Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected
The Wallsend Wrap-Up
Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected.
Summer
Contents
Message from Facility Manager, Bronwyn
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Community Happenings
4 - 7
Message from the Clinical Team, Colleen
8 9
Meet the Team, Nav
Chefs Corner, Vincent Meet the Resident, Jan Quality Corner, Lee Summer Highlights
10
11
12
13 - 15
Noticeboard
16
Games Corner
17 - 18
Games Corner answers
19 - 20
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Bronwyn
Facility Manager
Hi everyone, As we look back on the past three months, I wanted to share a brief reflection on the wonderful moments we’ve experienced together throughout summer.
From the hot summer breezes and long, easy afternoons, our residents made the most of the sunshine — sharing stories, laughter, and the occasional happy tear during our outdoor gatherings. Those warm days set the tone for a year filled with connection and community spirit. Christmas was a highlight in its own right — full of joy, good food, and festive energy. Our resident Christmas choir truly shone, filling the space with music that brought everyone together. And of course, Santa’s surprises added that extra spark of magic that made the season feel complete. Australia Day bought the roar of the bikes to town, and our residents managed to get up close and personal with some wonderfully prepared Harley Motorcycles. A thank you to the Hunter Riders for putting on a wonderful show. Our St Patrick’s Day celebrations brought out the luck of the Irish in full force, with plenty of green, plenty of smiles, and more than a few memorable moments that reminded us how much joy themed days can bring. Through every event, big or small, it’s been a privilege to see our residents enjoy these experiences with such enthusiasm. The laughter, the shared meals, the music, and even the quiet moments of reflection have all shaped a summer worth celebrating. Looking ahead, I’m excited for the seasons to come and the memories we’ll continue to create together.
Bronwyn Facility Manager
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Community Happenings Summer Carols by Candlelight December gave us one of those evenings you don’t forget. The Maitland Musical Society arrived to lead Carols by Candlelight, and what started as a scheduled event became something genuinely moving. As darkness fell and candles flickered, our voices joined with staff and families in songs we’ve sung for decades. There’s something about candlelight and familiar carols that strips away everything unnecessary, leaving just the essence of Christmas. The beauty of the night stayed with us long after the final notes faded.
Creative Milestones Two significant achievements marked our summer. First, our Choir stepped onto a public stage for the very first time. The nervousness beforehand, the focus during, the relief and pride afterward—these emotions made the performance memorable beyond the music itself. Watching each other support one another through this milestone reminded us what community truly means.
Then “Flood’n’Drought” Station returned with Episode 2. Our radio drama isn’t just entertainment we consume; it’s storytelling we create together.
Community Happenings Summer
Christmas Feast Chef Vincent and his team outdid themselves for our Christmas celebration. The meal wasn’t just good—it was exceptional in ways that honoured the occasion. When our care staff, cleaners, laundry team, maintenance crew, and those wonderfully colourful Lifestyle personalities all came together to create this day, their combined efforts produced something that felt less like an event and more like genuine celebration. The photographs capture smiles and moments, but they can’t quite convey the warmth that filled the room.
Neighbourhood Lights Driving through decorated streets became our December tradition. What makes these trips special isn’t just seeing elaborate displays— though those certainly impress. It’s pointing out favourites to each other, debating which house went furthest, remembering our own decorating efforts from years past. Each outing builds its own memories whilst triggering older ones. Unexpected Joy Hunter Riders brought their bikes, and suddenly we were exploring motorcycles up close, learning about models and mechanics, seeing the enthusiasm of riders who love their machines. These spontaneous visits often mean more than carefully planned activities because they surprise us, shake up routine, introduce something completely different into our days. Australia Day Larrikin Spirit
Margaret became our thong tossing champion, and honestly, we’re still laughing about it. The competition embodied everything Australia Day should be: casual, ridiculous, inclusive, and thoroughly enjoyable. No pretension, no formality—just Australians having a good time together.
