Students from St Arnaud Primary School brought along a picture book each to read to the residents in Kara Court. It was wonderful to see such positive interaction and chatter happening between the students and residents. Thank you grade 3 and 4, see you again soon!

Neighbouring Health Service, Stawell Regional Health visits Kara Court to check out and try our meal service.
Pictured Steve Price, Support Service Manager and Stefanie Seery, Dietitian. 

“Thanks to Scott and the team for having us at Kara Court for lunch. The friendly staff, lovely residents and beautiful food made for a perfect dining experience. We’re excited to take back some ideas to Stawell Regional Health to help us enhance our dining experience, and can’t wait to come back for some more delicious food and beautiful music!” 

Changes to meal service buffet breakfasts with hot options on different days has been introduced across all campuses. A selection of cereals, including porridge are now on display allowing variety for residents with crumpets and raisin toast being very popular breakfast items. Congratulations goes to all staff for embracing change and delivering choice to our residents.

A $500.00 donation was received from the Birchip Branch of Commbank.  This money will go towards the purchase of smart TVs for the residents of Wirrim Lodge.  
In the photo are L - R :  Marcia Burns - Birchip CBA, Helen Barclay - Birchip Campus Manager, Sue Russell - Birchip Aged Care Nurse Unit Manager, Louise Lee - Birchip CBA. 

Kara Court residents, Gwen and Thelma were joined last week by Tracy Edwards, Charlton Campus Manager and Mary Brown, Education and Development Manager, for a delicous roast pork lunch. Pictured also is Christine Goode, Nurse, assisting with welcoming everyone to the table.

Resident June Matthew's from Kara Court - St Arnaud Campus was happy to be involved with reviewing food service documentation for the Health Service . The comprehensive review conducted by June involved checking the new menu, understanding the dietary daily needs for residents and the important breakdowns of meal modification to enhance resident needs. Support documentation accompanying this review included the recently finished dietitians review report and the Dysphagia Management policy which marries in with the main menu for texture modified foods for the management of nutrition and swallowing difficulties.
June was very impressed with all the documentation and the pathway management processes. She also consulted with other residents in Kara Court and explained the processes EWHS had in place. She commented on how professional and well-presented the review documents are and now has a good understanding of the legislative requirements and how much is involved with the provision of meal service. June also noted that the residents approve the documents as they are presented to them. 

Gwenda has worked for EWHS for many years and has thus taken on many roles and responsibilities in that time.   Gwenda commenced in December 1980 and retired in January 2019.  Below is a comprehensive list of her roles/hats that she fulfilled in her 40+ years at St Arnaud Hospital/EWHS, most of them at the same time for many years:
- Commenced as the welfare officer in 1984 which was largely a social worker role
- ACAS co-ordinator and assessment officer who organised monthly ACAS meetings and was the liaison between the geriatrician and local GP and followed up and ensured recommendations were attended to
- Organised VCAT appointments for hearings and accompanied many clients to these
- Co-ordinated Volunteer Visitors Program, Community Car, Planned Activity Group, Carers Group, monthly Service Providers Meetings
- Instrumental in getting the community bus up and running
- Supported Ann Boadle with the drink driving program
- Organised yearly holidays for frail and elderly people in the local community who would not have had the opportunity otherwise
-  Helped with the pre natal program
- Managed the CBO's for the local court
- Member of numerous committees at the hospital, including EQUIP Hospital Auxiliary.

Carol commenced work at EWHS - St Arnaud Campus in February 1984 and retired in May 2019; a career spanning 35 years.
She originally worked in acute, as a midwife and also conducted ante natal classes.
In between working, Carol and her husband Tony have raised two children Sarah and Luke.
Carol completed a wide variety of extra training so that she could then provide care in the following areas; female health, asthma education, diabetes education and cardiac rehabilitation.  She has also worked at the Medical Centre, as a Community Health Nurse.
Carol has been described as a most caring, multi-skilled, passionate, motivated, enthusiastic nurse who has shown great commitment towards her patients/clients over the years including displaying diligence in following up on their progress, because she has a genuine concern for and interest in their health.  She has also been a wonderfully supportive team member and colleague to many who have worked with her during the 35 years.
Carol will be very much missed and we wish her all the very best in her retirement and when spending more time with her family.

Laureen started her career and employment at the St Arnaud District Hospital in 1969, which was then a training school for nurses.  She then commenced work in the St Arnaud District Hospital in 1989.  The majority of her career in nursing was spent in the St Arnaud District Hospital that is now known as East Wimmera Health Service.
Laureen stopped working in acute nursing in 2000 and then was nursing in Kara Court up until her retirement in 2019.  She enjoyed working in Kara Court and felt that she had been a very lucky and fortunate woman to have had so much love and enjoyment in her career.

The Donald staff and student accommodation required a makeover.  New beds, linen, lamps and bedside tables were purchased to upgrade the facility.  The outcome of the upgrade is that the facility is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye and improved comfort and living conditions for people staying in the accommodation and easier to clean.

L to R: Paula Noble [Director of Primary Care], Trevor Adem [Chief Executive Officer], Kris Payne [Director of People and Culture], Leon Gowlett [Director of Finance and Administration] and Pat Croft [Director of Clinical Services].