M RE · accolade goes to two of Handel’s Oratorias; ‘Saul’ and ‘Solomon’. (Not having...

Find out what to plant in your winter garden

Metlifecare residents recount WW2 memories and visit Omaha Beach

D-Day Landings

Colour in the Cold

Magic in the MusicWe talk to Graham Abbott, guest conductor for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

Shaun Wallace from hit TV show The Chase visits Pinesong Village

The Thrill of The Chase

M REINSTORE

WINTER 2019 |

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Publisher: Metlifecare LtdEditor: Kate Drury

Contributors: Kate Drury, Vern WalkerCover: APO guest conductor

Graham AbbottFor all editorial enquiries, please contact

[email protected]

Metlifecare’s More in Store magazine has a distribution of 8,700 and is

available online at metlifecare.co.nz/metlifecare

PO Box 37463, ParnellAuckland 1151

metlifecare.co.nz0800 909 303

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To fi nd out more, call us on 0800 367 847or visit metlifecare.co.nz

Your unique pursuits, passions and preferences don’t retire just because you have. No matter how you pictured your ideal retirement lifestyle, you’ll fi nd it in one of 25 distinctive Metlifecare villages. Each has a range of accommodation options, from villas to serviced apartments to care homes, all with the highest quality facilities.

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What’s in Store

From the CEO’s desk


Star Trekker Ann Franks

The D-Day Landings

D-Day 75th Anniversary

Quiet an achievement

Short snippets

Magic in the Music

Village fundraisers

Anzac Day commemorations

Sports & Recreation

Mid winter celebrations

GARDENING Colour in the cold

RECIPES Super Soups

Apple Cobbler

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FEATURES

HAPPENINGS

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Read our exclusive interview with Graham Abbott, guest conductor at the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

04 05metlifecare.co.nzMORE IN STORE | July 2018

Welcome to the winter edition of More in Store. We’re delighted to bring you so many stories about our residents and staff doing

amazing things; from Longford Park Village Nurse Manager Ann Franks walking the length of New Zealand to resident Cheryl Sinclair providing over 55 years volunteer service for St John’s Ambulance.

We’re also pleased to announce a new

sponsorship with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Music plays such an important part of life in our villages,

so we are delighted to help the APO

achieve more of their community outreach goals,

with the benefit that many of our residents are enjoying exclusive open rehearsals and first-class musical performances at their villages. We’re very excited for all that is still to come as our partnership develops.

Since our last edition, we have also achieved momentum with several of our new village developments. Stage one of Gulf Rise is almost complete and we are delighted that our first residents will shortly be moving into their spacious new villas.

We have reached another milestone at Gulf Rise, where we can now invite you to step inside our new fully furnished display villa. Potential residents are experiencing the attractive open design and modern finishes in our villas for themselves and imagining themselves in their new home.

We have been engaging with local community groups close to the proposed retirement village in Pine Harbour, seeking advice and feedback on the plans and proposed village amenities. We were delighted to recently reveal the new name and logo, along with a glimpse of the initial plans for ‘Pohutukawa Landing’.

As well as consulting with the Pohutukawa Coast community, in June we conducted the first community engagement sessions at the site of our proposed Botany village in East Auckland, right on the edge of the Pakuranga Golf Course.

We were pleased to welcome hundreds of people to view the initial design concepts and provide

From the CEO’s desk

their feedback. This process is invaluable because the input we receive from the local community is actively used to shape and improve the design of the village.

Our data tells us that three out of four residents in our villages come from the local community so the local area engagement process is fundamental to our approach to new developments.

We want to ensure we build villages with authentic identities that genuinely reflect and celebrate the uniqueness of their local communities, so residents will feel a true sense of connectedness and belonging.

Shortly, we’ll be celebrating the opening of not one, but two new Care Homes in the Bay of Plenty at our villages in Papamoa Beach Village and The Avenues in Tauranga. This has been a significant project for Metlifecare, not only the largest recruitment project in our history with over 100 roles to be filled, but also in extending our continuum of care in the Bay, and opening our first dementia care unit.

The new care homes follow our NZACA award-winning ‘homestead model’ of care, designed to achieve better consistency of care, increase socialisation, provide a more homely atmosphere and a friendly place for family and friends to visit.

The team at Somervale have recently celebrated another milestone as the Care Home successfully secured four-year certification – the gold standard in the Ministry of Health certification process. Another great outcome for our Clinical team.

As we enter a new financial year, we look forward to continuing to focus on our residents and put them at the heart of everything we do.

Glen SowryCEO - Metlifecare

Inside the show villa at Gulf Rise Botany Village design concept

The Avenues care homeArtists’ impression

NZACA award

CEO Glen Sowry

Papamoa Beach Village care homeArtists’ impression

Design concept for Pohutukawa Landing

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It was standing room only in the Sea Breeze Lounge at Pinesong village when Shaun Wallace, also known as ‘the Dark Destroyer’ from popular UK TV show The Chase, came to Auckland. He made time

in his busy schedule to speak to a packed audience of excited residents. The professional quizzer and ex-Mastermind champion made the West Auckland village the very last appointment on his whistle-stop tour of New Zealand to promote his new autobiography ‘Chasing the Dream’.

With characteristic delays in Auckland’s traffic adding to the flurry of anticipation regarding Wallace’s arrival, the English TV personality and barrister finally entered the lounge to a rapturous reception from over 250 residents and staff. His arrival was so hotly anticipated that extra chairs had to be brought in from all over the village to cater for the huge turnout. With hugs, handshakes and kisses for the audience, Wallace took centre stage to deliver an engaging presentation about his life and career, revealing that he is the only Chaser that still maintains a career outside of the TV show. He spoke candidly about his law career, passion for history and thirst for knowledge which ultimately led him to his unusual role as a professional quizzer, including winning Mastermind UK before taking up his regular slot on The Chase.

