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BCR Communities has been celebrating since receiving the Outstanding Community Organisation Award at the recent 2023 Shoalhaven Business Awards. This is wonderful recognition for the whole BCR team who support the Bay & Basin region through In-Home Aged Care, NDIS, and Youth and Community programs and services. CEO Heather Marciano said the award is an acknowledgement that while BCR Communities has evolved over the last 30+ years, they have stayed true to their mission to partner with communities and provide person centred services for all. “Even though we have grown so much, we have never lost that initial enthusiasm, commitment and community focus of the original residents who started BCR back in 1991.” Heather said. “Having a team of long-term, local staff and volunteers means BCR continues to have a deep knowledge and commitment to the local area and the needs of local communities”. An example of this is how BCR responded to the voice of local youth. With a higher than average youth unemployment rate in the Bay & Basin, BCR sought the views of local youth and knew that understanding their needs was an important step in finding solutions. Engaging with local youth as design partners helped BCR to successfully secure a $558,000 Regional Youth Investment Program (RYIP) grant to build a dedicated Youth Space in Sanctuary Point. “This PODS project will include a pop-up café where local young people can learn barista, hospitality and customer service skills, a meeting and training pod, and a yarning circle. It will be a safe space for young people to improve their health, well-being, connection, creativity, and learning.” “Being awarded the Outstanding Community Organisation award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the diverse work we do at BCR Communities.”

Reducing clothes going to landfill, helping to ease the cost of living, and bringing the community together – the BCR Communities Upcycled Clothes Party was a success on many levels. The Sanctuary Point Youth and Community Centre was filled today with locals sifting for treasure through racks of pre-loved and new clothes and shoes generously donated by the community and from retail outlets through charities Good360 and Thread Together. There was no need for cash or credit cards with every attendee able to take home bags of clothes for free. Mother of three, Tanya Williamson, was excited to find quality clothes for her children aged 10, nine and two-years-old. “This is such a great event, we were here last year and it really helped,” Tanya said. “We can donate clothes the kids have grown out of and get some things we need back without having to pay anything - it’s a full circle.” “It is especially good at this time when everyone is struggling with the cost of living.” BCR Community Services Team Leader Karen Chambers, said her team were motivated to hold the event because of how many people in the Bay and Basin were finding it hard to afford even the basics, and the staggering statistics around landfill. “Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of discarded clothing is sent to landfill in Australia each year, and only a fraction is recycled,” Karen said. “Synthetic clothes can then take hundreds of years to decompose.” “It is such a waste, especially when at the same time so many people are struggling to afford the clothes they need for their family.” “That is why the Upcycled Clothes Party just makes sense - everybody leaves with clothes they need, it helps the environment, people feel good knowing their donated clothes are helping others in the community, and it’s fun seeing what you can find.” “We have a wonderful community that love to pay it forward. Hosting a community clothes swap means we can have a sustainable fashion event. At a time when money is really tight this is a thrifty way to update the wardrobe, grab some essentials and help fight textile waste. “This event also allows us to check in with families, see how people are faring and if we can offer any additional supports.” BCR Communities will be donating left over clothes to various local not-for-profit organisations so they can be distributed to vulnerable people in the community including those experiencing homelessness.

Monday the 7th of August was Aged Care Employee Day, a time to celebrate the 427,000 kind, hard-working, dedicated, caring people around Australia who care for over 1.5 million older people. A very big thank you to all the team at BCR Communities for making a real difference in the lives of so many people in our community. Without you, almost 700 seniors wouldn’t be able to continue living happily at home. Our thanks goes to those of you working directly out in the field, and extends to our coordinators, managers, and admin and operations support teams including schedulers, HR, Finance, IT and customer service – basically everyone who keeps our wonderful organisation operating smoothly. Every one of you is so valued and appreciated!

BCR Communities will be holding another Upcycled Clothes Party on Tuesday, August 15 from 10am at the Sanctuary Point Youth and Community Centre. This a free event, with all attendees able to take home a bag of new or pre-loved quality clothing. There will be a variety of styles and sizes ranging from babies to adults. We know foraging for treasure is hard work so a light morning tea will be provided. A big thank you to everyone in the community who has already donated clothes for the event!

