Holdsworth Community Annual Report 2016

ANNUAL REPORT 2016

THE PEOPLE OF HOLDSWORTH

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL REPORT

Our Annual Report and Financial Report have been produced as two separate documents which should be read together to give a full picture of Holdsworth Community achievements and performance throughout the 2015/16 financial year.

Holdsworth Community Ltd has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation office as a tax deductible gift recipient for charity tax concessions.

ABN: 50 949 197 281CFN: 20428

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Holdsworth Community would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional custodians of the land where we work, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and also pay respect to Elders both past and present.

CONTENTS

Chairman & CEO report 3Our priorities 7Financial snapshot 8Holdsworth snapshot 9Woollahra Council partnership report 11More than play... 12Food for thought 13Community transport 15Carers support 17Travel training 18Walking together 19With a little help from our friends 20Building a dementia friendly community 21A vital old age 22Sustainable Holdsworth 23Our people 24Fundraising report 25Thank you 27Our volunteers 29How you can help 30

1 HOLDSWORTH COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016

“Today, I went to see pigs. Two, no three. Really cute. Little kiddy pigs. It was really good. I love the animals.

For lunch I had a burger with eggs.

It’s a good day when you go to the park. It’s a fun time, this park is so good.

I have lots of friends at Holdsworth, we talk about life. I just learn about stuff, it’s pretty good. I love my friends.

I want to be a dancer. I love dancing. I’m really good at dancing.

My favourite colour is blue. My favourite food is pasta and hotdogs.”

Penny was interviewed on the swing in Holdsworth Playground following a visit to Richmond Secret Garden & Nursury as part of the School Holiday program.

MEET PENNY

IT IS OUR VISION TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO LIVE A HAPPY AND FULFILLING LIFE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY PERCEIVED OBSTACLES

CHAIRMAN & CEO REPORT


We are often asked what makes Holdsworth different? When we put this question to our team we came up with a value statement which we try to live by in everything we do as we continue to define what is important to live a Happy Life. No one value stands alone. There is a dynamic tension between our four headline concepts of Trust, Kindness, Openness and Independence. Only when all four values are operating in harmony can we truly achieve our purpose.

Trust

The foundation building block is Trust. Holdsworth’s continuous improvement plan, feedback systems and people engagement strategies are designed to ensure that we deliver a quality service that is safe, reliable and tailored to the needs of our community.

We are very proud that we continue to achieve full compliance with government quality accreditation. This year we have also been accredited to provide services under the Aged Care Act 1997 which will come into force from February 2017 when individuals who receive Home Care packages will be free to choose their own provider. This will allow us to provide a wide range of direct community care for very frail seniors or people living with dementia who require different types of support to continue to live in the community.

One of the biggest changes in the last year was the arrival of My Aged Care, the government’s single point of entry into the aged care system. As a social policy initiative to ensure equity and access for all older Australians to community care, this has been revolutionary, but of course such a major initiative has had a few road bumps. We have worked alongside government and our community members to make this change as easy as possible and continue to provide assistance to smooth the process.

Our new playground has been designed as an inclusive space for everyone and usage has sky-rocketed since its recent opening. Family Services this year was brought back under the aegis of our main organisation which, from 1 July 2016 has transferred its registration to become a new public company limited by guarantee, Holdsworth Community Ltd.

We are already registered as a Provider under the NDIS as we have a few participants who live in the current roll-out areas. One of the break-throughs under NDIS of course is that you choose your own providers and it doesn’t matter where you live if they are the right provider for you.

Kindness

How we work with people is even more important. We hire people who are warm and caring and to whom kindness and generosity comes naturally. If you have eaten at Gaden you will have experienced what we mean by hospitality.

Many of the people who come to Holdsworth have complicated lives due to isolation, infirmity, disability, or any of the many issues faced by our aging population or by families supporting someone living with a disability.

The first thing you can always expect from us is kindness. Yes, we have our fair share of bureaucracy to deal with, but you will always be treated first and foremost as the person you are and never as a ‘case’ or ‘client’. However, kindness doesn’t mean just doing stuff for you. It means making sure you can do it yourself and keep doing it yourself.

Helping to prepare families for the arrival of the NDIS has been a big part of our work this year. We are part way through pre-planning meetings with every family we currently support in order to help your family member to be well prepared when the NDIS arrives in Eastern Sydney next year. The exciting part for us is helping people to expand their horizons from a ‘business as usual’ approach to seeing a world full of new possibilities in an NDIS world. This may mean moving well beyond Holdsworth for some, for others we are ready to go on the journey with you as we examine critically everything we are currently doing and how this needs to evolve in the new world.

There is always a tussle between providing ‘care’ and promoting ‘independence’. That’s why we decided that we must use kindness as our primary operating principle in how we work with you. We want our work to be transformative and not just supportive.

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We promote choice, resilience, equality and individuality

We listen, engage with difference, seek out collaboration and welcome innovation and learning

We are warm, caring, hospitable and generous

We are committed to safety, reliability, integrity and quality.

Openness

We see you as you are and actively engage with where you are at in life. We listen, respect and are open to the choices you want to make. We also actively collaborate with others and welcome innovation and new ideas.

You’ll find throughout this report images and stories that we have collected recently from some of the people in our community, the ‘People of Holdsworth’. Our community is very diverse and each person has his or her own aspirations. We are hoping that by sharing some of the stories of the people involved with Holdsworth, you will gain a better insight into who we are and how we work. By listening to individual stories and interests we are able to connect people with others whose company they may enjoy or with whom they may wish to go out and do fun

things.

One of our newest projects is working individually with people with a recent diagnosis of dementia. Our idea is to help you build a circle of support in your local neighbourhood, with all the people and businesses which are part of your life, so that you will have the resilience to continue enjoying a very good quality of life in the security of your own environment. This project has been funded by the IRT Foundation.

2016 has been our year of collaborations, some of which you will read about throughout this report. FRANS has shared with us its financial literacy training. JewishCare has made a joint staff appointment with us to support carers. We are facilitating the work of the Ngala Nanga Mai pARenT group by providing a driver to pick up young mothers and their children to access their program.

We subcontract to about ten major Community Care providers to deliver part of their clients’ individualised packages through Holdsworth. The VIEW Club has chosen Gaden as the home of its newest branch.

Local high schools continue to be a marvellous resource for us on our children’s peer support programs, seniors discussion and computer training and fundraising activities benefit greatly from many hours of teenage volunteering. The highlight of the year was probably our annual Holdsworth Ball jointly run by St Clare’s and Waverley Colleges.

We were the lead tenderer with other regional community transport organisations for a new initiative to provide travel training, to get more people using public transport. You can read more elsewhere on this new program.

HOLDSWORTH COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016 4

CHAIRMAN & CEO REPORT CONT.We continue to work closely with all our regional NGOs to share ideas, plan for the future and cross refer people on a daily basis. The answer from Holdsworth is always ‘Yes’. If we are not right for you, then we will help you find someone else who is.