Pinesong fans didn’t let Wallace leave without grilling him with quiz questions of their own, testing his mettle with tricky topics such as international currencies, as well as asking what the going rate is for a Chaser (about $5000 per show apparently!). His general knowledge is impressive but he also showed his human side, getting a few questions wrong though mostly

06 MORE IN STORE | July 2018

only on NZ-specific trivia. Pinesong’s resident quizmasters were game enough to go head to head in their own quiz competition with Shaun who scored a resounding victory, showing the killer instincts which have made him so popular as a Chaser on the TV quiz show.

It was clear from the queues to meet Shaun afterwards and the bustle of excitement around him that he has a huge following at Pinesong.

Shaun was very gracious with his fans and spent so much time signing autographs and books and taking pictures that his management looked very nervous as they finally ushered him into his car to leave. We later found out he made it to the airport with only moments to spare before his flight home to the UK departed.

Pinesong’s resident quiz masters go head to head with Shaun

Shaun’s popular with fans of all ages

Book signing

The Dark Destroyer - Shaun Wallace

Graham Abbott’s first memory of conducting is as a young boy growing up in suburban Sydney. He remembers pilfering his mother’s steel knitting needles to

use as batons, energetically conducting an imaginary orchestra in his lounge. With no musicians in his large family to mimic, Graham assumes he must have first seen an orchestral performance on TV. This chance viewing ignited something in Graham; starting his lifelong passion for classical music.

Through his career to date, Graham has explored his relationship with music from many different angles. Starting out teaching music as a young man, Graham went on to take internships both with orchestras and established conductors, before graduating to more senior roles and landing prestigious conducting positions with choirs and orchestras across Australia and New Zealand. As well as teaching and performing music, Graham also worked as a music journalist. Many recognise Graham from his long stint as a radio presenter on ABC Classical in Australia.

Graham’s mother was key to fuelling this interest in music and not just by letting him borrow her knitting needles. She purchased Graham his first classical records; squirreling away some of her housekeeping money to buy him a subscription to the World Record Club. His first two recordings to arrive in the post included Handel’s Water Music. Graham still recalls the thrill of receiving that record aged eight years old and listening to it over and over. This piece kick-started a life-long obsession with Handel and his compositions, as well as the Hanoverian period of European history and historic events surrounding Handel’s career. Graham has gone on to conduct Handel’s ‘Messiah’ no less than 74 times, his first aged 19, with his 75th performance due to take place later this year in Wellington. He has also conducted 42 of Handel’s operas. Despite his devotion to performing them, these are not his favourite pieces by Handel. That accolade goes to two of Handel’s Oratorias; ‘Saul’ and ‘Solomon’. (Not having heard of them, I dutifully look up these lesser-known pieces after our interview and they are indeed amazing - Editor).

08 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 09metlifecare.co.nz

Magic in the Music

Becoming a conductor seems like a strange choice for a kid with no musicians in the family. With no set career path to follow as a conductor, Graham likens his process of becoming a music professional to that of an budding actor. First learning the craft, working for nothing, aligning yourself with professionals through internships and taking every opportunity to learn and gather experience. Followed by literally knocking on doors and creating a career through unwavering perseverance and passion. Graham’s belief in the power of music is what compelled him to follow this uncertain path. He feels that music can ‘speak to our brains in ways that no other activity does’. Graham recalls a study carried out on a composer, monitoring the change in his brain activity when he is at rest, when performing music and finally when composing; at which point his brain activity literally lights up the screen. He also refers to the success of studies on Alzheimers patients and stroke victims involving musical stimulation.

With the benefit of regularly witnessing it first-hand, Graham knows better than most how music helps us to form connections. As a society, he feels we are losing opportunities to come together and share experiences. “Concerts,

plays, art exhibitions are all inherently communal activities, important opportunities to join

together with other people. Listening to music stimulates

our brains and provokes our emotions while we

are listening, but the benefits continue

after the performance. When we have shared that experience with others, when we talk to each other about what we thought, how

it made us feel and discuss the

music we enjoy, when we make

recommendations, we create deeper connections

with other people. That’s the real magic; the connection music brings

between people. The musicians and the conductor, the audience and the performers, the audience and their friends and family.”

Graham is the perfect choice of presenter of Metlifecare’s Unwrap the Music series. It draws on his unique skills as a conductor, a history enthusiast, a music journalist and teacher. Now in its tenth year, each concert in the series focuses on a well-known classical piece of music. This year’s selection includes Handel’s Water Music as well as Mozart’s Clarinet Concert and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. In each performance, Graham unpacks the piece, sharing the context for its creation, information on the composer and pointing out significant signposts in the music. The experience is part slide show, part history lesson, part music appreciation. It puts the audience - some of whom are hearing classical music performed live for the first time – in a unique position; empowering them with the knowledge and tools to appreciate subtleties within the score and the interpretation which otherwise may be missed,

Graham Abbott, guest conductor for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s ‘Unwrap the Music’ series, talks to Metlifecare about his musical career and the vital role music plays in making and maintaining connections.

Graham Abbottat the Auckland Town Hall

Conductor Graham Abbott

Listening to music stimulates our brains

and provokes our emotions ...

10 MORE IN STORE | July 2018 11metlifecare.co.nz

and in a much more engaging way than notes in a printed programme provides. By unwrapping the music, Graham helps the audience feel like insiders - like experts - regardless of their prior musical experience.

Graham believes the “worst thing we can do as musicians or performers is to be snobby or inaccessible. That is not what music is about”. The first two concerts in the series in March and June were performed to a packed Auckland Town Hall and were anything but elitist. A diverse crowd from teens to retirees, first-timers to seasoned concert-goers, were captivated by

Graham’s unique presentations and evident passion, along with the unbelievable skill of the APO musicians. As well as appreciating the classical music, the audience learned so much about the History of Mozart’s Clarinet Symphony and of Handel’s Water Music.

After two successful performances, we can’t wait until Graham returns to unwrap more music in the next concert in the series.

