Season - DRESSED AND OBSESSED Residents hit the catwalk - Metlifecare
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SUMMER 2020/21
DRESSED AND
OBSESSED
Residents hit
the catwalk
SLICE OF
HISTORY
The tales our
villages tell
Festive
season
Advice from the expert
+ Creative Christmas crafts
- FROM THE CEO -
A time to reflect
H
ere we are at the end resident care, which aligned
of 2020 – and what a strongly with their focus of
As you know, a couple of months
year it’s been. As I take putting customers at the heart
ago shareholders voted to
time to reflect and consider the of all decision-making. Looking
approve the sale of Metlifecare
challenges we’ve faced together ahead, with focused investment,
to EQT, and so began our
over the last 12 months, I feel shared philosophies and our
transition from a listed to a
exceptionally proud of the care combined skills and expertise,
privately-owned company.
and support our residents and I’m excited about what we can
staff have provided to each other Something that stood out for achieve together.
through such extraordinary EQT during the acquisition
times. Thank you all for being process was Metlifecare’s Last month we were delighted
part of that journey. reputation for outstanding to announce the new Board
2 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21
of Metlifecare. Paul McClintock
(Chair), Dr Jonathan Coleman, Ken
Lotu-Iiga, Ken Wong, Maggie Owens
and Murray Jordan all bring a huge
depth of expertise and experience.
At the Board’s first meeting, a
decision was made to repay the
$6.8 million Government wage
subsidy. This decision has been
received very positively – when I’ve
mentioned it at a number of AGMs,
there has even been applause!
Despite the challenges of 2020,
we’ve still had plenty of cause for
celebration. Kapiti Village and
Palmerston North Village care home
celebrated 25-year anniversaries.
Gulf Rise won the Planning and
Urban Design prize at the 2020
Auckland Architecture Awards. Care
services manager Helen Cohen from Emirates Team New Zealand’s brand-new boat
Hillsborough Heights was named
Geneva New Zealand Nurse of
the Year 2020. This all coincided SAIL AWAY
with the International Year of the
Did you know, Glen is a former Olympic sailor and was
Nurse, which has been a wonderful
selected for Sir Peter Blake’s Whitbread Round the World
opportunity to acknowledge the
Yacht Race campaigns onboard Lion New Zealand, the
amazing work that our nurses and
victorious Steinlager 2, and with Grant Dalton onboard New
caregivers do every day.
Zealand Endeavour. He also helmed the backup boat for the
Finally, I want to wish you all a safe New Zealand Challenge for the America’s Cup in 1991-1992.
and happy festive season. I’ll be
We asked Glen for his insight into next year’s race:
looking forward to trying some of
the delicious recipes submitted by “The new America’s Cup boats push the boundaries like
our village chefs, including Wayne never before and are now routinely reaching speeds
Kemp’s rack of lamb (page 25). of 100km an hour! The British INEOS team have the
technical backing of the Mercedes Formula One design
I hope that wherever you are you
team; the Italians will always look the best in their Prada
have a wonderful Christmas.
gear; the Americans have technical design backing from
Here’s to 2021! Airbus; while Emirates Team New Zealand have the home
advantage and arguably the strongest sailing team.
Glen “The public will have more access to view the inner harbour
racing from North Head and Tamaki Drive, in what will be the
G LEN S O W R Y most spectacular racing in the America’s Cup 169-year history!”
CEO - METLIFECARE
metlifecare.co.nz 3
PO Box 37463,
Parnell, Auckland 1151
Metlifecare.co.nz
0800 909 303
/Metlifecare
/Metlifecare
The silly season is nearly stepping in to edit our newly The Villager is published for
here! For many it’s a time of named magazine – I know she Metlifecare Ltd. Metlifecare’s
excitement and celebration, but would be delighted to hear The Villager has a distribution of
9,500 and is available online at
for others, Christmas can be from you.
Metlifecare.co.nz
lonely. In this issue, registered
Please get in touch with your Editor: Anna Murdoch. For all
clinical psychologist Nigel
feedback and ideas for future editorial enquires, please contact the
George provides tips and advice editor at more@metlifecare.co.nz
stories – you can contact Haley
on finding meaning and purpose Contributors: Alan Arnold,
at more@metlifecare.co.nz.
this Christmas, no matter your Anna Murdoch, Carolyn Lane,
situation (page 30). Dan O’Brien, Haley Coe,
Anna
resident ‘P’, Robin Hodgkinson,
This is my last issue for a while Vanessa Trethewey, Vern Walker
as I head off on maternity Published and printed by:
leave. I’m delighted to A N NA M URDOCH ICG www.icg.co.nz
introduce Haley Coe who is EDITOR - THE VILL AGER Senior Account Director:
LauraGrace McFarland
Design: Julian Pettitt, Alisha Kumar
Contents
Cover Cheery smiles and tasty 16 A slice of history
The Villager is printed on FSC-MIX source
pulp from well-managed forests and other
treats from Somervale residents 18 First-hand account
controlled sources. We print using BIO-inks
that contain materials which are based on
Rosa Caldwell and Tonny Authier. renewable resources including wood resin
20 Fair-ly impressive (rosin, colophony), and vegetable oils linseed
oil and soy bean oil.
