always does everyone the world of good.
Anzac Day Our Anzac Day service was a truly moving occasion. We gathered to honour and remember those who served, and we are grateful to everyone who attended and made the day what it was. Lest we forget. A fiesta to remember May brought one of the most talked-about afternoons of the season. We transformed the Manor into a vibrant Mexican fiesta, with colourful decorations, delicious food, and refreshing margaritas for all the amigos and senoritas in the room. It was one of those afternoons where the energy in the room was simply infectious, and everyone left with a smile.
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Community Happenings ASumtumenr Hot chips and happy moments
We put the air fryer to very good use with a batch of freshly made hot chips and crispy bread rolls, which went down an absolute treat. It is the simple things that often bring the most pleasure, and this was no exception. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea We came together for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and dressed the Manor in blue and yellow to show our support. Between our on-the- day donations and online contributions, we proudly raised $150 for a truly worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make the event such a success. One week in May had it all. We celebrated International Nurses Day, visited a local preschool, and were treated to captivating performances by the Wangi Singers. Wayne Rogers kept happy hour lively, ice creams were very well received, and Lindy brought along her guide dogs in training, Ike and Zora. What a season it has been. We look forward to everything winter has in store for us.
Message from the Clinical Team Colleen As we move into the winter months, our focus shifts to preventing and managing seasonal illnesses, particularly respiratory infections such as influenza and COVID 19. It is essential that all staff and visitors remain vigilant with infection prevention and control practices, including hand hygiene, correct
use of PPE when required, and monitoring residents for early signs of illness. If you are feeling unwell or different then usual we ask that you do not visit the facility whilst acutely unwell to reduce the spread to our residents and our staff. Please be aware that quarantine measures may be required to reduce the spread of infection. This is a Public Health requirement and may include the closure of communities if more than two residents develop acute respiratory illness within a 72-hour period. We will also continue to support staff education around resident choice and the delivery of meaningful activities, ensuring care remains person- centred and enhances quality of life. Maintaining resident comfort remains a priority, including ensuring residents are kept warm, well hydrated, and well nourished, while also supporting mobility to promote overall wellbeing and reduce risks such as skin breakdown and deconditioning. Kind regards Colleen Clinical Care Co-Ordinator
Paul If you ever hear a good laugh echoing through the halls at Wallsend Manor chances are Paul is nearby. Easy going, down to earth and always up for a chat. Paul has been part of the team for a year and a half and says the residents are the reason he enjoys coming to work each day “They make my day,” he says with a smile. Before joining Wallsend Manor Paul worked as a foreman bricklayer, a job that kept him busy and active for many years. These days when he’s not at work he enjoys spending time with his family, heading out
Meet the Team
for a game of golf or jumping on a motorbike or dirt bike for a ride. Paul has always loved the thrill of riding although it hasn’t come without a few battle scars. While attempting a jump at Redhead he tore ligaments in both ankles, a story he can now look back on with a laugh. Paul also enjoys travelling and has made plenty of memories over the years. He has visited Bali, Samoa, Vietnam and Airlie Beach although his trip to Airlie Beach became extra memorable when he ended up stuck there during a cyclone. Out of all the places he’s travelled, Vietnam stands out as somewhere he would happily visit again. One destination still sitting high on his bucket list is Hawaii. He’s also been on cruise ships over the years although Paul reckons they’re “not as good as they used to be.” Still, whether he’s travelling overseas, riding dirt bikes, enjoying a cold beer or sharing a laugh with the residents and staff, Paul is someone who enjoys life and the people around him. At the heart of it all, Paul is simply a good bloke, the kind of person who enjoys a laugh, values family and friendships and brings a relaxed, cheerful presence wherever he goes.