Members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra have also been performing a series of concerts at Metlifecare villages and residents have been enjoying exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ passes to rehearsals. Plus exclusive discounts on all APO performances are available for Metlifecare residents and staff. Ask at reception for details.

Metlifecare Unwrap the Music seriesThe next concert in the series is:

BEETHOVEN’S PASTORAL SYMPHONY

Date: Wednesday 25 September Time: 6.30pm Venue: Auckland Town Hall

You don’t need to live in Auckland to enjoy the APO. If you live outside Auckland, the prize includes flights and one night’s accommodation. See www.metlifecare.co.nz for Terms and Conditions

BE IN TO WIN a double pass including flights

and one nights accommodation! Just email [email protected] with your name, contact telephone number

and answer to the below question:Which prestigious conductor presents

the ‘Unwrap the Music’ series?

APO performance in the Town HallPhoto credit Adrian Malloch

Pictures of Metlifecare residents enjoying an exclusive Open Rehearsal.

Pinesong welcomed the ‘Orbit Trio’ as part of Metlifecare’s partnership with the APO.


This year Ann Franks, Nurse Manager at Longford Park Village, completed the final part of an epic trek across NZ. In March this year Ann arrived at the finishing point of

the Great New Zealand Trek, marking her fourteenth consecutive year taking part in the charity event which has raised over half a million dollars for Multiple Sclerosis since its inception in 2006.

Ann spoke to More in Store to give us the inside track on her inspiration for her amazing walk and expressed her gratitude for the support she received from staff and residents at Longford Park on her fundraising journey.

How did you find out about the Great New Zealand Trek?As a little girl I had a pipe dream about travelling around NZ on horseback. It’s funny thinking about it now as though my daughters both ride, I was definitely not a rider. But when I saw the Great NZ Trek in an article in one of my daughter’s horse magazines, something about it grabbed my attention.

What was the Trek all about?It was founded by a chap called Steve Old who was a horse trainer and trek organiser by trade. His mother had died of Multiple Sclerosis so he wanted to create an event which would honour her memory, and raise awareness of, and funds for, MS research through the Malaghan Institute.

The Great NZ Trek was born in 2006, offering the chance to horse ride, cycle or hike from Cape

Reinga one stage at a time, for several days each year over 14 years until

reaching Slope Point (the more southernmost point, even

further south than Bluff!) in 2019.

Steve got the trek up and running before a couple called Kitty and Hepa took over after the first two stages. Together with some

awesome volunteers they pulled off an absolutely

amazing feat of organisational planning every

year.

How did the Trek work?Around 300 people walked or cycled each stage along with around 60 riders on horseback. It was a real outdoors adventure. We carried all our

camping gear; tents, bed rolls, food and so on. As the temperature varied we even carried hot water bottles, hats, mittens and scarves for some of the chillier stages.

The routes took us across farmland (with permission of lovely landowners). Hepa worked with local Māori and farmers along the route to allow us to trek across their land. We had to be careful walking through paddocks, closing gates behind us and taking all our rubbish away.

Volunteers set up camps with huge catering marquees, water, showers, rubbish collection points, toilets and food and caravans for the horses. We had nurses and vets on hand and the course had to be marked out with ribbons.

Who else took part in the Trek?I started the trek with my husband who bravely cycled the first leg with me, then he rode on horseback with one of my daughters in year two. After that my sister ended up joining me and took part in all but three of the stages, which made the experience extra special. It was a proper catch up every year for us without all the usual distractions and time together which I will always treasure.

There were trekkers of all ages some aged 80 plus and some young teens too. One trekker completed the stages on a mule called ‘The Colonel’ who used to jump up on the back of a

flat-bed truck to be transported between stages!

We had an engagement between a couple on the Trek; Kitty’s son met his partner on one of the stages. In due course they had kids and brought the children on later stages of the trek!

Another family used the trek as their reunion every year, travelling from across NZ, Australia and the UK to take part in the stages together.

With 14 years of adventures, the event was a unique in that it spanned so much time. Some of the horses that started the trek were nearing 20 by the time it was completed. Getting together every year led to many of us becoming very close friends. It felt like meeting up with family. I guess doing something gruelling and helping each other through adversity helps to bring people closer together.

Was it tough going? How did you get through it?It was hard work. We walked in all weathers and the ground was rutted as we didn’t do any walking on the roads. Some hills took two hours to climb up and were really taxing. We had injuries on the trail. Many people suffered really bad blisters and lost skin off their feet. A horse rolled at one stage and the rider suffered a punctured lung and had to be flown out by helicopter.

It helped to have something to take your mind off the task. Walking with my sister Sandra was a real help and we had a friend Donna who used to walk with us too. I would play mind games with myself to distract myself like counting the fence posts and generally trying to keep up a good pace.

Star TrekkerAnn Franks walked the length of New Zealand for charity over 14 years

Cape Reinga

The Great NZ Trek from Cape Reinga to Slope Point

Ann Franks

Ann Franks trekking


I believe that our minds are our strength. Even when I had excruciating shin splints on an early stage at 90 Mile Beach, I decided to turn down a ride to the end of the stage on a quad bike. I just really wanted to complete the stage myself. At the end I collapsed and could have slept all night just where I lay on the ground but somehow got up and pitched my tent, ate and showered and then did it all again the next day.

I liken the challenge of the Trek to what I see a lot of residents push through every day. Their ongoing tenacity and strength of character is absolutely an inspiration to me. My residents are great teachers and definitely inspired me to keep going.

How did you feel when you reached the end of the final stage?Absolute elation! There was a lot of camaraderie at the finish point. We all took photos with a sign pointing back up to Cape Reinga. I just thought ‘how cool is that?’ I have been lucky to have a body which allowed me to walk and I didn’t have to miss any years through sickness or injury. Only 59 people completed the whole thing and of them only 14 on foot.

What are your most treasured memories?Walking with my family and the friends I made over the years. I created so many memories. I got to experience NZ’s fantastic terrain, taking bridges and crossing streams, walking alongside rivers over stones, boulders and hopping over logs. I feel I got to see much more of NZ by getting off the roads.