Woollahra Council has been with us from the beginning and continues as our major partner. Waverley, Randwick and the City of Sydney have all supported us this year and we were very pleased to be able to expand our popular Home Cuisine service to include the Waverley LGA. We have participated in a number of service planning exercises to attempt to rationalise service delivery and to ensure there are no gaps in service across the region. Local Government is immensely important in advocating for, funding and facilitating quality community care.

Independence

Our ultimate aim is to build your resilience to cope with whatever comes along, encourage and support your choice and independence and help you to achieve your full potential for a Happy Life.

Independence is the one word we would use to sum up Holdsworth’s purpose. Everything we do is about building resilience and independence, from working with young families, watching the growth and development of children and teenagers through the crucial transition stages of school to adulthood and then hopefully preparing for living independently, having meaningful social connections and pursuing occupational interests.

With seniors our aim is to keep you in control of your everyday life choices, doing what you want, where you want and with whom you want. A growth area this year has been our Wellness programs which we have built through cooperation, and a shared staff member, with War Memorial Hospital. After hospital discharge, often after falls or other injuries, many seniors attend time-limited rehabilitation programs at War Memorial (and elsewhere) which have a very positive impact. We identified that there was a service gap at the end of these programs, which meant people were at risk of becoming isolated or requiring further hospitalisation due to falls or other injuries.

To build resilience, balance, flexibility and social connection we have designed on-going programs which include physical and cognitive exercises and an excuse for regular socialising over morning tea and lunch at Gaden, mostly for people who would not normally be up to accessing full day programs. So far the feedback has been excellent; we have started a second day with a waiting list building for more.

We are very excited to have signed up as a Duke of Edinburgh program Award Unit (licensed operator). Instead of just supervising all the wonderful high school students who utilise their volunteering experience here as a component of the Duke of Edinburgh program, we will be encouraging our 14 to 25 year old participants to sign up with us to complete the four components of the Award: engaging in physical recreation, acquiring a skill, providing a community service,

and undertaking an adventurous journey – all part of the important components of transition from youth to adulthood.

Acknowledgement

We are immensely excited about the future for Holdsworth and our community. We are very lucky to have a wonderful group of staff, directors and volunteers who continually challenge our thinking and encourage us to push boundaries in order to enhance our services. We are well supported by our many funders, donors and colleagues from other organisations. Most of all, we have a community of people who expect great things from us and include us in their community of choice. These are the People of Holdsworth.

Helen ArgirisChairman

Michael RyanCEO


MEET STALI“I grew up in different places, my father is a diplomat. So where ever he is assigned, I’m there. I lived in Holland, and also in Italy and America and then here.

You have to adjust to the surroundings where you are. I even learned how to talk a bit of Dutch, because you have to. When I was young a person told me off once at the beach. I asked for an ice cream cone and they said “you want to speak english, you go back to England”. They didn’t understand that I knew the language, but not enough. I nearly cried. I was very young and if I was old I would tell him off.

I finished my schooling in United States. Then my dad was assigned here, so we had to come to Australia because we were minors then. I’ve been here for quite a while. I worked at David Jones in Bondi Junction. Selling or doing anything really, there were not many staff. When they needed some help I went in.

This morning, they picked me up in the bus. I don’t go with this group often but they’re all good friends. I like going places where I can learn something.”

Stali was interviewed at Gaden Community Cafe whilst she was lunching with our Thursday Holdsworth Club Group.


OUR PRIORITIES

PRIORITY 1To support people with a disability, and their carers, to build personal capabilities and community networks which enable them to be independent;

PRIORITY 2 To support people over the age of 65, and their carers, to make the most of their lives in changing circumstances by offering social connections and engaging experiences;

PRIORITY 3To support vulnerable people to maintain their independence, connections with others and live at home for as long as possible through the provision of efficient group or individual transport;

PRIORITY 4To build a welcoming community café, where everyone can have a high quality, affordable meal and experience the feeling of belonging;

PRIORITY 7To offer volunteer opportunities to people in the community so we can broaden Holdsworth services beyond the level of funded support;

PRIORITY 8To build connections in the broader community with the focus of growing both financial/in-kind support in order to build a sustainable and independent income stream;

PRIORITY 9To support staff and volunteers to build their own career development pathways by promoting an environment of continuous learning, building their skills and knowledge to meet current and future demands.

We will be a trusted service provider of choice.We will maximise our resources to support a diversified stream of income to ensure that high quality, innovative services can be offered to people who need them. We will instigate formal partnerships with other relevant for-purpose organisations to further our mission.

PRIORITY 5 To deliver seniors, people living with disability and their carers nutritious, affordable and convenient meals which support their ability to live at home, provide the security of regular contact and connection with the community;

PRIORITY 6To work in partnership with families of children under school age to navigate their own pathway to a positive, shared experience by listening and responding appropriately with information or social connections.

PRIORITY 10To promote the delivery of meaningful outcomes and high quality services for our community while encouraging continuous improvement.

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

Income for FY2015/16 was $5.2 million, a 10% increase on the previous year.

Holdsworth Community recorded a surplus of $164,236 in 2016 (compared to $193,321 in 2015), with total equity increasing to $1.27m. Holdsworth has been deliberately strengthening its balance sheet over the last three financial years in preparation for potential financial disruption and, in particular, pressure on cash flow, which is likely to come with the arrival of the NDIS. Uncertainty over the future status of the local Councils we work with in Eastern Sydney has also played a part in our conservative approach to financial management.

76% of our income came from government contracts and grants (35% Commonwealth, 23% NSW, 18% Local Government) and 24% we raised ourselves, mostly through fees, fundraising and social enterprise activities.

Our expenses were Social Connection (44%), Transport (20%), Food (13%), Family Services (2%) with total administration (17%), with 3% retained equity.

During the year our former incorporated association of Holdsworth Family Services was wound up. Before wind up its turnover was just under $44,000 of which $21,338 was donated back into Holdsworth which now includes Family Services.

From 1 July 2016 Holdsworth Street Community Centre Woollahra Inc transferred its registration to become a public company limited by guarantee and is now known as Holdsworth Community Ltd. This change was a logical next step reflecting our significant growth from local community centre to become a medium size regional NGO.



TECHNOLOGYFor all organisations, technology is becoming more and more important in how we do our work. Because so much of what we do relates to working closely with government, we have become very conversant with working with a number of specialist portals both to receive new referrals and to report on our compliance with our many government contracts. As we move towards NDIS and individualised funding for older people as well, efficient technology is vital to ensure delivery of quality services and to recoup the cost of what we do.