22 Art from the heart
The contents of The Villager are protected
2 From the CEO 24 Christmas feast by copyright and may not be reproduced
in any form without written permission
5 Village life 28 Creative at Christmas of Metlifecare. Opinions expressed in
The Villager are not necessarily those
9 Village AGMs 30 Expert advice of Metlifecare, the publisher or editor.
Information contained in The Villager is
10 Development update 32 Christmas memories
correct at the time of printing and while all
due care and diligence has been taken in the
preparation of this magazine, Metlifecare is
12 Happenings 33 Anniversary celebrations not responsible for any mistakes, omissions,
typographical errors or changes to product
14 Strike a pose 34 Photo competition and service descriptions over time.
4 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21
- NEWS -
Village life
A sneak peek behind the scenes
METLIFECARE
REPAYS
GOVERNMENT
WAGE SUBSIDY
In November, we
held our first meeting
with our new Board
of Directors under
EQT ownership. A key
outcome of the meeting
was the Board’s decision
to pay back the $6.8
Residents Claire Robinson (left) and Millie Crawford (right) celebrate million Government
the care home’s anniversary with nurse manager Heather Scott (centre) wage subsidy that
Metlifecare received in
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SOMERVALE CARE HOME! April this year.
Somervale care home has turned The third birthday celebrations With financial conditions
3! Formally opened by Mayor were attended by EQT and stabilised, the Board
Greg Brownless in November Metlifecare representatives, and felt it was important to
2017, it was Metlifecare’s first nurse manager Heather Scott respond to the spirit
state-of-the-art, integrated said it was a privilege to look of the scheme, and to
care home in the Bay of Plenty. after the care home’s residents. return the wage subsidy.
WALKING FIT
Figure of eight training walks during the
Covid-19 lockdown were the catalyst for Jim
Lydiate and Auke Davey from Forest Lake
Gardens in Hamilton to conquer the Lugdon’s
Round the Bridges 12km walk in November.
The village figure-of-eight walking group
was started by social coordinator Pippa
Bennett after a local physiotherapist gave
a talk to residents about the importance of
Forest Lake Gardens residents Jim Lydiate and Auke Davey
staying active. Well done, team!
metlifecare.co.nz 5
GLOBAL TALE OF BELOVED ROLLS ROYCE
When Greenwood Park’s John from the other side of the world. Ed had acquired the yellow Rolls
Rowlandson entered a men’s In 2018, John received a message Royce in 2010.
baking competition, he had no from Ed Summers in Germany
Ed had spent five years searching
idea that it would help the owner who had seen the results of the
online for any mentions of John,
of his late grandfather’s beloved baking competition published in
in the hope he could fill in the
yellow 1931 Rolls Royce find him an online Metlifecare magazine.
gaps in the car’s history. And what
an interesting history it was – the
Rolls Royce was first purchased
in 1931, stored in Jersey in the
Channel Islands during World
War II, shipped to England after
the war, then to Texas, and back
to England again where it was
completely restored.
John was delighted to help Ed piece
together the car’s colourful past and
The yellow Rolls Royce is now green
the two have become firm friends.
HONEST CONVERSATIONS Resident Shack Mannon with nurse Judy Bucason
A new initiative at Metlifecare Highlands is
encouraging residents and their loved ones to speak
honestly about the process of preparing for dying.
Highlands nurse and palliative care champion
Judy Bucasan has teamed up with Totara Hospice
to launch the Palliative Outcomes Initiative
(POI) at the care home.
Judy’s tireless work on the programme earned
her a position as a finalist in the Leecare Stand-
out Individual Award at the 2020 NZACA/
EBOS Healthcare Excellence in Care Awards.
MARCH ON!
Coastal Villas residents’ single-file
village walks during lockdown have
spawned a fantastic new initiative
– the Kapiti Kats leisure marching
team. The ten ladies and one gent
practised every Sunday for five
months following lockdown in the
lead-up to a Halloween-themed
leisure marching display alongside
23 other teams in October.
6 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21
MAKING MEMORIES
New Zealand pianist, composer and arranger
Carl Doy (ONZM) performed to sell-out
crowds at both Pinesong and Waitakere
Gardens recently. Pinesong village manager
Angela King said it was an amazing occasion.
“The memories it brought back for residents
– often bittersweet – really touched me.
Everyone I spoke to had a special moment
in time! Our resident Noreen Watson had
a photo taken with Carl, which was the
highlight of her year.”
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS TAKE THE WHEEL
A group of Greenwich Gardens residents
are hoping to make life easier for their non-
driving peers by volunteering to drive them to
appointments for just a gold coin donation.
When the group’s founder, Kevin Broadbent,
moved into the village in July, he saw the three
village courtesy cars available. “I immediately
thought what a fantastic service to be able to offer
non-driving residents. As retirees we’re often
looking for things to do, so it’s a way we can use
our free time to help others. And, while my wife
and I are still happily driving, we know there may Volunteer drivers L-R: Kevin Broadbent,
Roger Leadbeater, Neil and Kate McLean
come a time when we may need this service, too.”
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Residents of Waitakere Gardens
shared their thoughts, memories and
fruit cake recipes (left) when TV1’s
Seven Sharp came to the village to
shoot a story about the popularity of
Christmas fruit cake.
Residents from Gulf Rise, The Poynton
and Greenwich Gardens kindly helped
out with the video to launch our new
brand platform – A Place to be You.
They showed us some of the things they
love to do, from baking and puzzles to
pétanque. Many thanks to the residents
In the spotlight: Gulf Rise’s Graham and Sharon Andrew with their dogs
and staff who helped out with filming!
metlifecare.co.nz 7
- COMPETITION NEWS -
We received so many amazing
entries, here’s a few additional
WELCOME TO category winners!
