Ray carries on friendship tradition at Noble Park Community
Seventy-seven-year-old Ray French understands the importance of keeping up traditions with friends.
When given the opportunity to make a wish through Uniting AgeWell’s Wishing Well program, the former tennis instructor wanted to continue the tradition of hosting an annual reunion lunch with 28 of his closest friends.
Ray, who moved into the Noble Park Community in late 2015, says every year someone in his group of friends will organise a reunion, bringing everyone together and catching up on old times.
This year he wanted play his part by hosting the reunion and continuing the friendships, holding special luncheon at the facility on
March 3.
“Most of these friends go back 50 years from our time at the Dandenong Methodist Church youth club,” Ray said.
A few of these friends I was in state school with and haven’t seen for more than 40 years.
Noble Park Lifestyle and Activities Officer Colleen McLachlan said Ray read mini bios of each guest, encouraging people to guess who they were before presenting them with name tags.
“He really wanted all his guests to have a good time and mingle with each other,” Colleen said.
“Ray was extremely excited, waking up early, messaging people, getting ready and coming down to the lounge area to see what he could do to help.
“He continuously rehearsed what he was going to say, making sure his wheelchair can get in between the tables so he could personally speak to everyone."
We’re very happy to see Ray’s wish come to fruition.
Ray had a fantastic time catching up with all his friends over lunch and repeatedly expressed his thanks to the Wishing Well program.
“I’m very grateful to the Wishing Well program for giving me this opportunity, it was absolutely magnificent.”