Over the last eighteen months we have been progressively moving to paper-less, cloud-based

management, starting with our finance and accounting systems. We are now rolling out new goal-setting and measurement software which is going to be vital for our future work in the disability space in particular, as this will allow us to work very transparently with all our community members and staff and really put the power into the hands of our participants and their families so that you can track what a difference Holdsworth is making.

The system we are working with was developed in conjunction with one of our neighbouring disability service providers, Creativity Inc and we thank them for the wonderful work they did in contributing to the sector.

Coming soon is new vehicle/cloud based tracking and despatch software to improve the efficiency of our community transport services. This single, state-based system promises to increase the capacity of all transport services and is a win for all users.

We have also invested in new internet and telephony services to ensure we have the resources to maximise the power of these other new systems.

HOLDSWORTH SNAPSHOT

We have 2,800 current participants

We have over 6,100 community

contacts on our database

350 young families regularly connect through

playgroup

Over 30,000 passenger

trips through Community Transport

We provided over 65,000 hours of social connection

We provided 41,000 delicious meals to older community members and to those living with a disability

25% growth in fundraising to

$270,000

10% increase in turnover

Every day at Holdsworth we have hundreds of interactions with members of our community. This could be delivering a meal, a trip to the doctor, an all day social outing, teaching a new skill, a play date in the new playground, a meeting with a family in crisis or any one of the many different programs, activities and services delivered throughout the year. For many of these we can only really estimate how many lives are impacted by the work of our people.

It has been coming for nearly 10 years and finally the NDIS arrives in eastern Sydney. While this is very welcome news for every person under 65 living with a disability, for service providers it means taking a very hard look at ourselves and deciding what we need to do to thrive and survive. There have been many new service providers arrive on the scene since the NDIS began and many have ceased to exist. This market disruption is an inevitable consequence of such a huge social change and, in time, will lead to a massive expansion of the service sector.

Holdsworth is determined to work with all our current and new participants and their families, firstly to support you as you prepare for your individualised planning session with the NDIA, and secondly, to ensure that we have both the flexibility and the expertise to be who you want us to be and to offer the sort of service that will help you to achieve your personal life goals.

We have been around for a very long time and are the centre of community for a very large number of individuals and their families. Change is hard for some, but also very exciting and we are very much up for the challenge.

There will be lots of talking and listening in the months ahead as we work through this transition period and create a whole new Holdsworth.

From early 2017 we will also be able to offer very personalised community care for older people who are assessed as needing individualised funding packages known as Home Care Packages or HCPs. As one of the few community based services providing HCPs in the eastern suburbs, we are very well positioned to make sure people maintain all their usual community connections and services as their support needs increase. With increasing complexity in the sector Holdsworth continues to be a one stop shop to help you navigate through the system and make sure you stay completely in control as to how you utilise potential services.

Just like the NDIS, HCPs enable older Australians to decide what they need for themselves. For some this might be just the necessities of daily living, including personal care and cleaning, but for others, getting out for a chat and meaningful social interaction may be much more life affirming and a better use of rationed government funding. Whatever the case, Holdsworth is here to listen and work with you as your personal advisor.

NDIS READY

HOME CARE PACKAGES


MEET KATIE & SASKIA“We have two daughters, Saskia, who is three on Wednesday, and Annabelle who is nearly 8 months. We are both from England so all our families are overseas.

I first came to Holdsworth with Saskia, when she was about 3 months old. She was ill as a baby, she had kidney reflux and used to scream all day. I was at my wit’s end. I remember clearly coming in and meeting Louise in the Baby Room and it just changed everything. She was so nice and lovely. I’d been stuck at home with a crying baby all the time and she was just calm and gave me lots of suggestions.

Straight away I felt it was such a warm and friendly place so then I

started coming quite regularly with Saskia. She just loves it and feels completely at home here. It’s like her home away from home and she’s so happy to come here.

We’ve made so many really good friends here. Meeting other mums and like-minded mums has been lovely. One of my best friends I met here talking in the baby room about sleep problems with Max and Saskia. We bonded over that and now we see each other every couple of days. I’ve made friends that will be friends for life here.”

Katie was interviewed in the Holdsworth playground and the image is of Saskia having a great time at Playgroup.

The new playground has brought new life to our daily Playgroup and has been a delight to young children and families from across the Eastern Suburbs. The design incorporates sensory equipment to ensure the space is also welcoming to children living with disabilities and sensory issues.

This year we have extended our Playgroup activities with a real focus on childhood development through play. Each term we explore a new topic where children and their carers are given a wide range of early learning experiences. These stimulate children’s physical, social, cognitive, emotional and creative skills through a variety of play activities, stories, music, dance, arts and craft, cultural experiences and sensory play. Our Playgroup helps prepare children and develop important skills for future learning in a more structured childcare or

school environment.

Holdsworth Family Services is about babies, toddlers, young children, parents, grandparents and caregivers. It provides a place to meet and have fun; providing a safe, stimulating play space, a welcoming environment where parents can learn, share ideas and be supported.

The Baby Room offers first time parents the chance to meet others and talk about the joys and challenges of parenthood while being supported by trained staff. Visiting professionals provide informal talks on a range of topics that address issues important in the first year of childhood.

Each term the team come together to explore fresh ideas, broaden our reach, seek out partnerships and embrace the wider region that other Holdsworth programs serve.

MORE THAN PLAY...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

No-one is ignored or treated as just a customer and the warmth of welcome combined with the attentive service and the quality food at affordable prices means that people come back. That is what we want as we strive to build a community that sustains itself.

People come in organised groups, in informal social groups, as families, as couples or on their own. They come to eat, to meet, to talk business, to play games, to listen to music and even to dance!

Gaden is a place for special events, be it Australia Day, Melbourne Cup, Christmas in July or someone’s birthday. We love to make a fuss and these days are sure to have a packed house as people come from all around the east to join in the fun. Bridge, knitting, exercise, art, trivia, discussion groups, music and dancing are all offered on a regular basis but on any day at Gaden expect the unexpected as someone plays the piano or bursts into song.

With all of the above filling the weekdays we have Gaden available for function hire at weekends. We have had birthdays for one year olds and one hundred year olds. We have had christenings, wedding, anniversaries and wakes. The interior space and the sunny park surroundings make for a very attractive venue and we have developed a catering menu to suit all needs from light finger food to three course sit-down dinners.

Come along and join us and bring your ideas. We welcome new community activities and will try to find the space and timeslots to help you make your ideas a reality.

Gaden is more than food, glorious food. What we hear repeatedly is that people love Gaden because it is welcoming and friendly. A place of belonging and a place to make meaningful social connections.

MEET SHAUN“I grew up in a county town called Coonabarabran, a little town of about 3,000. During the school holidays, when I was young at home, I used to cook. No one in my family was really interested in cooking or learning about new dishes and experimenting or anything. So I used to cook lunch and occasionally dinner and everyone in my family was grateful that they didn’t have to cook.