Sadly Hepa died a week before the final stage started this year after an illness. His wife Kitty

completed the trek on his horse and held a service to remember him where we let off balloons. He had planned to go on to bike Stewart Island so some of the riders went on to do that to honour him. It made completing the trek even more significant doing it in his honour.

Will you miss trekking?Part of me is relieved that it’s over – remember I’m 14 years older now than when I started! Also it was hard to train for the walk whilst being on call and ensuring I am around for residents. So

the training walks (up to 20km each) took up a lot of my time off work for a while.

However my sister and I have loved walking together so we’re planning to carry on trekking. We’re planning to walk the Waikeremoana track next.

Tell us about the support you received from Longford Park Village?I am absolutely blown away by the support I have been given. What a village! As well as giving donations (including a very generous anonymous donation online), residents from our Busy Fingers group spent ages creating items to put on a Makers market. So much work went into creating gorgeous items for sale and they donated all the profits to support my fundraising. Together with my online donations they have helped me raise around $1500! It’s so neat that people have jumped on board and done that.

Congratulations on an amazing achievement Ann. Surely now it’s time to put your feet up?

A local fashion store in Kerikeri ‘i-style’ and Oakridge Villas joined together to hold a fashion parade to raise funds for Mid North Women’s Refuge.

Village Fundraisers

Makers market makes a packet for Ann’s cause

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3

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Edgewater staff and residents look pretty in pink for Breast Cancer awareness

Greenwood Park residents raise funds at a pink ribbon breakfast

Hepa’s horse

2Coastal Villas residents raised funds for Christchurch with their cake stall

17metlifecare.co.nz

6 June 2019 marked 75 years since the greatest sea-land invasion in history, the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches of France.

Mesmerised by Steven Spielberg’s epic 1998 war movie, ‘Saving Private

Ryan’, I decided to visit Omaha Beach, Normandy, and to see for myself the sands upon which so many Americans lost their lives.

My route to the coast recalled the tumult of another age, as I stopped at the city of Rouen. Here in the market square, Joan of Arc had barely reached the full flower of womanhood, when she was incinerated, whilst tied to a stake.

Passing fields of dazzling daffodil-yellow coloured canolla, I arrived in Bayeux. Today this quaint town is a peaceful place, and even has a Hotel Churchill located here. The River Aure

winds its way, helped along here and there by strategically placed waterwheels. Other features of Bayeux include honey-coloured stone buildings, half-timbered dwellings and a towering cathedral. In memory of the American invasion there is a life-size statue of the Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight Eisenhower. In so honouring Churchill and Eisenhower, Bayeux does so in the knowledge that it was the first town to be liberated.

Standing alone above Omaha Beach, I placed myself in the army boots of actor Tom Hanks, the main role in the film, as he struggled ashore. I let my mind go and imagined what it was like with your face in the sand as the hellfire poured out from the concrete bunkers from the cliffs above. I dwelt on the sheer horror and the bombardment as the young manhood of America were paralysed by fear as their mates were pierced by

Hell Upon The Seashore By Vern Walker, Pinesong Village Resident

A watercolour painting, by the author, depicting a landing barge

approaching Omaha Beach.


The D-Day Landings

machine gun fire or blown apart. No place to hide from the German juggernaut of death and destruction.

Today it is like any other beach. Have a swim and lie upon a towel. A beach for a family picnic. Historic sands, nonetheless, for it was from these very same shores that William the Conqueror sailed - in the opposite direction, to kill Harold at Hastings, and to become the King of England.

As I was to discover, beyond the sands of Omaha - where there should be sand dunes - there is a mammoth cemetery, the American cemetery. A tidy and well laid out testament to mans’ folly in the face of total war.

I entered the vast area of internment. A small sign asks you to be silent and to revere. Like Private Ryan, in the opening stanza of the film, I walked with measured steps along the top of the cliffs, among the Austrian pines, past row upon row of white crosses. Unlike Ryan, I did not step upon the carefully manicured grass to reach the nearest grave site. I strongly felt that it was not my place to tread on such sacred ground. Ground so painfully forced from the Wehrmacht in a tidal wave of troops that worked as a team in order to advance up the cliffs and to destroy the pillboxes from which came the blazing machine gun fire.

So, what happened upon Omaha Beach those 75 years ago? This beach, around eight kilometres long, became the focus of the world. And it caused one combatant to declare: “As my landing craft crunched into the sand, myself and my mates became a visitor to hell.”

If the Germans were going to stop the invasion, it would have to be on Omaha Beach, an expanse with no cover. Pillboxes, bunkers and machine guns covered every inch of the beach. Without victory at Omaha there would be a huge gap between the Americans at Omaha, and the British at Gold Beach. A gap so significant that the Germans could have outflanked the Allies, gained

precious time, and rushed reinforcements to Normandy. Omaha became one of the most difficult amphibious landings in military history, with steep cliffs to scale that were 30 to 50 metres high.

Spielberg relied on Tom Hanks and his men to win the day and overrun the Germans along the clifftops. In reality the Americans were literally between a rock and a hard place. To advance up the cliffs was to invite possible annihilation. To retreat was unthinkable.

The Allied destroyers came close to the shore. So close that at times the prow of the

vessels almost nudged the sand in the shallower waters. From here they

delivered an intense and brutally effective fire power at point-blank range at the German concrete bunkers that dotted the hilly terrain. Only then could the ground troops, using grenades and hand-held rocket-firing bazookas overpower the enemy. Sadly,

the Allies paid a fearful price in exchange for a few metres of

sand and dune, as fear knocked hard at the door, and faith and blind

courage opened it.

I stood upon the top of the cliffs, at the edge of the cemetery and looked down upon Omaha Beach. I reverently recalled the film, and wondered what kind of miracle had caused the Americans to succeed. Behind me were the final resting places of 9,386 servicemen and women spread over 69 hectares (Eden Park number 1 field is 1.6 hectares) of crosses, all standing in long rows. Never-ending rows straight as an arrow, no matter from what direction or viewpoint you looked upon them.

