There’s a real buzz going on at the Hawthorn AgeWell Centre as older people embrace the new COVID-normal and roar back into the swing of things.
Retired doctor Peter Dobson hung up his stethoscope and fell in love with woodwork; Russell Green who laughingly describes himself as a “trainee wood butcher”, is finishing off a beautiful chess set he made out of cedar wood; and Margaret Slessar is powering up her core strength levels to ensure she’s fighting fit to get in a game of golf each week.
And into this hive of activity yesterday walked Federal Independent Candidate for Kooyong Dr Monique Ryan, who toured the hub (which offers allied health services, a senior’s gym and social programs) housed in the historic former church building.
There are around 200 clients who regularly visit the AgeWell Centre, and with a vast array of activities on offer four days a week, there’s a whole lot on the go – even with the various sessions restricted to a maximum of ten people to ensure a COVID-safe environment.
Monique, who joined the crew for brunch in the tree-lined courtyard, said it was wonderful to see older people so purposeful and busy, and promised to lobby for more funding for aged care if elected.
She was also impressed with the centre and its state-of-the-art equipment including a brand new podiatry chair.
“Preventative care is so much better than acute care,” Monique commented as she saw not only physical exercise and restorative care but laughter, woodwork and crafts and camaraderie perform its social wellbeing magic.
Keong Chew, 83, has been a regular at the Men’s Shed for the last 15 or so years, and during this time has created a vast array of wooden toys - a Fred Flintstone car, cows and racing cars to name but a few. Now he’s busy fashioning a wooden duck.
“I love it,” the retired occupational therapist says.
Peter Dobson, 79, retired four years ago and was utterly delighted to try his hand at woodwork – something he’s simply never had time to do. He’s made pizza paddles, chess boards, Chinese checker boards, a lazy Susan – wonderful heart-felt Christmas and birthday gifts for the whole family.
“It’s wonderfully creative,” Peter says. “And it’s enormously satisfying to create something lovely out of a block of wood.”
Retired school text book publisher Russell Green agrees. “My job was 96 per cent drudgery and four per cent creativity. There’s no drudgery here, just exhilaration in working with wood!”
He’s fashioned a chess board for his family. “I want each of my grandchildren to sit around the dining room table, playing board games with the family – like we did growing up,” Russell explains.
Others simply pop in for the camaraderie, like Peter Roberts, 92, and his dog Jasper. “It’s good just to catch up with people, just to chat,” he says.
That’s the thing about the AgeWell Centre: there’s something for everyone. Arts and crafts, board games, social gatherings, bus trip outings. And of course allied health services including a specialist seniors’ gym, podiatry, rehabilitation and restorative care programs and more.
One of those who has seen a huge improvement in his physical wellbeing is Ken Savage, who needs to build up his strength to improve his balance. The retired primary school principal also had a stint at being a builder, so a few knee operations down the line, the 83-year-old says he’s not as steady on his pins as he used to be.
Ken says the rehab is hugely beneficial, and exercise physiologist Callum Di Pierdomenica agrees.
Callum works with clients to identify their goals – and then tries to get them there. “One client said he wanted to walk to the corner shop to get the newspaper every day, so that’s what we aimed for and built up to.”
