Community spirit

Staying connected with others in your local community is an essential component of healthy ageing.

At Anglicare, we draw on this understanding when we develop care plans with the older Tasmanians we support.

Graham Burgess, 99 of Lindisfarne, is the perfect example. He has community spirit in spades.

Family history has always been of great interest to Graham. His great-great grandparents, charged with petty theft, were part of the last shipment of convicts sent to Tasmania in 1850. His wife Brenda’s family were first settlers from Ireland and Scotland.

Born in Wynyard in 1926 (on a farm that was later swallowed up by the expansion of the airport) Graham moved south at the age of 20 to further his career as an electrical tradesman.

He was quickly drawn into community life in Lindisfarne and threw himself into volunteering – which he heartily recommends.

Graham was a founding member of both the Sound Preservation Society and the Lindisfarne Historical Society. He was a very active member of the Lindisfarne Garden Society, exhibiting dahlias and orchids at many garden shows. He also served for more than 50 years as a founding member of the Rotary Club of Lindisfarne.

Graham shared his love of volunteering with Brenda, who won national recognition for her expertise in lip-reading, including an Order of Australia medal in 1997.

2001 was the International Year of Volunteers, and Graham was recognised on the national stage. He also received a ‘local hero’ award from Clarence City Council.

For 30 years he led a group of indoor bowlers and coordinated bus trips around the community. The hardware and electrical goods shop he ran for 35 years had a very loyal following.

Graham loves living where he does, with its easy access to parklands and points of interest. He enjoys going out for a drive, with both his children and Anglicare workers. He also uses his scooter to visit a nearby park to try out the exercise equipment.

“We often take old photos of the area out with us when we go for a drive,” says Anglicare home care worker Cheryl. “Graham knows a lot about the local history. He’s also done extensive research into his family tree and has put together a book about it. He has a very positive outlook on life.”

Graham enjoys having five of his seven children living close by.  He reflects:

We all have choices and I definitely married the right person. We had 65 wonderful years together. I have a wonderful family, and they support and help me.

Anglicare’s Aged Care Services

Anglicare provides Aged Care services that are funded by the Australian Government through My Aged Care, including the Support at Home Program, the Commonwealth Home Support Program and Veterans Home Care Program. We also offer services funded by the Tasmanian Government’s Home and Community Care Program. If you don’t have government funding, we can still support you with self-funded home care.

Ring our friendly home care team on 1800 466 300 if you’d like more information.

Main photo:

Cheryl is one of Graham’s regular support workers. They enjoy driving around their local community together.