Bouquets of flowers were laid out here and there at the feet of some brave and once-petrified souls, placed there by family. Engraved on stone tables in The Garden of the Missing are the names of 1,557 whose remains lie somewhere in a French field. An asterisk identifies those subsequently recovered and identified, including twin brothers. The cemetery is flanked by masses of cypresses, laurel and oak, and two American

So, what happened upon Omaha Beach those 75 years ago?

This beach, around eight kilometres long, became

the focus of the world.


flags fly aloft atop towering flagpoles.

Today the farming folk of Normandy get on with their lives. Probably from time to time the deeds of 6 June, 1944, are passed on to the rising generation. The grey stone villages and winding lanes amid the rolling countryside are peaceful, but once torn asunder by the screeching of tanks and their withering firepower. Today locals clutch their long, crisp bread rolls and croissants as they attend to their shopping before enjoying a local wine or cider and their renowned Camembert cheese.

There are of course permanent and personal reminders of man’s inhumanity to man, fuelled by the political power struggles of the time, ill-balanced decisions, as well as military and national pride. There are the permanent reminders of D-Day: polished and preserved tanks, pillboxes, gun positions, memorials and barbed wire are there for all to see. A little to the east at Arromanches-les-Bains is yet another museum, as well as the brown-rusted hulks of craft that formed the artificial harbour that brought ashore all the military machinery needed for such a mighty invasion.

War cemeteries dot the Normandy landscape, and today there is a growing interest in tourists wanting to see for themselves the history that shaped the last century. Being valorous in battle the Americans make full use of their right as liberators to make a patriotic statement about sacrifice and bravery, in their neatly tended hectares of repose. A little down the road is a British cemetery, a locale which is a little less dramatic. And at a nearby German cemetery? Here the lessons of wartime stupidity have not been realised: some grave sites have been vandalised.

One of the very few New Zealanders to take part in the D.Day landings was the highly decorated Brigadier James Hargest. He landed at Gold Beach with the 50th British Division, five hours after the initial landings. He was killed by shell-fire two months after the landings, and is buried at the Hottot-des-Bagues War Cemetery, located between Bayeaux and Caen, France. The James Hargest College, Invercargill, is named in his honour.

The American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.

Frank served in the Royal Navy during World War II. He received the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit, as a recognition of his role in ‘the liberation of France’

during World War II. This is Frank’s story.

It was on the third day of Frank Sanft's guard duty in Cherbourg, in which he was startled by a loud *PING!* and suddenly he saw troops running off in all directions, as the odd noise continued Frank dutifully stood assiduously. An American soldier running past howled: SNIPER!

Later that day the sniper was caught, marking one of the more humorous (yet harrowing) experiences Frank had during the Second World War.

Frank Sanft was born in London, England and came from a family who were quite caught up in the strife of the early 20th century. His father from New Zealand served in the First World War. His brother was killed in the North Atlantic - torpedoed by Kretschmer, the deadly German commander who sunk nearly 50 ships.

Frank’s ship was part of Operation ‘PLUTO’, an acronym for Pipeline Under the Ocean (the English Channel really), designed to supply fuel from storage tanks in southern England to the Allied armies in France, without which any territorial gains would soon be lost. Indeed, fuel is a very real issue in wartime that we often overlook - after all, while tanks and men fight, how can they mobilise without fuel? The importance of PLUTO was initially overlooked by Frank himself. 'I was of the opinion that because the landings were so successful, we weren't needed as much as I thought,' he says. 'And I was of the opinion that we did a good job, we did

what we had to do.' '... but then one of my thrills of later life is the iPad, and looked up on the Internet ‘Force PLUTO’, and I saw that General Eisenhower said it was the second biggest contribution to the success of the war!'

Frank's first experience 'down under' was with the Australian prisoners of war held in Changi prison, Singapore. These men were completely starving

by the time the Japanese surrendered. Taking pity, Frank offered some food

to one soldier when a physician quickly stopped him - these

men had been famished for so long, their stomachs could only endure baby food! The recovered Australians were then brought home to Sydney - a wonderful end to Frank's service during

wartime.

Frank, believes that his greatest service was carried out

after the war in New Zealand, exemplified by his leadership in the

Auckland sea cadets. He describes one memorable case: A rambunctious youth was tearing up Queen Street in his car, terrorising the local police. The police went to Frank and the sea cadets for help. “We took him out and gave him all the dirty jobs to do and things like that,” Frank says. “... this boy turned out one of the finest lads I've come across. If he hadn't had that experience, if we hadn't done that for him, you could easily think the worst, couldn't you?” Frank explains: ''Discipline is a good thing, it's not a bad thing. We all need a bit of discipline.” Like the disaffected youth in his car, many young people today are having trouble making use of the potential good they could be doing. Perhaps, just as Frank found his service in both times of war and peace fulfilling, future generations can find their place in lively, meaningful service (and with a bit of discipline!)

D-Day 75th Anniversary“Memories of Service”

by Frank Sanft, 7 Saint Vincent Resident

Frank Sanft’sservice medals


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21metlifecare.co.nz

Anzac Day Commemorations

Highlands residents’ Anzac Day service

Longford Park residents commemorate Anzac Day

The Orchards residents’ Anzac Day service

Waitakere Gardens residents gather for Anzac Day

Kapiti Village residents pay their respects on Anzac Day

23metlifecare.co.nz

I arrived at Forest Lake Gardens, situated right on the edge of the racecourse in Te Rapa, Hamilton on a beautiful, clear autumn morning to meet with Fran Jones, the mastermind behind the quiet happy hour movement and convener of the group.

Along with Fran, I am pleasantly surprised to be greeted by quite a large, friendly assembly of residents; all chatting away together happily in a cosy corner of the lounge. I had asked Fran if she could bring along one or two group members so I could ask them about their happy hour concept, but am delighted when she introduces me to almost the whole group! I sit down with them to chat and see straight away that they are lovely bunch; clearly very close and have no problems chatting away together in our quiet area.