Best use of te reo Māori:
The Villager
• Turangawaewae, meaning
‘A place to stand’
(Brian, Crestwood)
• Kainga, meaning
‘home or residence’,
Announcing the winner in (Roi, future resident)
our ‘Name Me’ competition. • Whakamaurutanga, meaning
‘shelter, haven, refuge,
With close to 400 entries received, it was an extremely tough job sanctuary’ (Bernadette,
for our judging panel to narrow down a winner for our ‘Name Me’ Waitakere Gardens)
competition, but we’re delighted to announce that The Villager is Senior humour:
the winner. • The Dead Ends
The Villager (or, simply, Villager) was submitted by numerous (T Taylor, The Orchards)
residents: Clive, and Dennis and Beryl, from Highlands; Ann from • Senior Moments
Pinesong and David of Bayswater. (Florence, Greenwood Park)
• Old n Bold
Multiple entries were also received for second place-getter (Peter, Dannemora Gardens)
Village Voice/s, which was submitted by Kathleen of Pinesong, the • The Boomer Times
Peacocks of Gulf Rise, Mrs Finlay from Kapiti Village and Pauline (Shirley, Greenwich Gardens)
from Pinesong. And in third spot was Our Place, suggested by Bev Most upbeat:
from Waitakere Gardens, Arnold from The Orchards, Helen from • The Fun Factory
Coastal Villas, Sarah from Support Office and Jude from Pinesong. (Frank, Longford Park)
• Metlively
(Susan, Hillsborough
Heights Village)
• The Sunbeam
(Leith, Hillsborough
Heights Village)
Wordsmith award:
• Muse - a combination
of Me and Us
(Sandra, Dannemora Gardens)
• Grey Matter
(Maria, Bayswater)
International flavour:
• Mag-nifique
(Mervyn and Valmai,
Forest Lake Gardens)
Thank you for all the wonderful
entries – we hope you enjoy
Haley and Anna in support office with just a few of the
The Villager!
almost 400 ‘Name Me’ entries received from residents
8 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21
This photo, below and right: EQT representatives
mingled with residents at Somervale’s AGM
- VILL AGE VOICES -
Village
AGMs
Somervale residents
Rosa Caldwell and
Tonny Authier
at their AGM
Our village Annual General Meetings are a structured
opportunity for residents and staff - including the
executive - to meet, talk, share information, raise issues
or concerns, and feed back on important topics in our
villages. And share a cup of tea afterwards! This year,
representatives from EQT and our new Board joined us
at some of the meetings, held throughout November.
General manager marketing Julie Garlick has a laugh
at The Orchards AGM (left) before village manager
Heather Himiona takes to the stage (right)
metlifecare.co.nz 9
- D E V E L O P M E N T U P D AT E -
Building the heart
of a village
Community centres are the beating heart of retirement villages, where
residents gather, socialise and connect. Construction is now underway on
exciting new community centres at both Gulf Rise and Edgewater.
Edgewater
swimming pool,
artist impression
EXCITEMENT AT community, and the new facilities “The architects, Peddle Thorp,
EDGEWATER building will be the heart of the have done a wonderful job of
There is “massive excitement” village, she said. designing a modern contemporary
about the new community centre building, with a care home, amenity
at Edgewater, due to open in The building will feature three spaces and independent living
October 2021, according to sheltered courtyards, a pool, apartments all on-site,” said senior
village manager Kaileigh Rhodes. gym, spa, hair salon and wellness development manager Dylan Pell.
One of Metlifecare’s smallest area, and will include a library, “We’re looking forward to seeing
and longest-standing villages, games room, cinema and lounge Edgewater residents enjoying
Edgewater has a huge sense of bar and café. these fantastic new spaces.”
10 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21GULF RISE AMENITIES WILL
ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY
Work on the new community
centre at Gulf Rise has just
commenced and the new facilities
will “truly bring Gulf Rise to life,”
said Metlifecare development
sales manager, David Martin.
Designed by Ignite architects and
scheduled for completion in early
2022, the building will include a
heated swimming pool and spa, Gulf Rise café, artist impression
gymnasium, state-of-the-art
wellness centre and a bistro-style
café that’s open to the public.
There will also be a bar, lounges,
a library, creative hub, multi-use
activities spaces and a hairdressing
salon. Covered outdoor terraces,
tranquil reflection ponds and
spectacular landscaping will
complete the offerings.
“The new centre will provide
shared spaces for residents
to congregate and bump into
friends, encouraging a wonderful
sense of community,” said David.
Edgewater café, artist impression
REFER A FRIEND
AND WE’LL GIVE
YOU $1,000
If you know someone who
would love living in one of our
villages, all you need to do is
refer them to us. If they move
in, we’ll give you each $1,000
cash as our way of saying
thank you. Chat to your sales
exec for the details.
Gulf Rise village green and reflection pond, artist impression
metlifecare.co.nz 11- HAPPENINGS -
Rein
it in 1
Village residents celebrated
the Melbourne Cup in style.
From human horse races to
dress ups, hats and high tea, 2 3
everyone was a winner on
the day. Giddy up!
1. Powley residents Murray and
Margaret Taylor, Beverly Barrow,
Joy Mandeville 2: Grahame Parr,
Powley 3, 5, 6: Longford Park
Village residents. L-R: Bruce Bougen,
Graeme Douglas; Brian and Kathy
Swanson; Ray Davies, Coby Van
Dam 4: L-R: Hibiscus Coast Village’s
Helen Crawford; Elaine Pepperell; 4 5
Wendy Fitzpatrick; Rosalind
Mcqorquodale 7: Betty Richards,
Powley 8: Jan Bennett, Powley
6 7 8
12 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21- HAPPENINGS -
Think
1
Pink
Residents and staff from
many of our villages made
a splash in pink for Breast
Cancer Research. Well
done to everyone who
took part and helped raise
2 3
awareness and funds for
this worthy cause.