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Community Happenings Summer Art on Display
Creating ‘Sunflowers’ together was satisfying. Seeing it accepted into the Newcastle Show felt validating. Not winning didn’t diminish our pride one bit. Our collaborative artwork stood alongside other entries in a juried exhibition. We contributed to Newcastle’s cultural landscape. That matters more than any ribbon.
Active Summer When the volleyball net went up, the response exceeded expectations. Energy, competition, laughter, and that particular satisfaction of good- natured athletic rivalry filled the afternoon. Some discovered abilities they’d forgotten they had. Others simply enjoyed spectating and cheering. Both forms of participation made the event successful. Sweet Traditions Valentine’s approached, so we made sugar cookies with fondant. The boss getting hers early became an ongoing joke that added humour to the whole process. Sometimes the banter surrounding an activity proves more valuable than the activity itself. Community Connections Wallsend Diggers welcomed us for lunch. Familiar venue, quality food, but really, it was the company that made it special. Being out in our local community, in a place many of us have visited for years, reinforced that we remain part of Newcastle, not separate from it.
Community Happenings Summer
Wildlife Encounter A yellow-faced whip snake appeared, causing exactly the mix of excitement and caution you’d expect. Staff managed the situation perfectly—keeping everyone safe whilst allowing those curious enough to observe an Australian native up close. Years from now, “remember the snake?” will still get knowing smiles. Summer’s Essence Our summer wove together performances and parties, creativity and competition, planned celebrations and unexpected wildlife, quiet traditions and public achievements. Carols by candlelight and radio dramas, choir debuts and Christmas feasts, motorcycle visits and artwork exhibitions, thong tossing competitions and snake encounters— each experience added texture to our season, creating summer that felt genuinely lived rather than simply scheduled.
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Message from the Clinical Team Colleen
Over the past quarter, our clinical team has continued to prioritise resident safety, wellbeing, and quality care through consistent monitoring, review, and improvement of key clinical indicators. Falls, pressure injuries, wound care, medication safety, and infection control have remained core
areas of focus. Our data shows patterns typical for the season, including minor fluctuations in fall numbers, stable low prevalence of pressure injuries, and steady wound healing progress across the home, with most wounds demonstrating improvement or complete resolution. Infection numbers have decreased in recent months, supported by timely assessment, antimicrobial stewardship, and preventative strategies. Medication management also continues to improve, with reduced incident numbers and strengthened adherence to safe administration processes. As we transition into Autumn, our clinical focus turns to proactive seasonal care. Cooler weather often brings increased risks such as skin dryness, reduced mobility, and changes in appetite, so our teams will be placing additional emphasis on hydration support, skin integrity monitoring, and early identification of respiratory illnesses. We will continue strengthening falls prevention strategies across all units, ensuring regular safety checks, clear pathways, and tailored mobility support for residents who need it. Influenza vaccination readiness remains a priority, with high uptake anticipated again this year as part of our seasonal wellness planning. We appreciate the teamwork across our nursing, lifestyle, and Physio, who all work together every day to support safe, person centred clinical care. As always, we remain committed to continuous improvement and ensuring every resident experiences comfort, dignity, and quality outcomes throughout the Autumn months ahead. Colleen Clinical Care Co-Ordinator
Meet the Team Nav Nav has been at Wallsend Manor for more than four years and says it feels like a second home to her. She appreciates the strong connections between staff and residents. What Nav enjoys most about her role is building relationships with residents. She loves the conversations and the sense of community. Nav shared that when she’s had a few days off residents are always so happy to see her return and have something to share which makes her feel like she’s coming home the moment she walks through the doors. Nav can often been seen having a laugh with residents in the corridors. Outside of work, Nav loves cooking and spending quality time with her son. Nav would love to travel more and says there are so many places she’d like to see with Greece at the top of her list after seeing so many beautiful pictures especially Santorini. We’re so lucky to have Nav as part of our team, and we appreciate the warmth and care she brings to residents every day.