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Chef’s Corner I would like to take a moment to say thank you for the wonderful support and feedback you continue to give to the kitchen team. Vincent
Silverbeet, fennel and ricotta cannelloni 700g btl Tomato Passata 1 cup vegetable stock 1/2 cup pure cream 1 bunch silverbeet 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 small brown onion, finely chopped 2 baby fennel, trimmed, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 500g fresh ricotta 250g cannelloni 1 cup mozzarella , grated 1/2 x 150g tub baby bocconcini, drained, torn in half 150g salad leaves
Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Grease a 7cm-deep, 25cm x 32cm (base) ovenproof dish. Combine passata, stock and cream in a large jug. Pour half the passata mixture into the base of prepared dish. Spread to cover. Remove and discard stalks from silverbeet. Finely chop leaves. Heat oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add onion and fennel. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in silverbeet and garlic. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until silverbeet has wilted and fennel is almost soft. Remove pan from heat. Set aside for 1 hour to cool. Add ricotta to cooled silverbeet mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon ricotta mixture loosely into cannelloni tubes. Place filled cannelloni, in a single layer, in baking dish. Spoon over remaining passata mixture. Top with grated mozzarella and bocconcini. Bake for 30 minutes or until top is golden and pasta is tender. Stand for 10 minutes. Serve with salad leaves.
Meet the Resident
James (Jim)
Jim was born in 1936 in the front bedroom of his family home in Sandgate beginning a life shaped by strong family ties, hard work, and a love of simple pleasures. At the age of 9 he experienced the loss of his mother who passed away at just 45 years of age. Despite this early hardship. Jim grew up surrounded by family and community, forming memories that have stayed with him throughout his life. He was one of six siblings—three brothers and two sisters and spent his childhood in Tarro near the pipeline, a place he remembers fondly. One of his strongest memories from those years is of neighbours and passers-by often stopping in for tea and sandwiches with his mother warmly welcoming them into the home. It reflects the open, friendly nature of the time and the sense of community he grew up with. Jim also has a special memory of learning to play the piano. Without formal lessons he taught himself by listening and playing by ear. He recalls that on Sundays the family would often sing songs together at home creating a lively musical atmosphere. His eldest brother played the violin, his mother and sister played the piano where Jim first learned to pick up his own skills and his father even played the saw which always brought a bit of humour and fun to their family music sessions. Music became something he enjoyed in his own way, and one of the pieces that stayed with him was “Way Down Beyond the Swan River” a song he remembers fondly from those times.
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Meet the Resident Jim attended East Maitland School until 3rd class before transferring to a small Catholic school in Tarro that had just two classrooms. He later continued his education at Marist Brothers High School. In his second year of high school, he left to begin an apprenticeship at the Cardiff railway workshops, where he trained as a fitter and machinist for five years. During his final year of apprenticeship, he also began national service training. Following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Jim joined the army after completing his training as an electrical engineer. He first went to sea on 25 January 1958. Jim later married his beloved wife Anne and together they built a loving family with four children Tony, Maria, Joanne, and Terry. His family has always been the centre of his life and one of his greatest sources of pride. Jim is known for his easy-going nature, dry sense of humour and his ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Over the years, Jim has enjoyed the simple things in life: a horse race, a good political discussion, and a stout beer but nothing, as he’ll tell you, compares to a hot cup of tea. Jim prefers to make his own as in his opinion no one else quite makes it correctly. He also enjoys getting out for lunch or dinner and having a little punt now and then. Reading has been a long-time interest, particularly Australian history, military stories, and comics such as Footrot Flats. His favourite films include The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and The Shawshank Redemption. He still enjoys a good walk, often remarking with a smile, “even if the legs ain’t what they used to be.” Ice cream remains another simple pleasure he never turns down. Whether it’s a cone or a scoop in a bowl, it has always been one of life’s small joys for him. Today Jim continues to enjoy life at his own pace keeping up with current events, sharing stories from the past and enjoying the small things that have always mattered most to him. James (Jim)
Quality Corner
Lee
Winter Vaccinations Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against serious illness caused by respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19 and RSV. These illnesses can be severe in otherwise healthy people. In Australia, RSV and influenza seasons can start as early as March, with activity usually peaking between June
