Home is where Jane’s heart is

Jane Hall has been using Anglicare’s aged care service for around 12 months. It means she can stay where she loves to be – in her own home and local community.

Jane lives on Hobart’s sunny eastern shore with her husband Rod and rescued greyhound, Missie. The couple moved into their home in 1971 as newly-weds, and Jane says she wouldn’t live anywhere else.

“One of our daughters lives five houses along in the same street. We have another daughter and grandchildren minutes away,” she explained.

I love pottering and sitting in the garden, and Missie brings us so much joy. I’m hoping to stay here for the rest of my life. I’m 78 now and my mother reached 92, so I have a lot of living to do yet!

As a teenager, Jane worked in auxiliary nursing roles in small towns before embarking on training at the Royal Hobart Hospital to become a registered nurse. After several years she returned to study a Bachelor of Education and taught nursing for 11 years before ‘packing it in’ to re-train, again at the Royal, as a midwife.  She spent the last 30 years of her career there, apart from a stint as an on-call nurse at an aged care facility when she was in her mid-60s.

Jane is an avid reader with a keen interest in history and a wide variety of interests. She delivers classes at the University of the Third Age (U3A) in Rosny Park and the Hobart School for Seniors. One of the topics she covers is the Redex automotive endurance trials held in Australia in the 1950s. Others feature the human body and the achievements of women who were pioneers in their field.

“I’m a past president of U3A and a current student,” said Jane. “I’m also a member of the Trefoil Guild, as a former Girl Guide and Guide leader. We meet once a month during summer; once a Guide, always a Guide!

“Keeping my brain active and staying connected with people is very important to me.”

More information

Anglicare’s Aged Care services