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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. It truly means a lot to us and helps guide what we create each day. Vincent
Sausage Rolls 1kg pork mince 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large brown onion, grated 1 large carrot, grated 1 ½ tablespoons dried Italian herb mix 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 3 eggs 3 sheets frozen ready-rolled puff pastry,
partially thawed (see tip) 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1. Preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced. Grease 2 large baking trays lined with baking paper.
2. Combine oil and onion in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a sheet of damp paper towel. Microwave for 2 minutes on High/100%. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes. 3. Combine pork mince, carrot, dried herbs, breadcrumbs, 2 eggs and cooled onion mixture in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Using clean hands, mix thoroughly until well combined. Divide pork mixture into 6 equal portions. 4. Whisk the remaining egg with a fork. Lay pastry sheets onto a work surface and cut each in half. 5. Using one portion of pork mixture, spread into a long sausage shape along the long edge of one halved pastry sheet. Brush the opposite long edge with beaten egg. Roll up pastry to enclose the pork mixture, pressing the edges together to seal. Repeat using remaining pork and pastry. 6. Brush sausage rolls with beaten egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and cut each into 6. Place sausage rolls, seam-side down with a little space between each one, onto the prepared trays. 7. Bake for 38-40 minutes, swapping the trays in the oven after 25 minutes, or until golden and puffed. Serve with tomato sauce. It’s easier to work with pastry when its partially thawed, just make sure it’s completely thawed before you start cooking. The sausage rolls freeze well, cooked or uncooked in airtight containers or bags, for up to 3 months.
Meet the Resident
Jan
Jan is a quiet, modest woman who enjoys her own company and truth be told, she’s quite content keeping it that way. When asked if she’d like to be featured in “Meet the Resident,” she quickly replied, “I’m sure there’s more interesting people.” But as it turns out, Jan’s story has plenty to smile about. Before mastering the fine art of doing very little (which she insists she has well and truly earned), Jan worked at Whittaker’s Jewellers. Not long after, she married her husband Ron, and together they built a life full of hard work, running Carmen’s Bake House in Mayfield. Their pastry business became well known, especially for supplying local schools—keeping plenty of kids (and likely teachers) very happy over the years.
Jan’s greatest pride is her family. She has four children, who she lovingly describes as “bloody buggers”—a title given with equal parts honesty and affection. These days, the family has grown to include eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with one more arriving very soon. Around the family, she’s best known by her much-loved nickname, “Nana Dangles” a name that certainly sparks curiosity! Life was never quiet in Jan’s earlier years. She fondly recalls there always being kids around, and alongside Ron, she was heavily involved in the local soccer club. Ron coached while Jan helped out, and together they travelled with the team as far as Malaysia and Singapore—no small adventure! These days, Jan prefers a slower pace but still enjoys a good chat—especially when someone pops in for a visit. While she may seem reserved at first, she has a warm and quietly cheeky sense of humour. She’s also a proud creature of habit, sticking to what she knows and loves—particularly her favourite dinner of a cheese toastie and custard. Why mess with perfection? Jan speaks warmly about life at the manor, saying she feels well looked after and completely content. She often shares how wonderful the staff are and says she has no problems at all. When reflecting on her life, Jan puts it simply: “I’ve been lucky to have the
friends and family I have.” And it’s clear she truly has.
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Quality Corner
Lee
Influenza Vaccines Influenza (flu) is a common viral illness that affects people of all ages. While symptoms may be mild for some, influenza can cause serious illness and may lead to hospitalisation—even in otherwise healthy people.