My sense of hospitality comes from my country upbringing, knowing your neighbours and living in a small community, there is that sense of community without having to go looking for it.

I like the way we are able to prioritise on the fly here at Gaden, and just do what needs to be done in such a fun and exciting way.

My favourite part of the job is being able to provide a service and enhance people’s way of life and actually be able to see it unfold before your eyes. It’s not a thankless job, you can see the appreciation on people’s faces and you can see the positive effects on their day to day life.”

Shaun coordinates our Home Cusine program and you’ll see him most days at Gaden, our Community Cafe.

“I’m living in South Coogee, just by myself. It’s relaxing. I do everything by myself, all the cooking the washing and the ironing. Mum comes over sometimes for dinner.

I come [here] for knitting. It’s fun. I’m knitting a blanket. It’s for charity, for Wrapped with Love. Mum taught me how to knit. I’m making a blanket for a baby as well. My brother is having a baby and my other brother has a baby too. I’m an uncle now.

I go to outings on Saturdays. We had a BBQ on Saturday at Bronte. Someone cooked and I cut the onions. And I made salads.

I work in the city. I make tea and coffees. I clean up three kitchens and I get paid for that every week. I save up all my money for a holiday. I went to the Gold Coast this year. I went on a ride where you get wet. Not a scary one, the boat one.”

Lloyd was interviewed at Gaden as he was finishing up his lunch before he joined the Wrap with Love knitting group.

MEET LLOYD


COMMUNITY TRANSPORT

We couldn’t do what we do without access to our fleet of 12 buses, people movers and cars. Most people become aware of Holdsworth from seeing our vehicles criss-crossing the eastern suburbs, and indeed, all of Sydney and beyond.

It is very much a personalised service. Many of the people who use our individual transport service are very frail and isolated, often with numerous health related issues which prevent them from fully engaging in the community. The journey to and from a medical appointment is an important time to chat with one of our drivers or other folk with whom they may be sharing the journey. Knowing that we will be there on time and not having to worry that we will find your house or where you need to get to, takes a lot of the stress out of getting around the increasingly hectic eastern suburbs.

Our bus outings are the secret of what we call the Holdsworth model of community care. When we talk to new people, the first thing they usually are looking for is simply getting out of the house and having a

day out. Every day we have several buses on the road going near and far. For frailer people this will usually be a door to door service, but for the more independent we pick up from more centralised points in order to maximise the time spent out and about.

When not in use for our funded services we use our fleet to work with other community organisations, nursing homes and schools and any extra revenue we earn is ploughed back into our community services.

The future for community transport is somewhat complex, as state funding for younger people will be progressively replaced through the NDIS, and centralised technology is introduced to try and streamline the way individual trips are booked and despatched, with more collaboration necessitated across council borders.

We will ensure that Holdsworth’s commitment to personalised, welcoming and reliable services is not compromised as a result of any state-wide changes.

We are in the business of providing safe, professional, trustworthy community transport.


Rohan (our driver)“I’m originally a Melbourne Boy and in the early 90s, I worked for St Kilda Council. I worked in a Community Centre similar to Holdsworth. I spent around 7 years there. Then the councils amalgamated and everyone had to reapply for their jobs. That’s when I came to Sydney and I’ve been living here now for 16 years. I went into sales and management, first as a buyer and then a General Manager. But the satisfaction wasn’t there. You get to the top, but sometimes when you get to the top, you realise that it wasn’t really where you wanted to go. It’s not quite as rewarding as you thought it would be.

I started to look at where and who I would like to work for and Holdsworth holds a very similar sort of philosophy and a culture that was similar to what I had in my past at St Kilda.

Luckily there was a role here and I met with the team and was offered a position to join as a driver. I really enjoy people, that’s the key for me. I wanted to come back and do good somewhere that benefited the right people. I’ve met some wonderful people and I really enjoy hearing everyone’s stories. Everyone is really appreciative and it’s so nice. I forgot that and I feel like I’ve just come back to basics and this is the right course for me.”

Rohan has recently joined Holdsworth and was interviewed as we drove to pick up Moya in his fourth week of work.

Moya“I’ve lived in Paddington since 1965. It was the best place in Sydney to live. Weekends in Paddington used to be wonderful because the houses would be full of young people and on Saturday afternoon you’d go to the Windsor Castle pub for a drink and there used to be a band there. Then you’d stroll along Windsor Street or Paddington Street and the doors would all be open and there would be masses of people and more music. It was wonderful.

Many nights I walked home from somewhere through the street and you’d be following a trumpet player or a clarinet player. The place was full of musicians, artists and writers; people who couldn’t afford much rent. It was great. It was the best place to live.

There was an English film called ‘The Knack....and How to Get IT’ and there was a funny scene in it where they would move from one place they were renting to another; they were moving a brass bed. They just moved the bed with a couple of their friends on it down the road. Well I saw that in Paddington several times.

It was lovely, it was fun. It was special because of the sort of people that were there, it’s a completely different place now.”

Moya had just been to the Gym at War Memorial Hospital when we picked her up to take her home. Moya uses Community Transport to go to the gym every Tuesday and Friday.

Sarah“I retired when I was 63, I used to work as a nurse for 25 years at Royal Hospital for Women. When we retired, I dreamed to go for as long as possible overseas. Originally I came from Russia and in that country we always had ‘curtain eyes’. We never could go overseas. I used to read a lot of books about all the paintings and all the culture, I dreamed to see, but it was impossible.

After we retired we went for three months. We spent time in America, my brother and my niece are there. And for two months, we travelled through Europe. It was out of this world. All the museums, all the culture. All the things I dreamed of, I saw.

I want to tell you, I have so many compliments for this organisation – it’s just fantastic. They know my name; they know my husband’s name. The atmosphere is so beautiful. My husband, he is actually the main user of transport, today I am going for a test but he is always going to the doctors. All the drivers know George. He’s had three toes removed and he can’t walk properly. His balance is completely off. Not only that he has diabetes. But he is alive and I look after him and thank God for that. I am looking after my husband 57 years. Each of us was born half and all our life we were looking for a second half to come together completely. We are so lucky”

We picked Sarah up from home to take her to a medical appointment at St Vincent’s.

STORIES FROM THE ROADThe following stories were collected whilst travelling in with Individual Transport for a couple of hours one day.

CARERS SUPPORTSupport for carers continues to grow at Holdsworth Community and is offered in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the individual. We currently have a number of regular support groups and events scheduled throughout the year including:

• a Coffee Club for carers of people living with dementia which meets monthly.

• Quarterly Carers Dinner for the carers of people with a disability, which provides an opportunity for carers to make connections with other carers and share information.

• We have established a new Carer Wellbeing Group for the carers of people living with a disability, which meets monthly.

We are also very excited to be working on a new group for the carers of people living with dementia – Y’Chad Group – in collaboration with the Burger Centre. This will be a group that focusses on wellbeing with an emphasis on Jewish culture.

