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Marie Clark with Frank Windeyer
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From Our President
As 2022 comes to an end everyone involved with ECG should reflect on and be pleased with what has been achieved despite the disruptions of COVID and the very great number of wet days.
It was good that we were able to hold the AGM and associated volunteers and clients meeting face to face this year, with a good number attending. Following the formal meeting, our Patron, Judy Horton spoke and then awards were presented followed by lunch in the garden of Gordon Library.
Suzanne Saunders, our longest-serving volunteer gardener, and Mr John Rose, a client and great supporter in many ways of ECG, have been appointed as Honorary Life Members of the Association.
Ewen Macdonald, a well-experienced chartered accountant, has joined the Management Committee as Treasurer.
In the next year I expect that we will learn of continuing changes in the obligations of organisations working in aged care, as ECG does. We will let you know of any changes that might affect the work of our volunteers.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the end-of-year party on 8 December and wish everyone a happy and satisfying 2023.
Frank Windeyer, Easy Care Gardening President
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Suzanne Saunders with Jeff Pettett, Mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council
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CONGRATS TO OUR AWARD WINNERS
Lifetime Service Awards
- 3 years: Christopher Hunter, David Ashton, Ian Woolcott, Jane Keneally, Robert Lewis, Rowena Hubble, Susan Hamling
- 5 years: Frances Thorp, Graeme Bradshaw, Helen Logie, Kaz Abramowicz, Michael Ward, Michelle Levitt, Monique De Hertogh, Stephen Griffiths, Timothy Jackson, Wayne Corrigan, Ken Fox
- 10 years: Alan Wendeborm, Alan Young, Basundhara Dhungel, David Cockerell, Donna Palmer, Louise Finckh, Pam Rosser, Phil Summerfield, Raymond Date, Valerie Flanagan, Victor Zonca
- 15 years: Kaye Clarke, Margaret Skinner, Micheal Crane, Rosemary Keogh
- 30 years: Suzanne Saunders
Perpetual Awards
Brian Self Award - AWARDED FOR SIGNIFICANT SERVICE to Marie Clark.
Kathleen Ciemiega Award - AWARDED FOR DEDICATION TO OUR VALUES to Phil Summerfield
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Judy Horton with Phil Summerfield and Janine Zilifian
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Various prize winners and attendees of the ECG AGM 2022
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Community Pitch
Easy Care Gardening got a helping hand from the community at the recent 'pitch' event. Attended by CEO Leanne Babic, Volunteer Manager Coralie Jensen, volunteer Marie Clarke and Management Committee member Ian Woolcott, the night raised $4300 for ECG! To find out more, read on here.
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The Turramurra and Lindfield Community Bank, a franchise of Bendigo Bank, is offering a $1000 donation to Easy Care Gardening Inc for each new loan or refinanced personal loan or home loan mortgage referred to from our supporters.
Easy Care Gardening is not endorsing personal loans or home loans with Bendigo Bank or any other institution.
If you are interested in this offer through Turramurra and Lindfield Community Bank - Bendigo Bank, then please contact Kymbel Pikula, Senior Mobile Lending Manager on 0411 380 591 and check out their website on www.tlcbb.com.au for all their terms and conditions.
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Welcome Our New Treasurer
Ewen MacDonald (above) is a Chartered Accountant who trained in the UK and moved to Australia in 1989 while working with the audit division of Ernst and Young. His audit clients included not-for-profit organisations.
Ewen subsequently moved into commerce and has worked in a variety of senior accounting roles for both listed and privately owned companies.
He became aware of Easy Care Gardening through the work they did for his mother-in-law, which was an important factor in helping her to live independently.
He lives on Sydney’s North Shore, and outside of work he plays soccer in a seniors competition over the winter months.
In the garden he has had several false starts growing vegetables, but in recent years he has been getting some promising results with tomatoes and cucumbers.
We are all looking forward to welcoming Ewen, and are thankful that our outgoing treasurer Mahesh will be staying on as a committee member.
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Corporate Volunteer Day
Thanks ANZ for your time gardening with us at Julia's place. Terrific work.
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During October ECG were lucky enough to have some volunteers come and garden with us from the ANZ Corporate Team in leafy Thornleigh. Not only did they have a fun rewarding time our client was absolutely delighted not only about having a furry four legged visitor but that we finally had the numbers to tackle a long abandoned and therefore overgrown section of the garden
If you are a volunteer, client or corporate group and want to say thank you easily on line, consider writing a Google Review.
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Around the Grounds
BBQ Table Mishap - Another Happy Customer!?!
"Oh my", Renate Mason explained "not only do the volunteer gardening teams encounter 'much loved' gardens but sometimes overgrown 'jungles' (in German - Dschungel) which really need our help. This time they encountered a BBQ Table - that when touched fell apart."
