Friday was once again an emotional day as our Hopetoun campus residents and team farewelled those we’ve lost during the past 12 months at the annual Memorial Service.
Welcoming 60 residents, family and friends to the campus, our lovely residents – Shirley Scott, Maurice Love, Kerin Laffy, Robert (Bob) Burdett, Betty (Lee) Bailey, Terry Bellinger, and team member Ann Arnel – were remembered fondly during the service.
Leading the memorial service, Leisure and Lifestyle Assistant Norma Decker said the memorial has remained a very important date on the calendar since it was started by former Leisure and Lifestyle Assistant Marilyn Clancy in 2012.
Commenting that she treasures coming to work and sharing fun, love, and laughter with our residents, Norma read a biography of each person remembered during the service and an excerpt of each appears below:
- Shirley Scott: Norma commented that it was quite surreal honouring Shirley on Friday, which also marked 20 years since RNH moved into the new facility, as Shirley was there on move in day along with her husband, Laurie. Shirley loved flowers and, each week, her room was filled with flowers. In fact, the team are still watering the pot plants outside Shirley’s room, and it brings them joy to see the yellow snapdragons and roses her family donated blooming beautifully in the garden. Enjoying balloon tennis and having her hair set each week, Shirley also enjoyed jewellery and scarves, and it was essential that she wore her clothes with matching accessories.
- Maurice Love: Maurice had been in care with his wife, Lilian, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage before Lilian passed away. Maurie missed her so much and found times without Lilian difficult. A very clever man, Maurice loved telling the Hopetoun team all about the work he had done, even coming up with some inventions. Enjoying playing the piano, Maurice spent many happy hours in the lounge area “tickling the ivories”. Maurie believed that fly spray could cure any ailment, which led to many spirited discussions amongst the team, and he would also keep them busy replacing the batteries in his watch and torch.
- Kerin Laffy: Enjoying having her beautiful long fingernails painted and, sometimes, also having her hair blow waved, Kerin was an amazing, friendly person. Enjoying the colour of fresh flowers and keeping active with crocheting, Kerin produced many lovely rugs, even gifting some to the team who treasure them to this day. Attempting to teach Hopetoun Nurse Unit Manager Alison Fischer to crochet, even though Kerin’s skills didn’t rub off on Alison, she certainly gave the team many laughs in her attempts. Kerin loved her family and was so proud of following their lives and dreams.
- Robert Burdett: Bob was a gentleman who would greet the team with the biggest smile each morning. Very well known in the Hopetoun community, Bob was a life member of the Hopetoun Bowls Club and later enjoyed playing balloon tennis – putting a good spin on the balloon each time. Moving into care with his wife, Iris, Bob celebrated many special events during his time with RNH, including his 90th birthday and 70th wedding anniversary. An avid Essendon supporter, Bob loved following the footy and would often speak about his nephew, Geoff, playing for the Bombers.
- Betty Bailey: Lee, as Betty was better known, loved going for walks in the garden and picking flowers for her room. An avid Collingwood supporter, Lee had plans to colour her hair black and white but, unfortunately, the Pies didn’t make the grand final. She was, however, happy to have black and white decorations adorn the table for her birthday celebration instead. Well known amongst the team, Lee sadly passed just one week prior to the memorial, but the team were honoured to form a guard of honour to farewell her.
- Terry Bellinger: Better known as TB, Terry joined RNH for respite care on occasion. Enjoying Tuesday happy hour, Saturday’s blue heaven milkshake, and Sunday’s ice cream treat, TB would read the team the daily news. Also often joining in quizzes on local surnames, TB was extremely good at guessing the answers quickly, and the team will miss his cheekiness and sense of fun.
- Ann Arnel: Passing away suddenly in April, Ann had retired from work with RNH at the end of 2024 after 24 years of service. A big part of the move into the new facility, Ann is shown in the moving day photos serving cups of tea and coffee. Describing Ann as a wonderful co-worker, and friend, Norma said she will miss Ann.
“Thank you for allowing me this honour. Each staff member who works at Hopetoun would have different experiences and memories, but those we care for really came to hold a special part in our hearts,” Norma said.
Inviting family, friends, residents and staff to lay a rose in the memorial font that was donated by Kevin and Dulcie Fischer, in memory of Tren who passed in 2012, Norma then handed the floor to Deb Glenn and Nurse Unit Manager Alison Fischer who each read a poem, before Reverend Susan Pearse led a brief service honouring those lost.