1, 2 and 3: Palmerston North
Village’s Jyoti Chandra and staff
group; social coordinators Tracey
Wheeler and Raewyn Clayden;
Tracey Wheeler, Wendy Duffy,
Toni Treleaven and Wendy
Goss. 4, 5 and 6: Hillsborough
Heights Village’s staff members
4 5 Helen Cohen, Tina Dowse,
Mohini Lal, Hannah King-Turner;
domestic goddesses Harshi
Weerathunge and Kilali Pasia;
Velma Luxmoore, Shona Leckie,
Bev Campi, Jocelyn
Rogers, Del Hooper,
Edna Develin.
6
metlifecare.co.nz 13- DRESSED AND OBSESSED -
Strike a pose
Something special happens when creative residents hit the
catwalk! Here Longford Park Village models a wonderful array
of wearable arts, while residents of Greenwich Gardens strut
their stuff at their fabulous annual fashion parade.
LONGFORD PARK WOWS
WITH WEARABLE ART
From papier mâché to playing cards,
rubbish bags to flowerpots, Longford
Park Village residents’ couture creations
provided an eye-popping evening of
entertainment at the village’s recent
wearable art show. The time, talent and
imagination taken to build each creation
was evident; one outfit – Quilton
Aquarium (bottom right) – used 120
toilet rolls to form the eight tentacles of
an octopus!
Top L-R: June Cresswell, Anne Haugh, Heather
Harrison, Frank Varney. Bottom: Ann Faulkner
and Carol Miller, Kate Middleton-Stokes
14 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21FUN AND FASHION AT
GREENWICH GARDENS
Residents of Greenwich Gardens donned
new-seasons threads from fashion retailer
Yarntons as they took to the catwalk for
their annual fashion parade. Compered by
Yarntons, the show saw residents and staff
members (including village manager Derek
Liefting) ham it up on the catwalk in summery
outfits, accessories and wigs.
Resident transition manager Gail Kingston
said: “The parade was so much fun, we’ve
decided to organise the event twice a year so
residents get the best of both seasons.”
L-R: Robin Davis, Judi Farkash, Janet Bruce, Claire Fenton L-R: Derek Liefting (village manager), Gail Langley, Ria Tyndall
Catwalk stars L-R: Derek,
Phil Blackwood, Louise Crowther
metlifecare.co.nz 15- REMINISCING -
A slice of history
We love sharing the unique and interesting histories of our
Metlifecare villages – from the buildings, to the gardens, to the land.
If your village has any interesting stories to share – we’d love to hear them!
Email us at more@metlifecare.co.nz with your village history tales.
The Orchards residents enjoy
a cuppa at Cox House café
L-R: Bronwyn Stephensen,
Dilys Pearson, Trish Joy,
Anne Fox (in background)
COX HOUSE CAFÉ – THE ORCHARDS
The historic Cox Farm cottage
The Orchards’ Cox House Café was originally today functions as the village café
part of Cox Farm, which was purchased by
brothers Bertie and Harry Cox in 1910. The
brothers came across the nine-acre property
for sale while on a camping holiday – it had four
perches of land, a two-room cottage (now the
Cox House Café) and a small orchard – the
village’s namesake.
Resident Lorna Keam fondly recalls how the
Cox family would let Lorna and her brother walk
through their property, on their way home from
school in the early 1950s, and they would sit in
the fields eating warm, sun-kissed strawberries.
16 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21THE STRAWBERRY PATCH
In the 1930s Bert Cox’s family lend a hand to
harvest strawberries on the nine-acre property
at the bottom of Stanley Road. From left; Noel,
mother Daisy, father Bert, with Mona crouched
behind Lionel Cox. The large shed is the remains
of Gideon Jack’s cottage where Noel Cox’s older
brother Lionel and sister Mona were born.
HAYMAKING
The Cox family haymaking with Nell (the horse).
Noel’s father Bert owned nine acres across
the road from Noel’s land. The land behind the
haymakers is part of Noel Cox’s strawberry
patch. Part of the Cox’s land was sold in 1960
and is now part of the grounds of Glenfield
College that backs onto The Orchards.
HISTORY AT 7 SAINT VINCENT
7 Saint Vincent brings a strong sense of
history to its Remuera location. Nestled
on land that once belonged to the Cropper
family of seed merchant fame, the village
gardens are lined with 100-year-old
Pohutukawa trees and treasured family
paintings provide a hint of days gone by.
Named ‘Araroa’ – Māori for Long Path –
the Cropper family homestead now resides
at MOTAT, but its essence remains in the
village’s serviced apartment wing, which is This painting of Araroa, the original residence at
7 St Vincent Avenue, is displayed at the village.
named ‘Araroa’ in commemoration of the
Painting by Peggy Spicer.
home’s treasured history.
Having grown up in the family homestead, Paul Cropper’s s son,
John Cropper, came full circle to live out his later years in a serviced
apartment at the village. According to his family, it was a happy
homecoming. In the hallway of Araroa, opposite John’s former
apartment, hang two paintings – a portrait of Paul Cropper by J C
Hill and a painting of the original Cropper homestead. They were
gifted by the family at a special service held after John’s death in
Original land owner Paul 2017. These cherished artworks not only offer a glimpse into the
Cropper of seed merchant
lives of a well-known local family, but they keep the history of 7
fame. Painting by J C Hill.
Saint Vincent alive for future generations.
metlifecare.co.nz 17- F I R S T-H A N D A C C O U N T -
Nurse travel tough
on the nerves
It’s the International Year of the Nurse, the perfect time for Pinesong resident
and one-time travel agent, Vern Walker, to reminisce about the stress
and cliff-edge decisions of getting 76 nurses to New York in 1992.