Here is what the Thursday North team had to say: “We tried to 'move' a BBQ table! Hilarious....thank heavens it was going to the tip anyway.”
Renate went on to elaborate, "What a disaster. It could have been scary to suddenly have pieces in their hands rather than a table – that they wanted to move/use for their morning tea. But luckily no-one was injured & everyone thought it was funny – including the client J."
If you're getting ready for an al fresco Christmas lunch, make sure you test your table after all this rain in case it's rotted and won't cope with the turkey and ham!
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Tallest Weed Competition
We love that our volunteers are fearless! They venture into gardens that have sometimes become jungles, and the wet weather is fuelling their growth. Given this, we have decided to run “the tallest weed” competition. You can go on your 'weed hunt' anywhere, we don't mind, the more removed from our parks, gardens and landscapes the better!
We would love to see your weeds! Can you beat this entry by Sue Doyle?
First prize is a fuel card worth $50, second prize is a $25 fuel card and each entrant will receive a copy of Garden Escapees and Other Weeds of Bushland Reserves - A responsible gardening guide for Sydney thanks to the City of Ryde.
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Dates for your diary
The year is on its 'downhill run'. A few things to note, our last day gardening for the year will be on Wednesday 21st December, and the office will close for Christmas at lunch time on Friday 23rd December.
Many of our volunteer gardening teams will start back from the 4th of January, but please confirm your availability with your coordinator.
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Volunteers, come and join us...
There are 5 spots left for our end-of-year celebration in December will be at the Killara Bowling Club on the 8th from 4:30pm, with dinner served at 6:30pm.
Barefoot bowls is fun and no experience is necessary.
Get in quick! RSVP by December 1 to info@easycaregardening.org.au
*** Please note, this event is for VOLUNTEERS only. ***
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Seniors Festival 2023
The NSW Seniors Festival will be on again, but this year they have brought it forward and it will run from 1-12th February.
The Ku-ring-gai Seniors Expo is coming up on February 8, from 10am till 2pm and the Henley Garden party will also once again be running - details TBC, but a tentative date of Thursday 23 February, 2023 is set.
If you want to get involved, stay tuned for upcoming workshop dates on the 7th and 14th February with Ku-ring-gai Council and The City of Ryde. More details on each council's website.
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Recalls and Health Warnings
* Product Recall Roundup F Weedkiller Fast, Weedkiller Tough, and Weedkiller Path 5L refill pack purchased from 1 March to 16 September 2022
If you or your volunteers have this round up product purchased by Easy Care Gardening could they please return it ASAP for a refund.
* Cases of Legionnaires’ disease have increased this year, with more people becoming sick after exposure to Legionella bacteria in bagged potting mix and compost.
When using these products in your garden, it is important you take steps to protect yourself. Always follow the manufacturers’ warnings on bagged potting mix and compost, including:
• Wetting down potting mix or compost to reduce dust.
• Wearing a face mask and gloves while handling potting mix or compost.
• Washing your hands thoroughly afterwards.
More information: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/legionnaires_disease.aspx
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The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety called for reforms of the aged care sector to improve standards of care for older people. In response the Australian Government has started the reform process.
Join their panel of experts on Tuesday 6 December for this webinar to find out what these changes mean for you and your aged care services right now?
The webinar will cover:
- Serious Incident Reporting Scheme in Home Care
- Code of conduct
- Star ratings
- Care minutes
- The role of consumer advisory groups
The panel hosted by Kyle Olsen includes:
- Craig Gear OAM, OPAN CEO
- Josh Maldon, Assistant Secretary – Choice and Transparency Branch, Department of Health and Aged Care
- representative from National Older Persons Reference Group
- representative from Aged Care Quality Safety Commission
You are encouraged to submit questions in advance, during registration.
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The Final Word
To all our corporate groups, sponsors and funders.
Thank you for all your kind and generous support throughout 2022.
You have supported our volunteers to continue their important work in our clients' gardens. Your time, money and service has assisted our clients to live independently.
On behalf of our Management Committee, staff and volunteers I wish you a happy holiday and safe and prosperous 2023.
- ABRDN
- American Express
- Bunnings Warehouse
- City of Ryde
- Deloitte Australia
- Ethical Jobs Australia
- FJ Tours
- Flower Power
- Hunters Hill Council
- James Kirby Foundation
- Ku-ring-gai Council
- Microsoft
- NSW Government (for Seniors Expo)
- OPTUS
- Pymble Ladies College
- St James, Turramurra
- MERCYWorldWide
Easy Care Gardening Inc is supported by the Federal Government under the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
Thank you for your generosity and support throughout the year.
Leanne Babic, CEO
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Summer Newsletter
Our summer newsletter is out early so you can get a jump start on what's happening.
View Newsletter >>
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We hope you have a great break over summer and look forward to sending out our next e-news mid-January 2023.
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