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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.

Is the ukulele the happiest instrument in the world? Ken Gates thinks so, at 82 he spends more than five hours a week playing his ukulele as part of The Basin Bowlers Big Time Band, the Pirates Band and the Jammin Band. He even has a beginner’s class where he teaches people of all ages how to play. “The Basin Bowlers has about 15 people mainly playing the ukuele,” Ken said. “It is great because many join the group and achieve what they never thought they could.” “I really enjoy watching everyone get a thrill out of coming together and making music – there is always a big smile on everyone’s face when we finish.” You might assume that Ken has been strumming his uke all his life but he only first picked one up at the age of 67. “I learnt to play the ukulele because I needed a bit of rhythm to go with my harmonica. I tried the guitar but that was a bit hard, the ukulele is fairly easy to pick up.” According to Ken you don't have to be a seasoned musician to learn how to strum a few chords and play some catchy tunes. In fact, picking up a uke in your golden years can be especially beneficial for your mental health and overall well-being. Studies have shown that learning a new skill, such as playing an instrument, can help keep your brain sharp and agile as you age. Plus, it's a great way to boost your mood and reduce stress levels. “I would encourage anyone to try a ukulele class”, Ken said. “It gets your fingers moving, gets your mind moving, you meet people and it’s fun.

A big thank you to everyone who came and helped us celebrate the official opening of our new Wellness Garden, the Sanctuary Community Matters Fair, and the launch of our new brand as we celebrate our growth from BBCR to BCR Communities! While we may have changed our name and logo, we want our community to know that we are still exactly the same not-for-profit organisation with the same values, strong commitment to serving our communities and amazing team of staff and volunteers, including our management and Board. So why are we changing our name? Bay & Basin Community Resources started 30 years ago when a group of concerned locals got together to try and find a solution for the very real lack of community resources in the Bay and Basin region. In these early stages, the name was a perfect fit – everyone involved lived in the Bay and Basin and the main concern was sourcing resources for this one community. Today, while the Bay & Basin is still our heart and home, we support people in many communities from Helensburgh in the north of Wollongong right down to Ulladulla. We also provide so much more than just resources, including practical support, social connection, workshops, community projects, activities, and volunteering opportunities. Quite simply, over the last 30 years we have outgrown the original name. We want our name to be inclusive of every person we support and reflect the diverse range of services we provide. To find out more about BCR Communities and the range of aged care, NDIS, community and youth services we provide, check out this website bcrcommunities.com or phone 1300 222 748.

It's time to celebrate! Please join us for the official opening of our BCR Communities Wellness Garden and the Sanctuary Point Community Matters Fair. Wednesday, 15 February | 10.00am to 12.30pm BCR Communities Wellness Garden, 207 Kerry Street, Sanctuary Point RSVP: info@bbcri.com.au Come along for: •Our Wellness Garden ribbon cutting •The Sanctuary Point Community Matters Fair •The official launch of our new brand and celebrate our growth from BBCR to BCR Communities There will be close to 20 stalls from different community and volunteering organisations operating in the Bay & Basin, a petting zoo, activities, face-painting, free gelato and coffee and a sausage sizzle.

In exciting news, the BCR Community Services Team has just secured $558,000.00 through the ‘Our Region, Our Voice - Regional Youth Investment Program’. Member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock and Liberal Candidate for South Coast, Luke Sikora were both on site to make the announcement. This NSW Government funding will be used to create a dedicated Youth Space adjacent to our Wellness Centre and Zen Garden on Macleans Point Road, Sanctuary Point. It was a wonderful collaborative effort including extensive youth consultation which led to the success of the grant and this exciting announcement. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress throughout the duration of this project. Heather Marciano CEO BCR Communities

From designer dresses and brand new active wear to sparkly tutus and winter woollies, it didn’t take much foraging to find treasure at the BCR Communities’ Upcycled Clothes Party. Locals packed the Sanctuary Point Youth and Community Centre to comb through racks of quality pre-loved and new clothes and shoes generously donated by the community and from retail outlets through Good360. Every attendee could take home a bag of clothes for free with many also donating their own pre-loved clothes before the event. BCR Community Services Team Leader Karen Chambers, said the idea for the event came from a service user who didn’t drive and who was finding it hard to buy affordable clothes for her children in the local area. “With the cost of living rising, we are finding more and more families in the community are struggling to afford the basics like food, heating and clothes,” Karen said. “An event like this works on so many levels, everybody leaves with a bag of clothes at no cost, it keeps unwanted clothes out of landfill and it’s fun seeing what you can find.” Because the rising cost of electricity meant she hadn’t been using any heating at home, local Peta Sperring said she was very grateful for her bag of warm clothes. “So many people in society are struggling so this is a brilliant idea – look at all the happy faces here right now,” Peta said. “Just seeing all those piles of kids clothes and babies clothes and school uniforms is overwhelming, it’s going to be such a help to so many families.” While Mum of four Leah Williamson, was stocking up on clothes for her kids, her youngest daughter 2-year-old Olivia twirled around her, delighted with her new white fairy dress. “Kids grow out of things so quickly so events like this are great because everyone is recycling rather than just throwing clothes away,” Leah said. “It is my eight-year-old’s birthday tomorrow so we have found some extra presents and Olivia loves her new dress so much she wanted to wear it straight away.” 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.

To mark International Volunteer Day, and celebrate all our wonderful volunteers, we held a special morning tea at Coastal Waters yesterday. We are so lucky at BCR Communities to have an amazing team of kind, creative, enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. Whether it's helping out in social groups, checking in on an older person who lives alone, growing veggies in our gardens or hosting a show on our community radio station - every week in hundreds of different ways they make our communities better places to be. They generously give their time and share their skills, passions and talents to support others in our community. They are an essential part of the BBCR team and we appreciate the many ways they contribute to our organisation. We want to thank all our volunteers for everything they do and we wish everyone a safe, relaxing and happy holiday!