I ask the group why they think having the quiet happy hour option is important. They tell me that socialising in big groups has proved difficult for them for a number of reasons. Some of the members just find it easier in smaller groups as their hearing is not as good as it used to be. Others with hearing aids would like to join in but struggle with background noise also being amplified which means they can’t pick out a conversation from the mêlée. Nancy Marwood, 96 (allegedly the village’s oldest resident, not

that I could tell) tells me that many people’s speaking voices tend to quieten as they age and the softer voices are harder to distinguish.

Maree Leet, Forest Lake Garden’s Registered Nurse joins in the conversation and makes a great point, that the use of hard materials and surfaces in modern buildings can create acoustics which naturally amplify rather than deaden background noise.

As if to perfectly demonstrate the issue, the village’s hip-hop dance group are finishing up their practice in the activity room next door and though it sounds like they are having lots of fun,

the small increase in background noise does make it quite difficult to

communicate. The hip-hop group are kind enough to turn

their music down to allow us to continue our chat, but it highlights the challenge facing many residents with hearing difficulties. Of course, as Fran points out,

we’re all different - ‘some of us just prefer to socialise in

smaller groups or find joining a large group of people more

intimidating than others’.

Recognising these needs, Fran started the quiet happy hour group around eight years ago. The membership has changed over the years, but the popularity of the group remains. While other village residents happily socialise in the hall, the quiet group grab their drinks, chips and snacks

uiet an achievement

A clever idea for a ‘quiet happy hour’ has created a close-knit community at Forest Lake Gardens

and head off to a cozy area of the residents’ lounge complete with armchairs, carpet and soft furnishings which help to absorb background noise.

As well as catching up for their weekly happy hour, the group have also taken sign language lessons together, organised group meals and drinks and even attended a play together which used sign language as part of the performance. They even put on a skit about sign language as part of the last village variety show which was lots of fun.

Without the quiet happy hour community, many of the group’s members felt they would probably otherwise avoid the social gathering. Their hearing difficulties mean that even chatting in restaurants or at family gatherings with background noise can pose problems and sometimes it’s just easier to stay at home, even though they welcome the chance to sit and chat with others.

When I ask what the group means to them, they all talk about it being like a family. Providing companionship, communication and the chance to meet and chat with like minded people. It stops them from becoming anti-social and keeps them connected to friends in the village.

‘It’s so nice to be a part of’ says group member Mollie O’Connor, ‘I tried to join in the regular happy hour down in the hall but I just couldn’t

hear what was going on. I would stay home instead if it wasn’t for this group.’

There is also an unwritten rule in the group that everyone gets to have a say and be listened to, which seems very important to Fran (who is clearly a gem). I later find out from village staff that Fran dedicates a lot of her time to the village community, helping to keep residents involved and ensuring no one feels left behind. As if to demonstrate how important it is to Fran that everyone feels included, she also makes a point of speaking more than once about Eddie and Mike, a couple of group members who couldn’t make it to our meeting due to other commitments and is very keen that they are also recognised as a key part of the group.

Judging by the smiles and camaraderie evident at Forest Lake Gardens, I say hear! hear!


some of us prefer to socialise in smaller groups

or find joining a large group of people

intimidating

A photo including Eddie and Mike

Sport & Recreation

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Dannemora Gardens, Highlands, Edgewater & Longford Park Villages got together for a friendly competition of bowls

The entire motley crew ready to go

Waitekere Gardens Bowls at Henderson

Hillsborough Heights putt tournament

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Somervale scooter outing

Kapiti Coast Inter-Village Sports Day

Eileen from Highlands was the winner of the ‘spider round’

Peter Brown

A nice game of cards with friends Bob Pardoe, Christian Cullen and Jim White

Michael Leggott

27metlifecare.co.nz26 MORE IN STORE | July 2018

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Palmerston North Village

Village Manager Wendy Duffy welcomes residents, families and friends to the mid-winter dinner

Lewis Morson playing the piano dressed as Elton John

Ken Birt Kath Thacker with Barbara Hibbs-Clark our Social Co-ordinator

Activities Coordinator Tracey Wheeler receives a rose from lead singer Bruce

Mid-Winter Celebrations

Kapiti Village residents enjoyed a wonderful Winter Solstice dinner with great food, entertainment, and dancing

Longford Park Village

Cheers fromCrestwood Village

Anne Haugh and Don McLaughlin are having a laugh Jean and Colin Miller and a festive hug

Campbell Street Boys provide entertainment with a variety of songs from yesteryear

Powley Queen’s Birthday Celebration

All dressed for the partyTime to celebrate mid-winter Christmas with all the trimmings

Colleen Lockey, Patricia Toyne, June Cresswell and Ivy Hutton are dressed for the season

Trevor and Margaret McDougal share a laugh with their friend


habit and keep it trimmed to the right size for your space. Camellias will bloom for weeks and weeks from early winter and are happy in the sun or shade. As an added bonus, you can pick camellia flowers and enjoy them in a vase indoors when it’s wild out.

Daphne is another winter-flowering shrub. It’s small habit makes it ideal when you have limited space, and its pink and white flowers have a strong and heavenly scent, guaranteed to make you smile.

Take a trip to your local garden centre to see what’s in bloom and what takes your fancy. You can either buy bigger plants that are already in flower for instant impact or opt for smaller seedlings and plant a variety in either the garden, a planter, or a big pot, and enjoy them grow, bud and bloom over the coming months.

As the weather grows increasingly dreary, it’s lovely to bring pops of colour into your home to brighten the dull days. Fresh flowers are the perfect

solution, and flowers that you grow yourself bring extra pleasure.

During winter, the garden goes to sleep to recharge for the season ahead, but there are plenty of plants that buck this trend and offer some truly bright colour in the gloomy days. Many bulbs are a case in point – often people are misled in thinking flowers such as daffodils are a spring blooms, when in actuality, especially in warmer climates, the first of the jonquils are flowering while winter is still in its infancy.