I
t was controversial that reporter Carol Accordingly, invites for our nurses
Hirschfeld, with a TVNZ crew, arrived just 12 working days and,
accompanied the 76 nurses that thankfully, two weekends prior to
I had reserved to New York City. their departure. This situation
Our media queried whether our gave me, the travel agent,
nurses needed to travel to the extremely short notice during
Big Apple in order to sit their which reservations, costings,
exam and attend employment invoicing and ticketing had
interviews at hospitals around to be concluded. It was either
the US. Surely our health system controlled panic, or panic
needs them here in New Zealand, stations. I chose my version of
they wondered. controlled panic!
Kiwi nurses were invited to the US If the whole group were to travel together
only when it was obvious that American nurses to New York, and return as a group, it would have
would not take up vacancies in their own hospitals. been easy-peasy. But it was not that easy. In my
18 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/2142 years in the travel industry it would be the most accommodation. Chartered coaches had to be
demanding task of all. It was a time of stress, and arranged to convey the various groups from airports
quick cliff-edge decisions. It became one mammoth to the accommodation. There was AMTRAK rail,
jigsaw puzzle. and Greyhound coach travel, and sightseeing
admission tickets that had to be dovetailed into
The nurses were keen to keep the cost to a minimum.
the mix of travel.
They were prepared to sleep four to a room. Then
one nurse would cancel from the trip, and this would Sleepless hours. Could I complete this jigsaw
increase the cost for the remaining three nurses in puzzle in time? Eyes in the back of my head.
that room. And so the jigsaw had to be unravelled. Phones running hot. No lunch hours. It was all too
Meantime the various hotels were crying out for a complicated to delegate to other members of staff.
final rooming list, as well as payment. For just under
three weeks it seemed as if I had a mental broadsheet It was a Saturday afternoon, I well recall. Hundreds
as long as an airport runway. Long hours. Start time of tickets, vouchers, itineraries and pages of
in Auckland’s CBD, when most people were sitting instructions, all in alphabetical order - were
down to breakfast. Locking the office door, when stretched in two long rows on the floor of my
most people were already in bed. downtown Auckland office. Sunday 5 July, 1992.
Following the exam in New York, the fragmentation Thankfully, on good-weather flights, nurses touched
began. This meant that there were now seven mini- down from all over the country. A group check-in
groups - travelling to Miami, Minneapolis, Denver, at Auckland airport.
Los Angeles, Wichita (Kansas), and to Lubbock I was mighty relieved when Continental Airlines
and Houston (Texas). Job interviews completed, roared off the runway and reached for the northern
the homebound itineraries became even more skies on its flights to Los Angeles and New York
fragmented. Some nurses wanted to return directly City, carrying with it so many excited nurses.
to New Zealand. Some wanted to visit Disneyland.
Others wanted a short break in Honolulu. It all I am pleased to advise that every piece of the travel
became a labyrinth of complexity, with no leeway jigsaw ended up in its correct place.
for any errors.
Several nurses even had time away from the
There was travel on five different airlines. There demands of the wards and operating theatres, to fall
was a mix of hotel, motel and youth hostel in love. And some even ended up marrying a local.
metlifecare.co.nz 19- VILL AGE VIBE -
Fair-ly impressive
Residents of what must be one of the Bay of Plenty’s most arty villages showcased
their talents last month at the highly anticipated Art, Crafts and Garden Fair.
H
eld on November 7 and weekly basis,” said one of the into an impressive art gallery for
8, the annual Greenwood event organisers, Max Edwards. our resident painters to display
Park fair featured their work, and attendees could
“Many of the artists take
everything from pottery, ceramics, even try their hand in the pottery
inspiration from the unique
sculpture and photography, to room working with clay!”
nature of the village environment.
embroidery, jewellery, woodcraft
With 17 hectares of landscaped Each year the fair, which has
and gardening items.
grounds, a quail trail nature walk, been running in some form
With over 20 stalls and live wetlands and even a mini forest - since the 1990s, attracts a large
entertainment, there was plenty it’s enough to inspire anybody!” crowd of visitors from Welcome
to attract the crowds. Bay, Tauranga, and other villages
Max, who has lived at Greenwood
“Greenwood Park is a particularly Park for 14 years, is among the throughout the Bay of Plenty.
artistic village with a number of more than 50 residents and staff With such a vibrant atmosphere
art, crafts, knitting, pottery and who work hard to bring the event and so many talented residents,
garden groups operating on a to life. “We turn the main lounge it’s not surprising it’s such a hit.
20 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/211
1: Highland
dancers
entertain the
crowds. 2-4:
Residents and
visitors make
the most of
Greenwood
Park’s annual
showcase of
arts, crafts and
garden goods
2
3 4
metlifecare.co.nz 21- PROFILE -
Art from
the heart
Politics is the inspiration for Waitakere
Gardens’ resident artist Raoul Ketko.
S
elf-confessed political
junkie Raoul Ketko has
been busy painting
politicians since he retired from
public service in 1994. As a
former private secretary to both
National and Labour Cabinet
Ministers, and an advisor to
Ministers of Social Welfare,
Raoul’s been keenly involved in
New Zealand politics since the
early 1970s.
Now, as a resident at Waitakere
Gardens, he likes to chew the
fat about politics with two of his
closest village friends, and says it
was an exciting time watching both
the local and US election results
unfold, with the election dates only
coinciding once every 12 years.
Raoul’s own political skills came
to the fore when, at a Minister’s
request, Raoul represented New
Zealand at a 1986 United Nations
conference, where he was invited
to be a rapporteur (person who
reports on a meeting).
