21 June 2018
More Hero’s Wishes have been fulfilled
Mary’s Wish was to visit the Shrine of Remembrance.
Mary, a resident at Vasey RSL Care Brighton East, was nominated by her daughter, with a wish to visit Melbourne’s Shrine to honour the memory of close members of her family.
Mary’s father served in WWI, and her husband and two brothers all served in WWII. One of her brothers, Bill, was tragically killed in air training exercises her daughter told us that the grief of his loss is still with her.
Bill and Mary’s husband were best friends at school and had grown up in East Gippsland on farms: both went to boarding school together and they remained close friends.
Mary was joined by her three daughters for the tour, which was led by Kevan, and finished with afternoon tea.
Mary told us that she could feel the love and respect that flowed around the Shrine for the men and women who put their lives on the line for Australia. “This was very comforting for me”, she said.
We are very grateful to CEO, Dean, Director Community Engagement, Leonie, and guide, Kevan, for their wonderful support and for providing Mary and her family with a special and memorable experience.
Lewis’s Wish was to have the opportunity to thank the taxi despatchers, his ‘Smiling Voices’.
Lewis used to be a client of the Senior Support Program at the ANZAC Day Centre: his wish was to have an opportunity to take the ‘Smiling Voices’ to lunch, to thank them for the service they provide him.
Lewis told us hearing when he hears the 13CABS staff ask him, ‘Where to today Mr Wicking?’, it makes a great start to his day: “They have been my lifeline to the world outside my front gates for several years now. They are my heroes.”
Lewis wished to thank Lily, Ronnie, Lorraine and Heather, and with Highett RSL providing lunch for the group, his wish was fulfilled.
We are very grateful to Daryl, General Manager at Highett RSL for his generosity in supporting this wish, and the 13CABS management for allowing their staff to attend.
“Mr Wicking, we found you to be a total inspiration to all of us,” they wrote, after the event.
Desmond’s Wish was for Simpson’s videos so that he could enjoy them at his leisure.
Desmond is a resident at our Frankston South aged care home and a big fan of The Simpsons. Thanks to Wendy from central office, we were able to fulfill his wish: Wendy donated her family’s collection of The Simpsons DVDs, 11 full seasons and various specials. We were also able to purchase a portable DVD player for Desmond so that he can enjoy his DVDs whenever he feels like it, thanks to the funds raised for Hero’s Wiss.
Alan’s Wish was to go to the movies.
Alan is a resident at Vasey RSL Care Frankston South, and thanks to our volunteer Rhonda, Alan’s wish was fulfilled. Rhonda ensured that he had the snacks he needed, made sure his seat was comfortable, and sat back with him to enjoy the movie.
Alan and Rhonda watched ‘Finding your feet’, a British comedy starring Imelda Staunton and Joanna Lumley – 4 stars.
Seafood Wishes
Residents at Vasey RSL Care Ivanhoe made a group wish for a seafood lunch.
Thanks to the support of Medirest, Hero’s Wish donors, the kitchen team and staff, residents enjoyed a scrumptious lunch of oysters Kilpatrick, king prawns and smoked salmon, followed by chicken vol-au-vents with a variety of salads, and chocolate tarts and individual pavlovas to finish.
Staff looked the part dressed as waiters and the dining room had been made over with a beach theme throughout.
Ivanhoe residents were not the only ones wishing for seafood: a number of residents at Vasey RSL Care Bundoora had also put in their wish for a seafood dinner.
And thanks to Parade College Bundoora, their wish was fulfilled.
A scrumptious four-course seafood dinner was cooked by the hospitality students at Parade College Bundoora, with ten residents invited along. Year 12 students, Anthony, Christian, Francesco and Issun were hosts and waiters, while live music was provided by talented students, Jacob, Jamal and Thrubavan, and in the kitchen were Ben, Darcy, Georgia, Rita, Ryan, Jordan, Lachlan, Marcus and James.
Freshly made bread rolls and prawns in cream sauce with rice were followed by bacon and scallop rolls on a bed of rocket and finely sliced apple. Next came seafood parcels with carrots and spinach and to finish, there was chocolate mousse with chocolate truffles dipped in white chocolate.
Resident, Don, gave a vote of thanks to all involved in fulfilling their wish, and noted that you could always tell a good meal by how the carrots are cooked.
We would like to thank all the students for a wonderful evening, and the staff, Michael Chapman (Chef), kitchen as
sistants Christine and Marina, Kylie Kuppe (director of ministry), Jim Seymour (community liaison), and especially Anne-Marie Morello (community action). And of course, big thanks to Lifestyle Coordinator, Linda, and volunteer bus driver, Terry, without whom this event would not have been possible.
Janna Voloshin, CEO: “Hero’s Wish is a program that fulfills the wishes and dreams of our veterans and war widows. It sends a message that we understand the lifelong impact that service has had on their lives.
“We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to making these wishes come true – organisations and individuals – for the monetary donations and the many gifts of time and talents. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I do.
“We have just one more wish to fulfill to complete the wishes received in the first round. It has been an honour and a privilege to be able to bring pleasure to the lives of our war widows and veterans.”