Due to feedback from families we are looking to establish a new Sibling Group for the siblings of children who live with disabilities which is scheduled to launch in early 2017.

This project will be a collaboration with Moriah College and Headspace Bondi Junction.Siblings currently fall through the cracks in funding programs as most of the funding is focused on the person living with a disability and the main caregiver who in

most instances would be the parent. The overarching goal for this program will be to provide support for siblings in order to increase resilience and build self-worth so they can live active and happy lives as children.

We continue to work collaboratively with Carers NSW and the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Carer Program to host information sessions for carers throughout the year.

TRAVEL TRAININGThis year Transport for NSW has funded a new initiative to encourage people to use public transport who might otherwise be reliant on community transport to remain connected. Holdsworth partnered with a number of other regional community transport providers and won a two-year tender to cover the city and eastern suburbs, the St George and Sutherland areas.

This tender allows us to build on the work we have been doing for some years to build the confidence and skills for our teenage and adult community members to utilise public transport, which in turn opens up for many the world of work, a social life and independence. This is particularly important ahead of the NDIS rollout under which the delivery of community transport will be funded very differently.

We are partnering with Activus Transport (Sutherland), St George Community Transport, Randwick Waverley Community Transport Group and are also supported

by South Eastern Community Connect to deliver the program. The service works by offering people who are physically and cognitively capable of using public transport a travel trainer to work one-on-one and in groups to understand their specific needs and ability, guide them through all the necessary trip details, help plan the route for a particular journey, highlight available local public transport options and timetables, support them to learn how to use Opal Cards and then accompany them on their trips until they are confident to travel by themselves.

We have already trained staff and volunteers to deliver the program and have started working with individuals and groups out in the community.

If you know someone who you think would benefit from Travel Training, please contact the team at Holdsworth and we can provide further details.

WALKING TOGETHERWe get to hear many dreams from people of all ages and we work together so that each person can live the life they want and be who they want to be. This is a collection of stories we have heard and some of the transformations we have achieved together.

Before: Just started school, has no friends, wants everything to herself and screams at her parents when asked to do anything at home or can’t get her way.

After: Has made friendships and is more open to sharing items with other kids her age, she has become more responsive when given jobs to do for other kids.

Before: So shy she doesn’t make any eye contact with anyone, her answer is always no – she has a great smile that not many get to see.

After: Over time has increased her confidence and observing the people around her. Nodding to say yes is something new, her message has been received and that confidence oozes from her smile.

Before: Leaving school at the end of the year, I don’t want to leave school. I want a girlfriend.

After: I’m excited and I know my plan once I leave school. I’ll have more exciting things to do. I haven’t got a girlfriend yet, but I’m looking and went to this Dateables thing….it might help.

Before: I want to go on holiday with my mates instead of with my parents. One day I want to go on a big trip overseas like everyone else gets to do.

After: We had fun going to the Gold Coast for a week! Best thing was we didn’t have any staff in our unit where we stayed, they had their own. We had a cool time away. I’m still working towards my big trip overseas and checking out the places I want to go to.

Before: I only work 2 days a week, my mum takes me to work and picks me up both days. Sometimes I want to go out with my friends to the pub after work. I don’t drink, but I really want to be able to hang out with my friends.

After: I get the bus to and from work. Whenever my mates and I want to go to the pub we just go because I can get home on my own.

Before: I sometimes forget how to do things at home, I live in my own apartment.

After: I get support to maintain my skills to to live independently, otherwise I might have to move back to my parents’ home. I don’t want to do that.

Before: I don’t have a lot of spare money to go to different places; it would take me a long time to pay for something like a nice holiday. I need to learn how to save up some money.

After: I learned how to budget my money and have an agreed plan to help pay off my holiday each fortnight. I’m going on a cruise with my friends.

Before:I’ve retired from work and sit at home with my carers, I still want to go out and do things but there aren’t many options.

After: I go out with a small group of friends I used to work with, we do our own planning and decide where we want to go each day. It’s a fun day and I’m tired when I get home.

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDSHoldsworth is currently working on the launch of a unique opportunity to provide support for young people living with an intellectual disability to undertake their own Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a flexible and non-competitive program centred on personal development for young people aged between 14 and 25 years old offered around the world. As of 2017, Holdsworth will be one of a handful of organisations directly involved in supporting participants with a disability to undertake the Award and one of the first focusing on supporting those living with an intellectual disability.

Our program will focus on providing the support as needed and empowering young people to set their own goals, make choices and achieve their personal best through the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Participants of the award will gain valuable life skills and potentially have access to more opportunities when they are taking the next steps post school, whether that’s further study, training, day programs, voluntary or paid work.

We would not have been able to kick off this project without the support of Scentre Group, TOMS and all the generous people who shop at Bondi Junction. We have been able to collaborate on two major fundraisers with Scentre Group this year including a pop-up shop with TOMs Australia and GiveAbility Day.

The TOMS collaboration centred on a retail pop up shop. TOMS was founded in 2006 on a simple idea – that for every pair of shoes sold they would provide

a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. TOMS has since expanded from shoes to include eyewear which support the restoration of sight and bags matched with birthing kits and education to young mothers in developing countries.

For this collaboration, in addition to the support TOMS provide globally, they donated 100% of the retail profits to Holdsworth Community. Scentre Group came to the party with a free lease and advertising package to support the pop up. In order to maximise profits the store staff were assisted by Holdsworth and Westfield volunteers.

Through the collaboration TOMS will provide 657 new pairs of shoes for children in need, restore the eyesight of 44 people, provide 29 birthing kits and have donated $16,500 to Holdsworth.

Give Ability Day was held at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday 6 August with 80 volunteers kindly donating their time to collect donations from shoppers to support our programs for children living with disability. We were able to collect just over $9000 on the day which was then matched by Westfield.

Together, these two collobarations have resulted in over $35,000 which we are using to pilot the Duke of Edinburgh program. A massive thanks to our major Corporate Partner, Westfield Bondi Junction and TOMS Australia for their support!



BUILDING A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITYHoldsworth is collaborating with Woollahra, Waverley & Randwick Councils, Alzheimer’s NSW and local people living with dementia and their carers on an action plan to make the community more Dementia Friendly. In 2015 we were able to work through the process with Alzheimer’s NSW to have both Holdsworth Community Centre and Gaden Café recognised as Dementia Friendly places. We are now looking to expand the activity outwards across the Eastern Suburbs.

A dementia-friendly community may be defined as being a place: • in which it is possible for the greatest number of people with

dementia to live a good life; • where people with dementia are enabled to live as independently as possible and to continue to be part of their community; • where they are met with understanding and given support where necessary.

It is a place where the community acts consciously to ensure that people with dementia are respected, empowered, engaged and embraced into the whole.

We are delighted that Diana Fisher OAM, has agreed to act as our Dementia Friendly Ambassador.