Hard as boards, dipping in the middle and dating from last century – Adele and Frank Bartolo knew their beds were not helping their health conditions but saving thousands for new ones seemed impossible. “We exist from one pension to the next, and we sometimes have to go without because if you haven’t got it, you haven’t got it,” Adele said. “Everything is so expensive now and there are some things that you end up neglecting when you have a home.” Switching to new Home Care Packages has been life changing for the Oak Flats couple. An assessment by an occupational therapist quickly concluded that new electric beds would be essential in managing their hip, back and neck pain. They are now thrilled with their new matching king single beds which provide a comfortable night’s sleep and can be adjusted to relieve pressure and alleviate joint pain and swelling. “When we got our new beds it felt like we had won Lotto,’ Adele said. “I couldn’t believe I could sleep in a bed like that, it’s something we’ve never had. At our age getting something as lovely as that, would never have happened without the package.” After being concerned they may have no choice but to leave the house they love, Frank and Adele said their new home care packages have been a big relief. “We are also now able to get our gutters done and the windows cleaned - it’s like a dream for us. We have thought many times that we have to move but we love our house and where it is. We want to stay living here for as long as we can.”

The reaction is instant - as soon as the sound of excited little voices float through the window, everyone in the room is wearing the same smile. It’s Friday at the Sanctuary Point Youth & Community Centre, and for the last two months a group of three and four-year-olds from The Basin Pre-School next door have been walking over to be with some special older friends. For many of the seniors participating in the BCR Communities intergenerational sessions it has been decades since they have experienced the pure joy that comes from spending time with pre-schoolers. Four-year-olds are masters of living in the moment, and the seniors are finding any aches, pains or worries are forgotten as they absorb themselves in colouring-in, playing games, blowing bubbles, singing nursery rhymes and having some very cute conversations. 71-year-old Ellen Deutschbein said the sessions were something she looks forward to every week. “The kids were a little shy in the beginning but now they are coming out of their shells and they are just beautiful - I have always loved being around kids” Ellen said. “I’ve only been coming to the BCR Communities social groups for a few months and I’m so glad I joined.” “It’s scary joining when you don’t know anyone but now I just love it. It’s great being with the kids but I also really enjoy talking with other people my age who are experiencing similar things.” The kids are also benefiting from the intergenerational sessions, receiving the kind of one to one attention that is usually the reserve of grandparents. They have a group of grown-ups who take delight in their company, are keen to listen to their stories and ideas, and who cheer them on as they try new activities. If you would like to find out more about the BCR Communities Social Groups phone 1300 222 748 or email at info@BCRcommunities.com

After months of renovations, BCR Communities’ Paradise Respite Cottage is ready to welcome guests again and it’s time to celebrate. You are invited to attend our official Paradise Cottage reopening celebration on Thursday 25 May from 10am to 12pm. It will be an opportunity to tour the cottage, enjoy morning tea, and meet the team. Designed for people over 65 who rely on a carer including for those needing support with dementia, Paradise Cottage’s location in beautiful Sanctuary Point means it is easily accessible for guests living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. As one of the only overnight respite cottages currently operating in the central Shoalhaven area, Paradise Cottage is an important resource, giving carers the opportunity to relax, recharge and focus on their own well-being while the person they care for is safe and enjoying their time away. We hope to see you soon, please RSVP to 1300 222 748 or email info@bcrcommunities.com

Like many of the 2.65 million Australians who are caring for a loved one, 67-year-old Vicki Heidemann’s progression to full-time carer of her mother Rosalie, was a gradual one. Initially, 89-year-old Rosalie lived independently in a granny flat and only needed occasional support but as her dementia progressed she moved into the house to live with Vicki and now needs constant care. It’s a role Vicki is happy to take on for her much loved Mum but while caring for Rosalie is rewarding, it can also be physically and mentally draining and Vicki has found that they both benefit from having a regular break from each other. A four day stay at BCR Communities’ Paradise Respite Cottage gives Vicki the time to herself she needs to relax and recharge while Rosalie has a chance to get out of the house and socialise. “Mum really enjoys her stays at Paradise Cottage because she has always been a people person, she loves to have a chat and has always had a lot of friends,” Vicki said. “At the moment she isn’t really leaving the house much so going to the cottage gives her a chance to be with other people and have a break from being just with me all the time. Last time she stayed with her friend Robyn which she loved.” While Vicki said she initially felt guilty about using respite, she has since realised that taking care of herself makes her a better carer. “I know Mum will be well looked after when she is at Paradise Cottage and the time apart gives me a chance to meet up with friends, spend time with my daughters and grandkids and get things done around the house,” Vicki said. “It’s a chance to rest and reset.” To find out more about how BCR Communities can support you with respite, phone 1300 222 748 or email info@bcrcommunities.com.

Ever since she participated in some woodworking sessions at a Men’s Shed years ago, 33-year-old NDIS participant, Jessica has been very keen to create with wood again. As luck would have it, Jessica lives next door to Jesse, an NDIS participant who has been receiving support from BCR Communities for the last five years. So when Jesse mentioned to Jessica that he does woodwork all the time at BCR and there is a whole shed of cool tools, she was excited. One quick tour of the Activities Hub was all it took for Jessica to know she had found her place. She couldn’t have had a better teacher for her first session than our BCR Communities volunteer and very experienced carpenter Wayne Grumley. Jessica came to her session with a fold-out table she had previously made that needed fixing. With her table soon restored, the last part of her session was spent dreaming up a new design for a bedside table with five drawers. Wayne sketched up her ideas and the two will start the project next session.

