In October, almost all of our staff

participated in Customer Service

Training and a team building

workshop. There was extremely

positive feedback from all the staff

who attended and I was so

impressed that I plan to make this

an annual training event.

Our new website is now live at

www.koonambil.com.au.

Having a website is an integral

communication tool as our

community grows and people

continue to depend on being able

to find information online.

Our website includes an events

calendar, information about our

residential options including costs,

and allows us to upload documents

such as our Annual Reports and

Strategic Plans.

I’m very proud of the care we

provide and our professional

success. The website helps us

show that and also demonstrates

our continued focus on consistent

branding.

In November, Board member, Joan

Leonard and I attended the

Northern Inland Aged and

Community Care (NIACC) Alliance

AGM. Koonambil is a founding

member of the NIACC alliance. The

purpose of NIACC is to boost

support, solidarity and grow

strength through numbers for not-

for-profit aged and community

care providers in regional

communities.

Directors of member organisations

such as Koonambil gained a

greater appreciation of NIACC’s

work which currently includes

sourcing suppliers for energy,

cleaning and hotel services.

Cath Bush | CEO

From The CEO’s Desk

Our Mission

Resident Care Report

Birthday Photos

Activities Report

Message From The Board

Farewell Donna O’Malley

Our Details / Staff Members

1

1

2

2

3

4

4

4

We have an extremely rewarding opportunity for a registered nurse

with a holistic approach. Flexible working arrangements can be

negotiated. For more information or to express your interest, call

6822 3193 or email info@koonambil.com.au.

WANTED: REGISTERED NURSE

DECEMBER 2 0 1 7

FROM THE CEO’S DESK

Provide high quality care and services in

a range of accommodation

settings

Recently, we farewelled Daphne

Cooper, Biddy Horan and Joan Beazley.

We send condolences to Biddy and

Joan’s families and hope Daphne will be

very happy at her new home.

In November, chef Allison surveyed 19

of our residents to get their insights

into the Koonambil menu, favourite

dishes, least favourite meals and their

comfort level about food in general.

Allison wanted to make sure residents

felt comfortable asking for more and

find out how to improve the food

offering.

There was significant positive

feedback, and Allison learnt that many

resident don’t enjoy meat as much as

she thought they did, and many would

like to see the Koonambil menu reflect

old recipe favourites that the

residents used to cook themselves.

In consultation with residents and their

families, we have invested in a second

care chair which is already being used

to provide comfort to incapacitated

residents. The chair is designed to

prevent pressure areas, reduce

agitation and isolation. With the care

chair, residents can continue to take

part in daily activities such as garden

walks, and remain integrated in the

Koonambil community.

In the last few months we welcomed

new residents Peter Firth, Molly

Forgione, Lorna Pickup and Paul

Lefebvre.

Lynne Waterford | Care Manager

Clockwise from

above: Lynne

Waterford & Marj

Finn; Betty Amey,

Beryl Butler & Kookie

Atkins; Biddy & Kevin

Horan’s 70th wedding

anniversary; Gwenda

& Bill Shanahan;

Biddy Horan’s

birthday; Jane,

Janice, Rick & Cath

at Customer Service

training.

P A G E 2 .

In early October, Raquel took

five residents on the bus to

Cath’s home. Cath showed

residents around the garden

gave a very interesting talk

about the plants and hosted

cool drinks under the shade of

a beautiful tree. Later in

October, residents also

thoroughly enjoyed an

excursion to Eric and Carolyn

Fisher’s garden, which

everyone agreed was beautiful.

Another bus outing took

residents to Outback Arts to

see the Archies exhibition.

Residents voted for the

People’s Choice Award, which

was won by Mardi Remond who

has been taking photos of

Koonambil this year. The trip

back to Koonambil was via the

Carinda Road to see if things

had greened up at all.

Other October activities

included Botcha and Pro Golf.

The first November bus trip

took residents to Lois and Keith

Cain’s property ‘Cooba’, on the

Tooraweenah Road. Residents

had a drive around some

paddocks before being treated

to a delicious morning tea. A

second bus trip visited

Quambone.

Residents got into the spirit of

the Melbourne Cup by

decorating hats and headwear.

Residents spent the morning

hosting our Koonambil Cup

Horse race. There were

presentations for winners of the

Koonambil Cup Race and

Fashions on the Field.

Remembrance Day was

recognised with a ceremony in

the lounge room. Speeches,

poems and wreath laying

provided residents with an

opportunity to remember,

reflect and to pay respects to

service men and women for

their sacrifices.

Residents enjoyed visits from

PreSchool students in

December, who gave hand-

made gifts, and performed

singing and dancing. Residents,

their families and staff

celebrated at the Koonambil

Christmas Party on 1

December. Everyone had a

great night as Santa made a

special appearance and elves

delivered presents. Some

arguably fantastic singing of

Christmas Carols kicked the

evening off.

Jane Haycock & Raquel

Millsteed | Activities

P A G E 3 .

P A G E 4 .

On Friday the 13th October we had a scary dress up day to celebrate

Donna O’Malley’s 15 years & 3 months of service to Koonambil and

also to say farewell. Donna has retired and will no longer be working

with us, although we hope she will come to visit us often. Best of luck

Donna, you will be sorely missed by us all.

I would like to thank long serving Board member Tim Stratton for his

great contribution to Koonambil. Tim has recently retired from the

Board and Colin Readford replaces him as Deputy Chair.

The 2016-17 Annual Report was presented at our AGM recently, and

can also be viewed at koonambil.com.au. I encourage you to have a

look at this comprehensive and well presented wrap up of

Koonambil’s successes over the past year.

Koonambil membership is open to all community members and costs

just $11 per year. Please see the office to become a member of

Koonambil and stay up to date with all our news.

As Christmas is quickly approaching, I’d like to wish all residents and

their families a happy and safe holiday season from the Board.

David Ryan | Chair

FAREWELL DONNA O’MALLEY

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

Board of Management 2017-2018

Chair: David Ryan

Deputy Chair: Colin Readford

Treasurer: Dianne Smith

Directors: Beverley Davidson, Eric

Fisher, Marianne Lampe, Joan Leonard

CEO Cath Bush

Finance Manager Helen Rackham

Care Manager Lynne Waterford

Registered Nurse Janie Johnston

Clinical Care Grace Andrews

Care Staff Diane Molloy, Laura Finn,

Rick Kennedy, Gill Roworth, Deanne

Towns, Leonie Jones, Cameron Forbes,

Bre Elms, Marie McLellan, Jessica Vine,

Jeremy Hooper, Dianne Gregory-Hunt,

Tammy Haycock

Hotel Services Rhonda Ingram,

Allison Pawley, Jenise Thomas, Mandy

Jerrett, Cherie White, Natalie Kenny,

Fiona O’Malley, Gail Day, Wendy Geale,

Jess Canham, Tori Canham

Activities Raquel Millsteed, Jane

Haycock, Jess Canham

Maintenance & Gardens Mick

Murray, John Robinson