We were very excited to receive a grant from IRT Foundation to progress our work in this area through the development of a program called ‘Staying Connected’, a whole of community approach to supporting people living with dementia. It

complements traditional services that are offered to people living with dementia such as day programs or respite, and provides a practical model that enables people and their families to identify the support that is available from family, friends and people with whom they already have relationships or frequent contact in their community. It will also offer the opportunity to identify the person’s wishes so they can organise their lives to do the things that they would like to do. ‘Staying Connected’ shows that there is a life after dementia diagnosis and that people can make the very best of the opportunities that are available in their personal community.

“I was born in 1917, does that make me 99? Well I’ll get a letter from the Queen next year. I’ll return it and she can get it back again. I don’t need a letter from the Queen, I’m happy without it. She’s happy on the throne and I’m happy with my friends. I think she might have some friends but most people might be afraid to be her friend. I like going out in the bus and having other friends to talk to and to hear their stories.

I grew up on the North Coast in a small country town called Bangalow. It’s 8 miles west of Cape Byron, 10 miles from Ballina. It was a country town, close to the surf so we used to go surfing every weekend. All of the beaches had surf patrols so if someone got in trouble they would send out a life saver. Fortunately, I didn’t ever have to use one, I could get back myself.

With the high school in Lismore, we had to travel 20 miles in the train to Lismore. That took an hour because there were stations that had to be collected on the way up. So if you went through a tunnel and you were on an outside seat then one of the boys would kiss you in the tunnel and you never knew who it was. If you didn’t sit on the outside seat, then you missed that kiss. Some of them were sloppy kisses too.”

Irene shared her story over a coffee at Gaden.

MEET IRENE


A VITAL OLD AGE

We could say that it is Holdsworth that keeps this older age group active, connected and engaged with life, but it is really the other way around. Earlier this year we had a man sign up for our yoga classes because he thought this would be a good way to maintain his balance and avoid falls. At 100, he still lives on his own and makes sure to spend some time each day on his exercise bike. When we asked him how old he feels, he suggested, ‘maybe late 70s or early 80s’.

Then there is the lady, who doesn’t want anyone to know her age, who refuses to go near doctors or hospitals, but is still up for our regular outings for our most active seniors. Your secret is safe with us!

In addition to our outings and exercise classes, discussion groups, movies and music

appreciation groups, bridge, water-colour classes, knitting and the Gaden choir, we also help to maintain the vitality of older age with our food and transport services and our personalised shopping and regular connection for people who are less able to get out and about.

The buzz words in community care for older people these days are ‘Wellness’ and ‘Enablement’, and they are best illustrated through our flexible approach of matching people to whatever activities and services are right for them at wherever they are at in terms of fitness, mobility, health and engagement. For many older people this can involve a cycle, especially after periods of hospitalisation when a greater level of care may be required, such as delivery of Holdsworth’s Home Cuisine service. As fitness returns,

we will work together to get you back on to one of our Shopping buses and hopefully, when you are ready, coming back for lunch at Gaden.

The other important aspect of ‘community care’ is that it also means care by the community itself. Older people are very attuned as to who in their groups might like a bit of extra time or support to keep up with the rest of a group, and this means we are able to match up people who want to be together because of their common interests and friendship.

People in their 70s and 80s are all very well, but if you really want to learn about life, talk to Holdsworth’s People in their 90s and 100s. These are the real years for living life to the full and giving up on worrying.

MEET GEORGIE“I moved constantly as a child and I lived a lot of my childhood with my grandparents. Growing up with my grandparents gave me a lot of interest and empathy for older people which is why I think I ended up working in Seniors programs.

I grew up in Canberra, which I loathed, but having said that it has a fantastic subculture and I was a punk at a very early age. I got into bands pretty early and I was a music enthusiast and I still am. I can’t go a day without music and I call my iPod my sanity saver.

I came to Holdsworth as a student placement. I had studied nursing but I had realised that I didn’t want to work in nursing because of the hours. When I came to do my placement here, I started in our Memory Loss Club program and I was lucky to be offered a job as a team leader before I had even finished my placement.

What I like about Holdsworth is the care. We actually really do sincerely care for the participants and when I was working out in the field I saw that on a daily basis. We have a really nice way with people. It’s not like day leave, Holdsworth is like your part of an extended friendship or family.”

Georgie has been with the Holdsworth Team since 2014 and started working in the field on our Memory Loss program and has recently moved into the office as our Community Links Officer working with volunteers.

SUSTAINABLE HOLDSWORTHAs the population continues to grow, the increased use of electricity, resources and petrol is resulting in high levels of pollution which is damaging our atmosphere and our precious natural environment. Each person has an environmental footprint which will impact on future generation ability to meet their needs. Being more conscious about the resources

which we use will not only reduce the damage we cause to the earth, but will also save us money.

At Holdsworth we want to make responsible decisions to minimise the negative impact of our operation on the natural environment. Where possible, we will strive to reduce our consumption of resources, reuse

what we already have and recycle the things we can no longer use.

Our Plan focuses on 3 key areas:

1. REDUCE ENERGY USE

2. REDUCE WASTE

3. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT


OUR PEOPLE

Our staff and volunteers are Holdsworth’s greatest assets, and we value their commitment, their passion and their contribution to the community. Our positive workplace culture fosters innovation, recognises performance and offers development opportunities, ensuring that we attract, retain and invest in the best people.

The Holdsworth team comprises of 95 individuals with about 50% employed on a permanent basis and 50% employed on a casual basis. The team works closely with over 150 volunteers to deliver our programs throughout the year.

All staff and volunteers have current police and working with children checks and undertake

regular training to ensure we consistently deliver programs that meet both our values and the expectations of those whom we support.

The Management Team

• CEO – Michael Ryan • Executive Officer – Ruth

Kestermann • Community Transport Manager

– Ian Jankovic • Community Relations Manager

– Eric Scott • Community Care Manager –

Kim Tipoki• Development Manager – Jodie

Wainwright

The Board

Holdsworth is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors who provide strategic direction, goals and monitoring of performance.

Our Directors are:• Helen Argiris (Chairman)• Suzie Ridell (Deputy

Chairman)• Adam Crowe• Luise Elsing• Susan Jarnason• Ben McAlpline• Louise Mooney• Katherine O’Regan• Tess Protey• Claire Wivell Plater

Thank you to the following Directors who retired during the year:• Wendy Miller • Debbie Nabi• Barbel Winter

From left to right: Kim Tipoki, Michael Ryan, Jodie Wainwright, Eric Scott, Ruth Kestermann and Ian Jankovic


FUNDRAISING REPORTFundraising income for FY2015/16 of $270,000 was a 25% increase on the previous year. Growth can be attributed to a great result in Philanthropic Grants and our Gala Fundraiser event.For the last two years, Holdsworth Community has had an increased focus on diversifying funding streams to ensure that we are best placed to support the community through the sector changes and this year’s results are certainly showing the success of investment in this area.