and September. Receiving the vaccination before winter gives you the best protection during this high risk period. Please speak with a member of staff for more information regarding the vaccination clinics. Code of Conduct for Aged Care The Code of Conduct for Aged Care describes how aged care providers and the people providing your care must behave and how you should be treated. People who provide care, supporters and services in the aged care sector must: a. act with respect for people’s rights to freedom of expression, self- determination and decision-making in accordance with applicable laws and conventions b. act in a way that treats people with dignity and respect, and values their diversity c. act with respect for the privacy of people d. provide care, supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill e. act with integrity, honesty and transparency f. promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of care, supports and services g. provide care, supports and services free from: (i) all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse (ii) sexual misconduct h. take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to: (i) all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse (ii) sexual misconduct. The Code applies to approved providers of residential, home care and flexible care funded by the Australian Government, as well as aged care workers and governing persons of approved providers. An introductory video is available to give older people, their representatives, families and registered supporters an overview of the Aged Care Code of Conduct. View it here. https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/resource-library/aged-care- code-conduct-introductory-video-older-people Kind regards, Lee State Quality Manager
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Autumn Highlights
March 2026
What a busy month it was. We kicked things off with a Big Pong championship that had everyone cheering, and we are so pleased to congratulate John on taking out the title. Well done, John. We were thrilled to welcome Billy, a truly talented volunteer hairdresser who kindly gave a few of our gentlemen a makeover during happy hour. The results were impressive, and we are very much looking forward to having him back. We also enjoyed a wonderful week of activities that included exercise sessions, a birthday celebration, and more of Billy’s expert handiwork. A big thank you to Trevor, who brought in Easter eggs and handed them out to residents with such warmth and generosity. It was a beautiful gesture and put smiles on so many faces. We rounded out the month with biscuit baking and a little indulgence in the form of milk arrowroot biscuits loaded with all the good extras. Some things just never get old.
Autumn Highlights
April 2026
April was a full and meaningful month for all of us. We started with a sweet Easter outing to Donut King at Wallsend Plaza, which turned into a very enjoyable sugar rush. There was art in the morning, a wonderful performance by Connor to close out the day, and a trip to Fletcher Coffee Hub that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Our Anzac Day service was a truly special occasion. We gathered together to honour and remember those who served, and we are grateful to everyone who attended and made the day what it was. Lest we forget. We also celebrated our April birthday residents at a happy hour that had us listening to the vintage record player and singing along to all the great older tunes. Time really does fly when the afternoon is that good.
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Autumn Highlights May 2026 May brought some real highlights. We hosted a Fiesta afternoon that was colourful, lively, and absolutely delicious, with Mexican food and margaritas enjoyed by all the amigos and senoritas in the room. We fired up the air fryer for a batch of hot chips and fresh crispy bread rolls, and it is fair to say that went down extremely well. A highlight of the month was Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. We dressed the Manor in blue and yellow and came together to raise $150 for a truly worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who attended and donated so generously. The week of 15 May was one of the busiest and best, with International Nurses Day celebrations, a birthday, a trip to a preschool, performances by the Wangi Singers, a lively happy hour with Wayne Rogers, ice creams, and a very special visit from Lindy and her guide dogs in training, Ike and Zora.
Noticeboard
In Memoriam We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our late residents. Every cherished member of our community who leaves us, is sadly missed and fondly remembered.
Library Service We have library service that picks up and delivers library books to residents’ rooms. If you would like to use this service, please speak to one of our friendly team members. Physiotherapy We have an excellent physiotherapy team on site. If you would like to book in to see one of a lovely physios, please ask a friendly staff member at reception.
A very warm welcome to our new residents. This Autumn we have had the pleasure of welcoming new faces to our community and what a wonderful addition you’ve all been! If you have any questions or need assistance settling in, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Hairdresser Katrina visits us every Thursday. Please book at reception.
We are here for you If you’d like more information on the above services, please contact the Lifestyle team.
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Games Corner 1
www.qualityaging.com.au
Games Corner 2
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Games Corner Answers 1
www.qualityaging.com.au
Games Corner Answers 2
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Stay tuned for Winter
Thank you We would like to issue a heartfelt thank you to relatives and volunteers who support us day in and day out. You make such a difference and we very much appreciate your time and energy. Can you contribute? Contributions to our newsletter are encouaged and appreciated. Articles, photos, reports on community outings, staff news, trivia, poems and stories relating to residents and staff are most welcome. Please hand in your submission to reception.
8 McNaughton Avenue, Wallsend NSW 2287 02 4038 1800 wallsendmanor.com.au
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