If you do fancy a few cheery daffs to brighten your garden, patio, or kitchen, you’re a bit late to plant bulbs. However, many garden centres, and even supermarkets, will sell potted bulbs ready to bloom for weeks on end. It’s a great option – not only do they last longer than cut flowers, but at the end of the season you can save the bulbs in a paper bag until they’re ready to be potted up or planted out in the garden next autumn for another year of flowering.

If daffodils aren’t your thing, tulips are another winter stunner, and hyacinths are a great option that have the bonus of a heavenly scent. These too are readily available, potted up and about to bloom.

Winter flowering annuals are ideal for bringing colour to your garden and work very well in pots

and planters too. Pansies and violas come in every colour you can think of – as well as delightful multicoloured blooms – and will flower repeatedly for months on end with very little attention.

Primula have frothy heads of white, pink or lilac and will happily flower in the shade, while

primroses and their cousins polyanthus are available in bold and stunning colour combinations.

For something a bit different, you may like to plant ornamental kale – these cabbages are gorgeous in green, white, pink and purple colour combinations, and guaranteed to be a talking point when visitors pop by.

If you’re after something bigger and more permanent, camellias are an excellent option in the garden or a pot. Choose one with a smaller growth

Colour in the Cold

10 tips for your winter garden

Winter is the time to prune your trees and shrubs. Make sure your secateurs and loppers are clean and sharp to help prevent disease. Cut out any branches that are dead, dying, damaged or diseased.

Extend the flowering season of your annuals by regularly snipping off the dead flowers. This will promote new blooms.

While it’s cool, plant citrus, blueberries, and deciduous fruit trees. There is a great range of dwarf edibles available, ideal for the small garden or pots on the patio.

Now is the time to feed your garden. Apply fertilizer and mulch to ensure the best blooms and healthiest veggies next season.

Watch the water. Plants in pots on the patio can inadvertently get waterlogged if it rains for several days in a row. Remove the saucer under the pot and ensure the water can drain freely from the hole in the bottom.

Take the opportunity to change the potting mix in your pots and planters. Over time, not only will your plants take all the nutrients from the soil, but the water retention granules will degrade, and the mix can become home to pests and diseases.

Plant strawberries in pots or the garden for some sweet treats in summer. Allow five plants per person.

Potatoes should go in now too. These can be successfully grown in pots on the patio – talk to the experts at your local garden centre about the right pot to do the job.

New season roses are in your garden centre now. Get in early for the best range to choose from.

Plan now what you’d like to see flowering in summer. Things like lilies, gladioli, dahlias, and tuberous begonias can be planted from late July.

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The girls with several names SHORT SNIPPETS

Hillsborough Heights Resident named by SPCA ‘Most Devoted Volunteer’

Cheryl Sinclair recognised for service to St John’s AmbulanceMargaret’s 104th

birthday!

submitted by their friend at Pinesong Village

In Pinesong we know them as JUNE AND NANCY, but to our friends around the village they have other names. In the past year they have become known as THE BIKIES as on fine days you will find them venturing out on their scooters.

Craigavon Park at the top of Portage Road was the scene of a bogging when the mud made itself known to them and their scooters were a sight to behold.

Mondays are stay at home days as the footpaths are loaded with rubbish bins making the way hard to negotiate.

The INFAMOUS TWO left the village armed with secateurs to trim the vegetation that hangs out over the footpaths & slaps them in the face. This gives rule to the next name SNIP & SNAP. Surely the locals must be pleased with their pruning programmes?

As the first scooter moves along at a good pace it is necessary for number two to keep the other in sight as they venture further afield.

After one very windy night a tree had blown over and blocked the footpath, Nancy managed to turn around but June had to back up quite a way before she could turn. Local folk came and tried to move the tree but to no avail.

Another adventure of these INTREPID TWO was on a blustery day and a pharmacy sign had blown down and was being run over, the sign at the BP station went down too and then a rubbish bin joined in the fun. A surprise rain storm then caught them and they arrived home a pair of DROWNED RATS.

Having mobility scooters has certainly been a boon to these ladies - to quote one of them “I never thought that in my 90’s I’d be having so much fun!”

Starting as a 23 year-old volunteer first-aider with St John’s Ambulance, Cheryl Sinclair has seen some gory sights in her time but none have deterred her from her passion for the service. She was recently recognised by St John’s with a certificate for her amazing 55 years of support, working both in the field and more recently at Middlemore Hospital as a Friend of the Emergency Department. Cheryl has said she intends to keep volunteering as she enjoys it so much. Her amazing achievement also made front page news of the Papakura Courier. Congratulations on your amazing service record Cheryl.

Amazing Greenwood Park resident, Margaret, made it large in the Bay of Plenty Times in July, featuring on the front page and on their website.

Intrepid traveller Margaret shared fascinating memories from her life, including how she turned down a career in agriculture to study nursing, how she learned Arabic, and how she once ate Christmas lunch with the future leader of Kuwait. Her advice for the younger generation as she celebrated her 104th birthday was “Don’t do anything to the extreme!” Thanks for sharing your amazing adventures with us Margaret!

Hillsborough Heights resident Valerie Garner has won the ‘Most Devoted Volunteer’ award in the 2019 SPCA Purina Volunteer Awards after clocking up more than 2500 volunteer hours.

The award is one of six awards given by SPCA and Purina during National Volunteer Week. The awards celebrate the 5,000 volunteers who give their time, talent and energy to SPCA across its 39 centres and 56 Op Shops.

SPCA Supporter Care Administrator Zoe Baikie nominated Valerie for the award. She said Valerie has been part of the volunteer team since 2009, assisting the team

with receipt and letter folding.

“Our department could not operate without Valerie. She can fold and stuff 500 receipts in one day which is absolutely incredible. Valerie is quick, efficient, and has an eye for detail.”