After the great success of the Curious & Creative pilot program last year, supported with funding from the Office of Regional Youth, the program is running again in 2023 with students from Vincentia High School. Curious & Creative is a school re-engagement and pathways program developed and co-ordinated by BCR Communities and delivered in partnership with Firefly Uniting and Vincentia High School. The program, as an identified need in the community, was created specifically for students in year 7 to 10 who were finding it challenging to get back into school life after the COVID lockdowns. Three days a week, the students come to various BCR Communities local sites to engage in activities that are fun and challenging, and designed to build confidence, spark their creativity and create peer friendship and connection. After the COVID lockdown, high schools across the country reported a higher number of students disengaging from school and experiencing both anxiety and depression. They felt overwhelmed in the school environment and this had a huge impact both on the young people and their parents who struggled to find solutions or assistance. Amber McIntyre, whose daughter Emma-Mae participated in Curious & Creative last year, said the program was life-changing for the family. “Since starting the program, Emma has really blossomed, her confidence has grown and she now has a friendship group that she can call her own.” “It has been amazing to have her out of her bedroom and away from distractions and into something she is passionate about.” The small group participate and learn in an environment that is safe and supportive, where they can find their confidence and explore opportunities to return to school or alternate learning pathways. This term they are learning photography, ceramics and woodwork` skills, working together to build a bench seat that will be installed at the BCR Communities future youth specific POD site in Sanctuary Point. If you would like to find out more about BCR Communities services phone 1300 222 748, or email at info@BCRcommunities.com

When 75-year-old Lesley Heffernan and her husband Michael retired to beautiful Sanctuary Point, they were excited to start the next chapter of their lives together. While they missed their network of friends in Campbelltown where they had lived for 56 years, the couple were enjoying their new life until Michael suddenly passed away in 2019 leaving Lesley feeling lost and very alone. “We had been married for 48 years so losing Michael felt like I had lost my right arm, I didn’t know what to do without him and I felt really lonely.” Lesley said. “I have no family living down here and nearly all my friends are in Campbelltown, if I had known that I would lose Michael so soon, I would not have moved here.” When COVID restrictions eased, Lesley decided to meet new people and get the social connection she needed by joining the BCR Communities Social Groups. “I couldn’t keep staying indoors doing nothing, I had to get out and try and live my life without him,” Lesley said. “I now go on the Tuesday bus trips which I enjoy. There is a lot of interaction with other people and it’s great to get out of the house and visit places that I haven’t been before or haven’t been to in a long time.” BCR Communities Social Groups are friendly, fun and engaging, and include a range of activities from bus trips and lunches out to special events, craft, music and more. There is even an online community for those unable to leave the house. If you would like to find out more about the BCR Communities Social Groups phone 1300 222 748, email at info@BCRcommunities.com or visit our website www.bcrcommunities.com/social-groups.

When a 15-year-old Carmen first agreed to go out with a 15-yearold Vince Fenech back in her village in Malta it was with the intention of making another boy she liked jealous. Luckily for Vince, their three children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, Carmen quickly forgot about her original plan, fell in love with Vince and the two were married in Malta in 1962. Only a few months after tying the knot, the young couple said farewell to their very large families, Carmen is one of 13 children and Vince is one of 10, and bravely set sail to start a new life in Australia. While Carmen said the first Christmas away from their family in Malta was tough and she struggled with the language, the two never regretted their decision to move to Australia. They settled in Sydney and soon had their first baby. Fortunately Carmen didn’t have to endure another lonely Christmas, over the next few years almost all of her family followed her to Australia with only one sister remaining in Malta. Today the Fenech’s home in Worrigee is testament to their love and 60 years of marriage with framed photos of their family covering the walls and their own wedding portrait taking pride of place. For the couple who are now 82-years-old, their home is a sanctuary and it is important for them to stay living there together for as long as they can. Carmen likes being independent and she manages cooking, washing, ironing and dusting but having a Home Care Package with BCR Communities means they can get support for those bigger jobs like cleaning the bathroom, mopping floors and changing beds. Without a driver’s license, the couple also use their Home Care Package for getting to appointments and for shopping for groceries. So what’s the secret to 60 happy years of marriage? According to Carmen it’s coffee! “If we do ever argue, he will go into the garage and then after a little while, I will make him a coffee and then we start talking again,” Carmen said.