Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected
Celebrating community, capturing stories and keeping connected. The Kewarra Kaleidoscope
Summer
Contents
Message from Facility Manager, Laura Message from Lifestyle Coordinator, Lisa
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Community Happenings 5 - 7 Message from Clinical Care Coordinator, Kathryn 8 Meet the Team, Shem B 9 Chefs Corner, Carsten 10 - 11 Meet the Resident, Denise S 12 Quality Corner, Janet 13 Summer Highlights 14 - 16 Noticeboard 17 Games Corner 18 - 19 Games Corner answers 20 - 21
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Laura
Facility Manager
Dear Residents, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for helping to make our community such a welcoming and pleasant place to live.
It’s always encouraging to see residents looking out for one another and taking pride in our shared spaces. I am pleased to share that our recent visit from the Commission was a great success. The visit reflected the hard work and dedication of our staff, along with the cooperation and support of our residents. This positive outcome reinforces our ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards of care, safety, and service throughout the facility. I would also like to remind residents about our monthly pop up specialist breakfast, held in the dining room. This has been a wonderful opportunity to enjoy something a little different, connect with others, and experience a variety of breakfast options prepared especially for the occasion. We hope you continue to enjoy these mornings and look forward to seeing you there. Our team remains focused on maintaining the comfort and presentation of the facility. Over the coming weeks, you may notice some routine maintenance and improvements taking place. We appreciate your patience and cooperation while this work is carried out, all with the aim of enhancing your living environment. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the office. Your feedback is always valued and helps us continue to improve the services we provide. Thank you for being part of our community. Kind Regards Laura Facility Manager
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Message from Lifestyle Lisa Hello everyone, I hope this message finds you well and enjoying all that our community has to offer. It’s been wonderful to see so many smiling faces at our recent activities, and I want to thank you for your enthusiasm, ideas, and participation. We have a variety of engaging programs, outings, and special events planned, designed to support connection, creativity, and wellbeing. Whether you enjoy social gatherings, gentle movement, learning something new, or simply sharing a laugh with friends, there’s something for everyone. I encourage you to try something new, revisit a favourite activity, and let me know if there’s anything you’d love to see added to the calendar. As always, my door is open. Please feel free to stop by, say hello, or share your thoughts and suggestions. I look forward to creating many more meaningful moments together. Lisa Lifestyle Coordinator
Dining with Chef Carsten
Community Happenings Summer
Biscuits, Banners, and Christmas Cheer December at Kewarra got off to a wonderfully festive start with our Christmas biscuit decorating session. We will not be opening a bakery any time soon, but we had so much fun trying! The home was looking beautiful with our Christmas banners up, and we set up a lovely staged photo area in the hub so our families could come in and take their Christmas photos together. A really special touch that so many of us enjoyed. Our Christmas Party and the Team We Love The highlight of December was without a doubt our residents and staff Christmas party. Our amazing team put on a stunning lunch and the effort and love that went into every detail was plain for all to see. We are so grateful for the wonderful people who care for us and celebrate with us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Christmas Happy Hour with Our Families We also got to enjoy a Christmas Happy Hour with our families, and it was so much fun. Pass the Christmas Present was an absolute hoot and had everyone laughing until their sides hurt. These are the moments we treasure most.
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Community Happenings Summer
Our Beautiful New Beauty Room Just in time for Christmas, our brand new Beauty Room and Spa opened its doors and it is an absolute sanctuary. A peaceful, gorgeous space where we can sit back, relax, and enjoy a little pampering with a glass of champagne. A huge thank you to Lisa and Keelie for creating something so special for all of us. It has already become one of our favourite spots in the whole home.
Shopping, Painting, and Settling Back In January was a lovely gentle start to the new year. We welcomed back our community group friends, shopped till we dropped, and made the most of our beautiful Beauty Room. Later in the month we picked up our paintbrushes and spent some peaceful, happy time creating together. As we are all well aware, some days all you really need is some paint, a paintbrush, and good friends by your side. A Very Kewarra Australia Day We celebrated Australia Day in true Kewarra style with trivia, a sausage sizzle, and a thong throwing competition that was every bit as fun as it sounds. A big thank you to Dave for cooking the snags and to everyone who joined in and made the day so memorable. A perfectly relaxed and very Australian afternoon.
Community Happenings Summer
Dining with Chef Carsten February brought one of the most special dining experiences we have had in a long time. Eight of our residents were invited to join Chef Carsten in his very own private dining room for an exquisite a la carte lunch. The menu was just perfect, and the whole experience felt incredibly special. The wonderful news is that Chef will be opening his dining room to residents every single month, so there is always something delicious to look forward to. We are very lucky indeed. Breakfast Just Got Better If the private dining experience was not enough, Chef also treated us to a pop-up omelette station at breakfast one morning in February. Fresh, delicious, and a lovely surprise to start the day. Thank you Chef, you truly are amazing!