“During a conference session,
I broke up a heated argument
between Russian and American
delegates,” said Raoul. “Later,
Waitakere Gardens resident Raoul
at the evening cocktail party, I
with a portrait of Bill English
was approached by the Russian
22 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21Raoul’s political portraits were particularly
pertinent this year as the New Zealand and
American elections coincided closely
delegates who expressed their they left, the Russian Minister As for sending the politicians a
satisfaction that I had shown arranged for all the beautiful photo of his work, he hasn’t so
total fairness to both sides in the dishes, bowls, teapots and other far. But, with his background in
discussion,” he said. items to be sent to their home in politics, he was interested to learn
Wellington, he recalled. that former National Minister of
The delegates urged Raoul to call
on them if he was ever to visit Raoul has used his artistic talents Health, Dr Jonathan Coleman,
Russia, which he duly did the to create incredible likenesses, had joined the new Metlifecare
following year, and he and his wife not only of past and present Board. It remains to be seen
were treated to a ‘magnificent politicians, but of his close friends whether Dr Coleman becomes
spread’ of Uzbek cuisine. As and family, too. one of Raoul’s next portraits!
metlifecare.co.nz 23- FESTIVE FOOD -
Christmas feast
Chefs from our village kitchens provide these Christmas-season
recipes to create a colourful festive feast.
Entrée
Salmon tartare with beetroot and avocado
A fresh and colourful entrée, supplied by
The Orchards kitchen manager Vinesh Kumar.
INGREDIENTS Beetroot Avocado
Salmon tartare 100gms freshly grated beetroot 8 slices fresh avocado
500gms fresh diced salmon 100mls of white vinegar (one avocado in total)
100mls creme fraiche 100gms of sugar Juice and zest of half a lemon
50mls sour cream 1 x cinnamon stick To plate
Juice and zest of half a lemon 1 x star anise Arrange the avocado across two
Chopped fresh dill Place all ingredients in a pot and plates. Layer the beetroot mix on
1 tablespoon capers, bring to boil. Simmer for around top of the avocado, then place the
roughly chopped half an hour until the mixture has salmon on top of the beetroot to
Mix all the ingredients and leave thickened, but without losing the make a stack. Garnish with baby
to marinate in fridge for one hour texture of the beetroot. Leave to watercress and a drizzle of extra
cool overnight in the fridge. virgin olive oil and sprinkle with
sea salt flakes to taste. Serves 2.
24 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21Main
Christmas rack of lamb
Served with port wine sauce, minted hollandaise, mango salsa,
new season baby potatoes, asparagus and courgettes.
A Christmas special from Wayne Kemp at The Poynton
INGREDIENTS METHOD
Lamb rack Frenched (ask your Vegetables
butcher to do this for you) Courgette – blanched al dente
Gravy (use your favourite Asparagus – blanched al dente
recipe and add Port to taste) New season baby potatoes –
Lightly boiled with a pinch of salt
Hollandaise (use your favourite
recipe and add mint sauce or Lamb rack
chopped mint at the end) Score skin side with a knife in
criss-cross cuts. Lightly season and
Salsa Put gravy on bottom of plate. Cut
seal in a hot pan on both sides.
Equal quantities of finely diced rack in half, fit together and place
mango, pineapple, onion, tomatoes Put in pre-heated oven at 180 on top of gravy. Plate your dish
(cut in quarters and seeds removed), degrees for 15 mins (medium with vegetables and potatoes. Add
red capsicum, cucumber, rare) 20 minutes (medium). salsa to plate. Pour hollandaise
coriander, sweet chilli sauce. Remove and rest for 10 minutes. over lamb.
The Poynton kitchen manager Wayne Kemp
metlifecare.co.nz 25s ay s Christ m as like a
h ing frui
N o t t t ar
t
Dessert
Christmas fruit tart
This one comes straight from the kitchen at The Orchards
in Auckland, thanks to kitchen manager Vinesh Kumar.
INGREDIENTS brandy or sherry. Add caster Use a pastry brush to brush
250gms fruit mince sugar to taste. Lightly mix the beaten egg over the top of the
1 x cinnamon stick fruit mince mixture together. pastry. Bake for 45 minutes at
1 x star anise 150°C. When the tart is cool,
Preheat oven to 150°C. Line an
1.5 cups of brandy or sweet sherry glaze with apricot jam or sprinkle
8-inch pie dish or quiche pan with
100gms caster sugar with icing sugar.
a removable base with one layer
One packet of sweet short pastry of pastry. Add fruit mixture on top
1 egg, beaten Serves 5 to 6 people.
of pastry – fill to the desired level.
Apricot jam or icing sugar, Cover the fruit mixture with a slice
as preferred of pastry to form the top of the
tart. Alternatively, if you’d like to
METHOD get fancy, you can slice the pastry
Soak fruit mince, cinnamon stick into a crisscross pattern (pictured)
and star anise overnight in the or score it on top with a knife.
26 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21Finishing touch
Orange and lemon shortbread
This delicately citrus-flavoured shortbread makes a classic
Christmas treat that’s perfect with a cup of tea
For the biscuits Preheat the oven to 170°C / 325°F.
200g plain flour, plus Mix the flour and sugar together
extra for dusting in a bowl. Cut the butter into
50g caster sugar, with small cubes and rub it into the
extra for sprinkling flour mix using your fingertips
125g butter until it is like breadcrumbs. Add Transfer onto an oven tray lined
1 tsp baking powder baking powder, vanilla essence, with greaseproof paper. Sprinkle
1 tsp vanilla essence lemon and orange zest and with a little sugar. Place on the
1 lemon, zest and juice combine together using a knife. middle rack of the oven to bake
1 orange, zest and juice Add just enough juice to allow for approximately 10 minutes,
the mixture to come together as until just starting to turn golden.
