For 30 years Julie Pinnington has been serving meals, beverages and cheery greetings.
The Food Services Assistant at Rosetta Community Strathaven also works at special occasions held at nearby Queenborough Rise, which she thoroughly enjoys.
“The reason I’ve been here so long is the residents,” Julie explains. “They all have different stories about their lives, I love hearing them all.”
She also enjoys the camaraderie and friendship with the staff, and says she has always felt supported and encouraged in her role. Over the years Julie was encouraged to study to be an Extended Care Assistant as well as completing a Certificate III in Hospitality. But she has stayed with what she loves – ladling out food and happiness.
Julie says food practices and menus have changed over the last three decades – and for the better. “We now have bain maries which are wonderful, and the residents eat in much smaller, more intimate dining rooms.”
Multi-culturalism has also played a pivotal role. “We have a lot of residents from overseas backgrounds,” she explains. “This is reflected in the culinary choices on offer – Chinese-style dishes, Indian curries and so forth. The residents especially love the different culturally-themed lunches we have every month. I enjoy them too. It’s always interesting to explain to the residents about the special ingredients in the dish and how it was made.”
However, despite everything, Julie says traditional Aussie fish and chips are the firm favourite. Followed by mashed potato with everything. “Residents want mash with their curry, not rice,” she says.
Julie, who moved from her home in the Philippines to Sydney, worked in a nursing home there before meeting her husband Glen, and moving to Tasmania. She started work at Strathaven when her son was nine months old. She and Glen have two adult children and are currently empty-nesters, something Julie does not enjoy.
“I’m 62 now so I’ve got a long way to go before I even think of retiring,” she says. “Besides, if I retired early I know I would end up volunteering here at Strathaven, so I might as well stay.”
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