Volunteers Honoured in Aged Care Awards
21 June 2012 at 4:45 pm
South Australian and NT aged care workers and organisations have been honored at an awards ceremony in Adelaide.
 Brenton Griffiths, Volunteer Award Winner |
Chief executive of Aged & Community Services SA & NT Alan Graham said the Awards celebrated the outstanding efforts of individuals and organisations that help older people live better lives.
Brenton Griffiths, 74, won the Volunteer Award for his work over five years to establish and maintain a Men’s Shed at Alwyndor Aged Care in Hove, South Australia.
Brenton called on a team of friends to help with the project, which he said was a real team effort that has changed the lives of the male residents. The Prime Minister’s partner Tim Mathieson is a patron of Men’s Sheds.
Kimberly Harris, 27, a chef at Resthaven in Mount Gambier, took out the Employee Award. Harris has transformed the dining experience for residents in the 12 months since she joined the aged care workforce. She has used her expertise to craft meals for residents, many of whom have challenging dietary requirements.
| Kimberly Harris, Employee Award Winner |
Awards were also presented for media, design, trainee, organisation and industry supporter.
All winners received a plaque and $300 prize money. The volunteer, trainee, organisation and employee award winners will contend for the national awards at the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) conference in September.
I feel I must bring to your attention some facts contained in this article.
The Men’s Shed at Alwyndor was an idea that came into being through my wife, who at the time worked at Alwyndor as a hostel supervisor in the dementia area.
She had recognised the need for some where for the men to meet as most of the activities were tailored toward the women.
The idea was mentioned to me as at the time I was part of the Mitsubishi Motors Australia Canteen Society Which was in the process of winding up its affairs as Mitsubishi was in the process of being shut down.
The other members of the Canteen Society were approached with the idea and we voted to fund the supply and erection of the shed.
I understand that there was a plaque erected in the shed thanking Mitsubishi Motors for its donation.