For the icing a ball. Dust a surface with flour Allow biscuits to cool on a rack,
¼ cup icing sugar and roll out the dough to 2cm before icing and decorating half
remaining orange and lemon juice thick. Cut into stars, re-rolling of them. Makes approximately
silver cachous balls, optional the dough scraps as necessary. 25 star biscuits.
metlifecare.co.nz 27- CHRISTMAS CRAFT -
Creative at
Christmas
Add a personal touch to your Christmas gifts
with unique and easy-to-make papers and cards.
Words and styling Sarah Heeringa, for Good magazine
Photography Amanda Reelick and Bryce Carleton
W
hat's not to love about brown paper fold into paper gift bags, cut into large stars to sew
packages tied up with string? We're with together, or use to wrap your parcels.
Julie Andrews on this one. Give your
parcels a new twist this festive season by generously Paint stiff card with dots and cut into gift tags. Add
winding them with twine and tucking in a few painted reinforcement stickers (used in ring binders) to
twigs, robust blossoms or long-lasting greenery. punched holes or finish with metal rivets squashed
into place using eyelet pliers. Thread with twine.
Have fun personalising basic brown paper with
painted dots or stars. Roll out the paper and use a Create bunting cards using fabric scraps and twine,
small soft watercolour paintbrush for easy-to-paint glued into place. Make cute tree cards by sewing
dots or make a star print using star-shaped biscuit heavy art paper back and forth with green cotton.
cutters of varying sizes, dipped in a little paint. I used Glue onto stiffer card and finish with a star cut from
Resene Swiss Coffee for the dots and Resene Blast gold tissue. See good.net.nz/papercraft for tips and a
Yellow for the copper coloured stars. Once dry, reindeercard video.
28 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21GIFTS FROM THE HEART
Create gorgeous personalised paper by painting basic brown paper
with dots or stars. Allow paint to dry before folding paper into bags
using double-sided tape. Bake a Christmassy batch of Orange and
Lemon Shortbread (see page 27). Cool, decorate and wrap biscuits
in greaseproof paper and use to fill bags. Fold over the tops of the
bags and secure with small metal letter clips and sprigs of hardy
herbs. Cut spotty paper into two large stars and sew together using
a straight machine stitch. Leave a gap and fill the star with treats or
scrunched tissue to make a starry gift bag or decoration. Sew up star
and complete by adding a ribbon for hanging.
metlifecare.co.nz 29- EXPERT ADVICE -
Sanity in
the silly season
Registered Clinical Psychologist and former Director of the University of Auckland’s
Psychology Clinic, Dr Nigel George is a clinician and researcher with older adults.
Nigel has devoted much of his 30-year career to helping people age well. As we
hurtle into the festive season, he chats to The Villager about the heightened
emotions Christmas brings – and some great ways to manage them.
F
or children, Today we have multicultural
Christmas day is families, blended families,
often characterised LGBT families. We need
by high excitement, and to find ways to include
for their parents, stress people who don’t fit into
and exhaustion! What that traditional family
are some of the most stereotype.
common emotions older
people experience at Plus, thanks to our aging
Christmas? population, we often now
Christmas brings a lolly bag have several generations
of emotions. We are sold on coming together on Christmas
the idea of a Disney Christmas day, each with different needs.
and the expectation is that This can create a whole lot of
everybody should be happy. half of people over 65 expect family tension. Furthermore,
Sure, happy and merry might to feel lonely over Christmas. family members can be scattered
be part of the equation, but While that may be small all over the world, so you may
there may also be an element of comfort, if you’re feeling lonely end up having a really long day as
melancholy and sadness, as this you are among the majority. you try to connect with different
is a day to reflect and reminisce loved ones living in different
How has Christmas changed time zones. There is no other
about our relationships, people
over the years, and what impact time of the year that we try to
we love and people we’ve lost.
has that had? squeeze so much into 24 hours!
One of the main challenges Christmas is the epitome of
of aging is loss and loneliness, a stereotypical family – we How can I create a day that has
and these feelings are often visualise mum, dad, a couple of meaning and purpose?
accentuated at this time of year. kids and maybe a grandparent Planning your Christmas day in
In fact, according to research or two. But the majority of advance is a great place to start
done by Age UK, more than families no longer look like this. – don’t just think Christmas day
30 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21activities and family catchups Christmas we had when we were
across the entire day, in a nice ten. This is a bit like being in a
gentle rhythm. marriage and expecting every
day to be like your wedding day.
Connect with people - but that
Some days are better than others
doesn’t just mean being in a room
TOP TIP with them. To feel a genuine
– just like Christmas!
Give yourself some time connection, relationships need to As you move through different
and space on Christmas be reciprocal, intimate and shared. life stages, the experience of
day to reflect and Think about your values and what Christmas inevitably changes.
reminisce, just don’t let brings meaning to Christmas for A 70-plus Christmas is very
it overwhelm you. you, and try to stay true to that. different from a ten year old’s
Old age is the perfect time to Christmas or a Christmas day
spend Christmas day doing what experienced by a new parent
you want to do, not what everyone in their 30s. I don’t get the
will spontaneously work out how
else wants to do! same Christmas feeling now
you want it to. Without a plan,
you could end up spending two I don’t feel excited about Christmas as a middle-aged man as I did
hours on the phone catching anymore. What can I do? when I was seven, but I’ve learnt
up with all your different family As humans we spend a lot of that that’s OK. Having realistic
members, and then feel wiped time comparing. We might expectations is very important
out for the rest of the day. It’s compare this Christmas to last for successfully navigating and
far better to spread out your Christmas, or to the amazing enjoying the festive season.