A key focus for this year has been improving communications with our supporter base and the wider community. A highlight of the implementation thus far was the launch of our new website in July 2016. The new content management system makes our site very easy to update in the changing environment and the new layout with larger text is easier to read.

We have also begun a process of developing a new fundraising portal which will link directly into the site and should be live later in 2016.

Individual Giving

We continued with our two annual appeals this year and we saw a 15% increase in revenue and a 50% increase in the donor base. With the organisation moving over to a company as of 1 July, we encouraged our members to join our donors circle to continue the support they previously offered through their membership. This conversion was very successful with a 40% response rate to the mailing. Many had already donated that year and we hope to see continuing support from this group in future appeals.

We were delighted to welcome Georgia Cleary as a major donor to Holdsworth this year for her donation of the Nest Swing to the Playground Renovation project.

Corporate Partners

Once again we are extremely grateful for the support from Westfield Bondi Junction our major corporate partner (check out page 21 for more details). Grill’d Bondi Junction continues their support of various program through the local matters community support program. The Holdsworth Gala Fundraiser also gave us the opportunity to engage with many local businesses including our sponsors for the evening Watson Mangioni, 1st Street Mortgage Brokers, Double Bay Chamber of Commerce and Ray White Woollahra.

Many thanks to Tessa and Mark Swadling from Pontoon Bar, Lion Nathan and Yalumba who donated all the beverages for our Gala Fundraiser.

Trusts & Foundations

Throughout the year we submitted 40 grant applications and were successful with the following grants:• Stronger Communities

Program• Community Builders

Programme• NSW Seniors Week Grants• Scentre Group (Westfield) -

Golf Grants• Continence Foundation of

Australia• Wolper Foundation• IRT Foundation• Commonwealth Bank

Community Fund

THE GALA

Community Fundraising

We saw huge growth in the community fundraising portfolio with a number of community lead events donating funds to Holdsworth throughout the year. Scots College donated $3,525 from their Comedy for a Cause event which has now become an annual fundraiser for Holdsworth. Local families provided strong support for the playground renovation and there was a highly successful raffle coordinated by a group of Playgroup mothers which raised in excess of $3,000. We also attracted community support from groups such as Bondi Lions Club and Club Kidpreneur.

Holdsworth Gala Fundraiser

The Gala was held at the Intercontinental Double Bay on Saturday, 2 April 2016. It was a wonderful evening with 150 guests

from across the Eastern Suburbs turning out to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Holdsworth Playground and raise funds to support Holdsworth independence and capacity building programs for people living with disability and best practice programs to support people living with dementia so they can continue to live in the community.

We were entertained by the Sydney Jazz Collective and Tony Squires donated his services to MC for the evening.

A huge thank-you to the event committee members who helped coordinate the evening - Jenny Newtwon, Richard Banks, Jonathan Cairns, Linda Quatermass, Debbie Nabi, Georgina Davies, Adam Crowe, Mark Jones, Jennifer Brown and Brooke Taberrer.

And finally, we would not have been able to have such a fabulous night without the support of our sponsors. Many thanks to:


THANK YOUGOVERNMENT FUNDERS

Holdsworth wishes to acknowledge the following funders which support Holdsworth through multi-year grants.

• Australian Government, Department of Health

• NSW Department of Family & Community Services – Ageing, Disability and Home Care

• NSW Department of Family & Community Services – Community Services

• Transport for NSW• NSW Ministry of Health• Woollahra Municipal Council• Randwick City Council• Waverley Council• City of Sydney Council

LOCAL SCHOOLS

We thank the following schools for their continuous support (either financial or through provision of volunteers):

• Ascham• Scots College• Waverley College• St Clare’s• Cranbrook• SCEGGS• Sydney Grammar• Rose Bay Secondary College• St Andrews• Marcellin College• Moriah• Wenona• Kambala• Kincoppal

CORPORATE PARTNERS

Holdsworth is proud to have Westfield Bondi Junction as our major corporate partner once again in 2016.

We thank the following organisations who provided either financial or in-kind support throughout the year.

1888 Certified, Albion Cycles, Armadillo & Co, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Vintage Limited, Awaken your Health, Axel Mano Boutique, Brokenwood Wines, Brooke Amanda Goddard (Artist), BT Ryan Smash Repairs, Captain Cook Cruises, deLorenzo Haircare, Dickerson Gallery, Flatwhite cafe, Fraser Pollock (Artist), Greene & Greene – Antiques, Jewellery & Silver, Home Instead, Hungerford Hill, Huon Hook, Intercontinental Double Bay, Ivanhoe wines, Jacadi Paris, JNP Studios, Jo Malone Woollahra, Karl Schwerdtfeger Photography, Karpati Medispa, Krinklewood, Louise Mitchell-Double Bay, Malcolm Turnbull Electorate Office, Martina Bourolias, McWilliams Wines, My Island Home, Naomi Hamilton Photography, No Chintz – Fabrics & Design, NSW Golf Club, Oz Paddle Sydney, Parterre, Penguin Random House Australia, Perryman Carpets, Queens Court Business Centre, Reads Woollahra, Regatta Restaurant and Bar, Renegade Cycles, Richard Caldwell, Richard Martin (Artist), Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Sassy Park, Sports Fundamentals, Sydney City Toyota, Sydney FC, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Roosters, Sydney Swans, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, The Andersons, The Classic Safari Company, The Good Guys Alexandria, The Rudy Project

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

We would like to thank the following generous donors:

The Patrons Table• Linda Quatermass & Ian

Enright• Lenore Adamson• Christine Paull

• Roanne McGinley Knox & John Knox

Lifetime friends of Holdsworth• Helen Argiris & Jeff Temple• Patricia Bridges• Luise Elsing• Charmain Gladston• Julianna & Tony Graham• Patricia Horsley• Lilian Ings• Elaine Irwin• Mark Jones• Armorel McClintock• Jean Millard• Jenny Newton• Antoinette Rando• Mary Read• Suzie Riddell• Joy Spire• Mark & Tessa Swadling• Claire Wivell Plater & James

Kirby

Friends of HoldsworthDorothy Abernethy | Jessica Allen | John Angus | Phil Barton | Carole Beaton | Denise Been | Jolan & Mor Berger | Jan Biber | Matthew Brown | Arthur Bullen | Pamela & Leslie Burroughs | Wallace Carroll | Marie Cashman | Cara Chriqui | Amber Cleary | Wendy Anne Cohen | Peter Comino | Beryl Copas | Merle Crawley | Jonathan Cumberlege | Hilary Da Costa | Kate Davies | Yvonne De Lorenzo | Aileen Delaney | Matthew Dobson | Maadi Einfeld | Joy Erby | Bridget Fair | Pamela Fox | Leonie Freed | Marie Freyne | Carmel Gatto | Elizabeth Gianniotis | Jeremy and Sue Glass | David Gordon | Pat Gordon | Debra Graves | Marion Greer | Pauline Griffin | Yoram Gross | Margaret Hemphill | Judy Hertel | Brian Hickey | Desmond & Ethel Hing | Jean Hobbs | Rosemary Hodgkinson | Shirley Hollander | Wendy Homer | Beryl Horton | Jean



OUR VOLUNTEERSIn every volunteering relationship there are at least two beneficiaries, the person giving and the person receiving a service. When we asked Georgie what she looks for in a new volunteer she immediately answered, “heart, energy and empathy” and then she said, “and experience”. We are incredibly lucky to have a very diverse group of volunteers who bring so many skills and life experiences to our work. We recruit based on our values and then take great care to try and match our volunteers’ interests and abilities with other Holdsworth people.