The safest and most effective way to protect yourself and others is to receive an influenza vaccination each year from a health professional. The flu virus changes regularly, so the vaccine is updated annually, which is why yearly vaccination is important. The type of vaccine recommended depends on your age and health needs, and your GP can advise which option is right for you. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone aged six months and over. Receiving a vaccination not only helps protect you—it also helps protect your family, friends, and the wider community. For more information on vaccinations, please see a friendly member of the care team. Do you know about PainChek? Within our homes, we use the PainChek system, a clinically validated digital pain assessment tool. Using AI technology to support a modern pain assessment framework PainChek will identify the presence of pain even when it’s not obvious. PainChek is fast and easy to use. Using a smart device, the device’s camera looks at the person’s face then analyses the images using AI driven facial recognition. PainChek analyses facial expressions and facial muscle movements in real time and combines this information with observations of behaviour, body movements, and vocalisations to generate an objective pain score. This information calculates an overall pain score and stores the result. This outcome forms the evidence base supporting the implementation of pain management interventions, and for the ongoing monitoring of their effectiveness over time. This approach supports the early identification of pain, more consistent assessments, and improved pain management. By enabling accurate and timely pain recognition, PainChek helps care teams deliver safer, more consistent, and person‑centred care. All assessments are stored securely, allowing for trend monitoring and shared clinical insights to support ongoing care planning. Kind regards, Lee State Quality Manager
Summer Highlights
December 2025
What a month December was, we were blessed to have little vines playgroup come and perform for us, singing our favourite Christmas songs and teaching us new ones. We wrote christmas cards for our loved ones, enjoyed bingo with a christmas twist and the lifestyle team dressing up for the occasion. Our Christmas party was the place to be with Wayne Rogers entertaining us and then “Santa” (thanks Cal) making a special appearance before the big day. A huge thanks to staff, volunteers and family for making it a fantastic day. The Christmas joy didn’t stop there. We had a visit from The “Maryland Santa”, Mrs Claus and their helpers, we enjoyed the hillman minx car almost as much as the sweets the Clauses spoiled us with. We were lucky to be able to visit Wayne Rogers and his friends Flamingos for a Christmas spectacular which had us singing and laughing long after we left. Our reindeer games were fun and had us all laughing. We enjoyed bus trips to see Christmas lights and reminiscing about the lights or lack of that we use to put up. Our Christmas lunch was a feast and we were all stuffed. Our chef and his team went above and beyond. We finished the year with a very happy, new years happy hour.
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Summer Highlights January 2026 We jumped into January with our favourite activities such as noodle hockey, basketball and table bobs. We kept hydrated through the heat with milkshakes and chats. We headed out to wallsend diggers for a scrumptious lunch with great conversation and company. The lifestyle team kept us cool with visits from Mrs Whippy- ice cream on wheels. Our residence took turns in running the exercise classes, which wore the lifestyle team out. We celebrated Australia Day with Harley Davidsons group “Hunter riders” roaring into the carpark and getting up close and chatting with the group members. Then it was time for some serious “Thong tossing” which had us all in hysterics and saw Margaret Algi crowned the “ Thong tossing Queen”. Well done! January saw us unveil our art project “The fish tank” which was another masterpiece by our Art group. Big pong monthly tournament took place and we had a new winner- Margaret Holding was declared the big pong champion and gave her full bragging rights, she even took her trophy to lunch to show it off! We ended our month with volleyball fun that had staff and visitors stopping in their tracks to watch the skills of our residents. January was jam packed full of competitiveness and laughter.
Summer Highlights
February 2026
Fun times were had in February with outings to Wallsend diggers and the hunter wetlands. We celebrated Valentine’s day by making yummy cookies and enjoyed eating them with a cuppa and chat. We buttered up the boss by making her one with extra love. High tea was a love theme with yummy sandwiches, cake, tea, coffee, champagne and of course sweet talk. We were entertained by Dan Arvidson and his magical voice, the entertainment didn’t stop there though our amazing volunteers Grace, Rosie and Bob sung us some wonderful hymns which we enjoyed singing along to as well. We love singing and enjoyed singalongs and choir too. Our Choir was in full force. February was full of fun and love and boy did we love our ice cream sodas that the lifestyle team whipped up. It took us back to times in our lives where we would go out with friends and buy them for “next to nothing”.
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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 Summer 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 Kristy visits us every Tuesday. Please book at reception.
We are here for you If you’d like more information on the above services, please contact the Lifestyle team.
Games Corner
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Games Corner 2
Games Corner Answers 1
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Games Corner Answers 2
Stay tuned for Autumn
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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