Nigel’s top tips for a successful
and unique Christmas:
• Resist the urge to compare this Christmas with • I know it’s boring, but eat sensibly
past Christmases and drink with moderation
• Practice gratitude – being grateful helps us • Enjoy Christmas rituals – whether they’re
reset our expectations and be more realistic family rituals or faith-based ones, research says
• Don’t say ‘Today is a day I have to be happy’. performing rituals is important to wellbeing and
Just notice how you’re feeling, name it, and will help you connect with yourself
don’t feel bad about it • Accept invitations – many older people don’t
• The essence of Christmas is presence, not accept invitations because they feel like they are
presents! Carve out some space in your day to being a burden or have only been invited out of
think about the people you love, and ways you obligation. But you’ll find invitations tend to be very
can remember them with fondness and joy genuine and I really encourage people to accept
• Keep active and get out into nature, even a five • Even if you are more of a lone ranger than a
minute stroll helps social butterfly, try joining in with some of the
• See friends and family if you can, or use village Christmas activities - you might have a
technology to connect with loved ones lot more fun than you think!
metlifecare.co.nz 31- REMEMBERING THE JOY -
Christmas
memories
We asked residents to send us stories of the special
Christmas decorations they’ve kept through the decades.
Thank you to Heather White at Waitakere Gardens and
Peter Singh at Pinesong for the beautiful memories below.
“T
he Santa card at the back is from 1960. The homemade
manger scene is from about 1963. It was originally a wee
bit larger and was always in the bottom of the chimney
fireplace along with coloured lights and decorations. The hearth was
a centrepiece at Christmas. We put the plastic Santa on the outside
of the door along with a Pohutukawa wreath from the same period of
time. The musical frog and snowman may have been a bit later. The
frog still croaks out Jingle Bells; alas the snowman has lost his voice.
The two elves are made from ping pong balls and knitting and the little
plastic reindeer is always beside a singing Santa from about 1980.
I will never throw them out, too many memories.
Merry Christmas and happy memories to all.”
Heather White, Waitakere Gardens
“The Christmas wall hanging
above is a petit point embroidery
by my late wife, Beth. It is over
a metre in length. In the week
before Christmas, she would
embroider one fruit. So it took
five years to complete. She was
an accomplished needle woman.
Beth ensures that as Christians
we have a holy and fulfilling
celebration of the birth of Jesus.
It is hung as a reminder of
the joy that the festive season
always brings to our family.”
Peter Singh, Pinesong
32 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21- A N N I V E R S A R Y C E L E B R AT I O N S -
A quarter-century
in the making Residents of Kapiti Village marked their
25th anniversary with a raft of celebrations.
T
he extended anniversary celebrations included “This project symbolises Kapiti villagers’ love for their
concerts, a book launch, a planting project and environment and their ability to come together to
a cocktail party! Along the way, the village also make things happen,” Carolyn explains.
had a cabaret, movie shows of previous productions
Bringing joy to Kapiti Village residents since 1999,
and turned the hall into a history gallery.
the Village Vocals’ concert was the final event and
“One of the high points was the cocktail party where featured items from the last two decades. “It was
we unveiled a plaque commemorating our 25th wonderful to see original member Bettine Grafton at
anniversary planting project, and launched our book the concert, and the original pianist Kath Turkington
Village Life,” says Chair of the Resident Committee, at the cocktail party,” adds Carolyn.
Carolyn Lane.
What a celebration! Happy anniversary, Kapiti Village!
With ten residents from the early days still happily
living at Kapiti Village, the cocktail soirée kicked
off with an acknowledgement of these ‘early
settlers’. The village writers’ group launched the
25th anniversary book tracing the development of
Kapiti Village; Metlifecare
leaders and District Mayor
Gurunathan gave speeches;
and resident Kert Snater
unveiled a plaque to celebrate
the planting project - a The early settlers
rhododendron bank and the
planting of several donated
specimen trees, thanks to
Bark gardeners.
Kapiti Village writers group with the
Mayor L-R: Jasmine Thompson, Mayor
Gurunathan, Kevin MacManus, Carolyn
Barbara Scott and her eager helpers Lane, John McKinney, Pam Kessler
metlifecare.co.nz 33- COMPETITION -
Hello, Summer
‘Show us your summer’ photo competition.
S
wimming, ice creams,
Christmas, beach trips,
family time, cricket,
HOW TO
picnics – whatever it is that
you love doing, playing or
ENTER
watching over summer – we
want to see a photo of it!
Our expert judging panel,
including professional You can enter as many times as you like,
photographers, resident Alan just email your favourite summer photo,
Arnold NZIPP of Greenwood and up to 50 words telling us about it to
Park and Metlifecare staff more@metlifecare.co.nz
member Amanda Reelick The summer photo competition is open
AIPA from support office, will to all Metlifecare staff and residents,
be selecting their favourite and entries will close at 5pm on Friday
photos to win one of three 29 January. Competition winners will be
$100 Prezzy cards and the announced in our next issue.
chance to be showcased in the
next issue of The Villager.
34 THE VILLAGER | Summer 2020/21About
the artist
This is the second Christmas card instalment by
Metlifecare’s very own Banksy, known simply as ‘P’.
A resident of Greenwich Gardens in Auckland, he kept us entertained through
the lockdowns with his witty take on life during Covid-19. In this clever card,
it’s great to see Santa and his reindeers continue to take all precautions!
happy holiday season
Wishing you a safe andT E A R A L O N G T H E P E R F O R AT E D L I N E S . T H E N F O L D T H E C A R D I N H A L F > >
- C R E AT E Y O U R O W N -
Christmas card
From all of us here at Metlifecare,
have a wonderful festive season.You can also read