Many volunteers come to us as students and we are able to offer highly structured placements, complete with on-the-job supervision and participation in Holdsworth’s well regarded training programs.

Others bring particular expertise, such as artistic or counselling skills, which we are then able to translate into meaningful volunteering opportunities.

Volunteers come to us at all stages of life, which works well here because we can usually find roles which fit comfortably with what people have to offer in terms of time, skill or interests. We take the development of all our volunteers very seriously and offer many opportunities to experience different aspects of our work and to undertake training. The things we can’t train for are kindness and empathy, but luckily there is no shortage of these attributes in our magnificent team of volunteers.

A community works based on diversity and reciprocity. It is both a privilege and a service to volunteer with the People of Holdsworth.

“I’m a grandma and I’ve got nearly 5 grandchildren, one’s due at Christmas time. Until recently, my husband had commuted to the city from the Blue Mountains for over 30 years for work. When the children were old enough, we thought maybe it was time to make things easier for him. So we decided to rent our house and we now live in Surry Hills in a little one bedroom apartment. I had worked in a Pathology Lab for about 15 years but I always knew it wasn’t something I was going to do for ever and I felt like now was a good time for a change.

I had always done community work and I’ve always liked those sort of things. So, I decided I would go and study Community Services and get a little bit more knowledge behind the thing that I like to do.

I put my name down originally to help with the Playgroup and the Memory Loss Group as I thought that that would give me quite a variety or experiences. I felt as though I would be more comfortable with the Playgroup as I had done it before. But I’ve really learnt a lot and I’ve enjoyed being with the memory loss group. It’s just lovely to see that they’re all individuals and learning how to connect with them. Just because they’ve got memory loss, doesn’t mean they’re all the same. They’ve all had very different lives and I feel like I’ve had a lot to learn and I’ve really enjoyed being here at Holdsworth and it’s been a great experience.”

Terrie was interviewed one Friday morning just before she headed out to the NSW Art Gallery with our Friday Memory Loss Group.

MEET TERRIE


• Make a donation - you can choose to make a one off donation or become a regular giver. Every donation helps us provide vital programs to the community.

• Leave a gift in your will - this is an easy way to leave a lasting legacy for your community. Talk to us to find out more about how to leave a gift in your will.

• Become a corporate partner - we love to work with local businesses to develop partnerships that can provide real results for the community.

• Funding a large project - we are always happy to speak to major donors, trusts/foundations and corporations about funding for tangible specific projects or pilots

• Get involved in fundraising events - from the City to Surf through to a Gala dinner we have an event to suit everyone. Check out our website for a schedule of upcoming events that you can get involved in. Or contact us about how to make the most of your own event.

• Turn your next celebration into a fundraiser - many of us don’t want gifts so why not ask your friends and family to make a donation to your local community instead.

Ways to give

In personHoldsworth Community

64 Holdsworth StWoollahra NSW 2025

MailHoldsworth Community

Reply paid 84147Woollahra NSW 2025

Phone/Email02 9302 3600

[email protected]

Webwww.holdsworth.org.au

HOW YOU CAN HELP

MEET DEBBIE

“I transplanted myself from the US to the Eastern Suburbs about 17 years ago.On my first visit to Holdsworth, I saw the discussion group for 80 plus year olds. These were people who lived independently at home, but wanted to stay involved and keep their minds ticking over. The discussion of the day was the ‘children overboard’ situation. I thought, “This could be me in 40 years” - living in an adopted community, wanting to continue to connect. I started out volunteering on fundraising and events, and then joined the Holdsworth Board. After my 3 year stint, I moved on to become a ‘Holdsworth Ambassador’ helping to promote Holdsworth in the local community. I can see how Holdsworth makes a real impact on people’s lives, their happiness and their sense of independence through providing choices and opportunities, support and inclusion. I know I’d value this for myself in the future so I want to support Holdsworth today.”

GET IN TOUCHHoldsworth Community 64 Holdsworth StWoollahra NSW 2025www.holdsworth.org.au

Gaden Community CafeCnr Queen St & Edgecliff RdWoollahra NSW 2025

02 9302 [email protected]

www.holdsworth.org.aufacebook.com/holdsworthfacebook.com/holdsworthplaygrouptwitter.com/holdsworth

MEET JOE

“I worked in retailing, well into my later life. I started off as an apprentice upholsterer. Anthony Hordens had a big old factory up at Redfern, I worked there and then I got a little bit sick of it and I decided to give retailing a go. A friend of mine, he was a traveller, and he said I’ve got a good friend of mine who is the store general manager of Grace Brothers at Broadway. And he come back a week later or so and said you’ve got to go and see this chap at such and such a time. And I went and saw him and he said I’m not going to promise you the world but I’ll start you off as a salesman on the floor. Which I accepted and after a short time, I became the manager of the lounge furniture department and from there I eventually got to be the merchandise manager of the homemakers at Broadway. I was with Grace Bros for about 20 odd years and I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was great.

I wasn’t sorry to retire. Then I lost my wife but I have a daughter and a son. My daughter lives at Darlinghurst.

I spend a lot of time with my daughter, she’s got a nice unit in Darlinghurst but I’ve still got my residence in Birrong, which is in the Western Suburbs. My daughter is an excellent cook, very hard to leave. She’s a better cook than me.

I’ve enjoyed my life, it’s been great. And coming here, it’s meeting other people and talking to them. Makes you feel connected to the world. I wouldn’t like to be sitting at home every day. We’ve got a very good group here; I think most of them are in the same boat. It’s nice, like this chap here is a nice guy, a good guy. It makes your week, you look forward to going out and that.

And my daughter, I’ve got to give her 10 out of 10 for it because it’s been excellent for me. It’s meeting other people, which I like.”

Joe was interviewed in our Community café over a coffee while he was waiting for the group to arrive for a trip to Palm Beach.

Holdsworth Community Annual Report 2016

Documents

Transcript of Holdsworth Community Annual Report 2016