Valerie said she began volunteering because she wanted to help out in the best way she could, and because she always loved animals, she chose SPCA.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed all the time I have had volunteering at SPCA. Volunteering is well worth your time, as you help the animals who can’t speak for themselves,” says Valerie.


Delicious, warming soup recipes, perfect for cold winter evenings

Super Soups

Share it with More in Store readers and your soup could feature in our next issue as well as scoring you a special prize.

Send your winter soup recipes to [email protected]

Do you have a winning winter soup recipe?

METHOD

INGREDIENTS1 brown onion, diced3 cloves of garlic, sliced1 tablespoon olive oil1 teaspoon of dried oregano2 tins of tomatoes1 cup of chicken or vegetable stock10 large basil leaves, roughly chopped

1 parmesan rind, roughly 5cm wide¼ teaspoon chilli flakes, optional2 teaspoons of soft brown sugar8 slices of sourdough100 grams cheddar cheesesalt freshly ground black pepper

In a deep dish over a medium heat, fry the onions and garlic in olive oil until soft and golden.

Add the oregano and fry for a further 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low and add the tomatoes, stock, basil, parmesan, chilli flakes and brown sugar. Simmer for 30–45 minutes until reduced and thickened. Either with a regular blender or stick blender, blitz soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Melt a large knob of butter in a cast iron pan over a medium heat. Place a piece of sourdough in the pan and layer with slices of cheese and another piece of bread. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Continue with remaining toasties. Cut into fingers just before serving.

*For more recipes visit dish.co.nz

Tomato Soup with Cheese Toasty Fingers

Rich tomato, basil and parmesan soup with crunchy sourdough and cheddar toasty fingers.

SERVES 4 • Recipe by Olivia Galletly • Photography by Olivia Galletly

33metlifecare.co.nz

34 MORE IN STORE | December 2018

METHOD

INGREDIENTS2 smoked ham hocks1 onion, halved3 cloves garlic, peeled1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns1 carrot, roughly chopped½ teaspoon sea salt

Slash the skin of the hocks in 3 places with a sharp knife. Put the hocks, onion, garlic, peppercorns, carrot and salt in a large saucepan and add 12 cups of cold water or more if needed to cover by 3 cm. Bring to the boil then simmer gently, half covered with the lid for 2½ - 3 hours until the meat is very tender.

Remove the hocks and strain the stock into a clean saucepan, discarding the vegetables. Taste and season with salt and pepper until well flavoured.

Pull the meat off the bone and remove all the fat and skin. Shred into bite-sized pieces.

To finish: Peel the onions, leaving the root end intact. Halve through the root if large. Return the meat to the soup with the onions, pearl barley and carrots and simmer for 30 minutes until tender. Add the cabbage and peas and cook for a few minutes until the cabbage is just tender. Stir in the parsley.

To serve: Divide the meat and vegetables between shallow soup bowls and ladle over the hot soup.

Ham hock and Vegetable Soup

This is a soup I grew up with and have always enjoyed. The fabulous aromas of the smoked hocks simmering away are still just as enticing and result in a light but full flavoured stock.

TO FINISH8 small pickling onions or shallots½ cup pearl barley, rinsed and drained2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped2 cups roughly chopped Savoy cabbage1 cup frozen peassmall handful chopped flat-leaf parsleysea salt and freshly ground pepper

METHOD

INGREDIENTS6 large brown onions, peeled and sliced2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons butter3 cloves garlic, crushed

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce1 tablespoon brown sugar2 tablespoons plain flour1 cup light ale4 cups beef stocksea salt and freshly ground pepper

TO ASSEMBLEslices sourdough bread, lightly toasted150 grams grated Gruyère cheese4 ovenproof soup bowls

Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan and add the onions, apples and rosemary with a good pinch of salt. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of the ale if the onions start catching on the base of the pan. Uncover and cook for a further 15 minutes until a good golden colour. Stir in the garlic, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and the sugar then sprinkle over the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add the remaining ale then the stock and season. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Preheat the grill to its highest setting.

To assemble: Place the bowls on a baking tray and ladle in the hot soup. Top with the bread then scatter over the cheese. Place under the grill and cook until the cheese is bubbling and golden.

Grilled Cheese, Onion and Ale Soup

A twist on a great classic, the apple adds sweetness and balances the slight bitterness that beer can sometimes impart. Use a good quality beef stock for a rich, dark soup packed with onions and topped with delicious melting cheese.

SERVES 4 • Recipe by Claire Aldous • Photography by Aaron McLean • From issue #49SERVES 4-6 • Recipe by Claire Aldous * Photography by Aaron McLean * From issue #49

35metlifecare.co.nz

METHOD

INGREDIENTSFILLING1 kilogram apples (I used Braeburn)¼ cup caster sugar¾ teaspoon ground mixed spice½ cup sultanaszest and juice 1 lemon3 tablespoons water

COBBLER1⅓ cups plain flour1¼ teaspoons baking powder¼ teaspoon ground cinnamonpinch sea salt½ cup caster sugarfinely grated zest ½ an orange60 grams cold butter, diced1 large egg2 tablespoons milk

TO FINISH1 tablespoon milk¼ cup sliced almonds1 tablespoon caster sugar26cm ceramic pie or baking dish

Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

Filling: Peel, quarter and core the apples then slice 1cm thick. Place in the baking dish and add all of the remaining filling ingredients and toss together. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once. Set aside.

Cobbler: Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, sugar and the orange zest in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles small crumbs. Stir the egg and milk together and pour over the top of the dry ingredients then mix together to form a soft dough.

To finish: Dot the dough over the top of the apples then brush with milk. Sprinkle over the almonds then the caster sugar.

Bake for about 25 minutes or until the cobbler topping is golden and cooked through. Serve hot with cream, custard or ice cream.

Tender, juicy apples get topped with soft pillows of cinnamon and orange-scented scone dough. A perfect pudding for cooler autumn evenings.

Apple CobblerSERVES 4-6 • Recipe by Claire Aldous • Photography by Jessie Casson • From issue #66

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