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Message from Clinical Care Kathryn
Let Us Know When You’d Like to See a Health Professional
To help us support your health needs, we kindly ask residents or their next of kin to please let the nursing staff know if you would like to: • See the doctor • Be booked in to see the visiting optometrist • Be seen by Hearing Australia • Be referred to physio By letting the nurses know as early as possible, we can ensure appointments are arranged in a timely manner and that you don’t miss out when visiting services are scheduled. Keep up to date with your vaccinations Fluvax and Covid Boosters are due in April, vaccines not only help you but can help protect those around you Fluvax consent requests have been emailed, please ensure these are returned as soon as possible. The clinic is April 2 Staying Safe in Humid Weather With the warmer, humid weather, we kindly remind residents to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, limit time in direct sunlight, and use the sunscreen provided when going outdoors. These simple steps help reduce the risk of dehydration and heat related illness. If you need assistance with fluids, sunscreen, or staying cool, please let a staff member know, we’re always happy to help. Kind regards Kathryn Clinical Care Coordinator
Shem B
Meet the Team
What do you enjoy most about working here? Seeing my residents every day and working with a great team What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Spend time with my puppy Cookie and gardening and I enjoy photography If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? Philippine’s because that’s where my family are and I love spending time with them
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Chef’s Corner
Carsten
Dear Residents, 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. Our focus is always on providing nutritious, well balanced meals that are full of flavour and variety. We enjoy refreshing menus regularly and incorporating seasonal ingredients to ensure meals remain enjoyable and satisfying. Many of you may have already joined us for our monthly pop up specialist breakfast in the dining room. These mornings have been a real highlight for the team, and it’s been great to see so many residents enjoying something a little different. We look forward to continuing these breakfasts and introducing new ideas in the months ahead. As always, your feedback is welcome. If there’s a favourite dish you’d like to see again, or something new you’d like us to try, please let us know, we’re always happy to listen. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your daily lives. We look forward to cooking for you and sharing many more enjoyable meals together. Kind regards, Carsten Head Chef
Chef’s Corner
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 tomato sauce, to serve
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.
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Meet the Resident
Denise S
Can you tell us a little about where you grew up? I Grew up in St marys in Sydney What are some of your fondest childhood memories? My memories and of having family picnics and going to the beach What kinds of work or hobbies have you enjoyed throughout your life? I enjoyed being a mother Do you have any favourite pastimes or hobbies you still enjoy today? I used to read and I still enjoy it What is something you’ve learned that you’d like to share with others? Be patient and kind What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Just be Honest What do you think has been the biggest change in the world during your lifetime? Technology and how small things are getting eg>Phones Do you have a favourite place you’ve travelled to or lived in? The south coast of Sydney is beautiful Who has influenced your life the most? My wonderful Husband Daniel Is there a skill or talent you’re known for? My sence of humour What is something that always makes you smile? seeing my beautiful twin girls What has been your proudest achievement? Wonderful children Is there anything about your story you’d like to share with our community? Just enjoy life because you never know what can happen
Quality Corner
Janet
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, Janet State Quality Manager
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Summer Highlights December 2025 What a December it was at Kewarra! We kicked things off with some very entertaining Christmas biscuit decorating, and while a bakery career may not be on the cards for all of us, we had an absolute ball giving it a go. We set up a beautiful Christmas photo area in the hub for families to use, put up our Christmas banners, and got ourselves ready for the big Christmas party. Our incredible team put on the most beautiful lunch for residents and staff, and we cannot thank them enough for all the love they put into it. We also squeezed in a Christmas Happy Hour with our families, with a hilarious game of Pass the Christmas Present that had everyone in stitches. To top it all off, our brand new Beauty Room and Spa opened its doors, giving us a gorgeous new space to sit back, relax, and be pampered. What a way to end the year!
Summer Highlights
January 2026
January was a lovely, relaxed start to the new year. We eased back into things with visits from our community group friends, did a bit of shopping, and of course made plenty of use of our beautiful new Beauty Room. Australia Day brought out our competitive side with trivia, a thong throwing competition, and a sausage sizzle, with a big thank you to Dave for manning the snags! We also picked up the paintbrushes and spent some time creating together, which as always was a wonderful way to share a few quiet, happy hours with good friends.
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Summer Highlights
February 2026
February turned out to be a very special month for food and dining at Kewarra! Eight of our residents were invited to join Chef Carsten in his private dining room for a stunning a la carte lunch experience, and by all accounts the menu was absolutely perfect. We are very lucky to have such a talented and generous chef in our corner, and this is now a monthly event to look forward to. Chef also surprised us mid-month with a pop-up omelette station at breakfast, which was a big hit all round. February reminded us just how much a beautiful meal shared together can make a day feel extra special.
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. A very warm welcome to our new residents. Richard Ian Library Service We have a mobile library service that picks up and delivers library books to residents’ rooms. We also
Noel Glen Kenric Joyce Dorothy Evereld Carol Rita Edward Jackie
have our fully stocked library. If you would like to use this service, please speak to one of our friendly team.
Contact Lisa for bus trips they are held monthly
Physiotherapy We have an excellent physiotherapy team on site. If you would like to book in to see one of the lovely physios, please ask a friendly staff member at reception.
Daily Health and fitness Join us each daily for a dose of gentle exercise and seated games.
Hairdresser continues to visit Thursdays
We are here for you If you’d like more information on the above services, please contact the lifestyle team. lifestyleco@kewarraagedcare.com.au
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Games Corner 1
Games Corner 2
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Games Corner Answers 1
Games Corner Answers 2
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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.
110-124 Cottesloe Drive, Kewarra Beach QLD 4879 07 4242 2000 kewarraagedcare.com.au
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