IF you were to meet brother and sister Muriel New and Harold Churchward, you would never guess that they were 94 and 98 years of age.
They have both been attending Centacare’s day respite centre at Enoggera for the last three years.
They don’t just attend the centre, they help out in the day to day running of it.
Harold helps with restoring second hand furniture for the centre to use and Muriel helps run the centre’s op shop.
They have the enthusiasm and energy of people half their age.
When not helping out around the centre, they get involved in the daily activities, such as day trips that include trips to the coast and lunches out at a Chinese restaurant, tai chi, woodwork, arts and craft to name a few activities.
“I enjoy coming here and doing some woodwork and I really look forward to the trips and getting out and seeing things you just don’t get to see”, Harold, who also used to work for the St Vincent de Paul Society, said.
His sister Muriel was the secretary at the Aspley Bowls Club where she was a member for 45 years.
When Muriel was unable to get there anymore, the respite centre took its place.
“It’s more than a day respite centre to me, it’s a place of friendliness and love. If I had of known about this place years ago I would have been in helping,” an enthusiastic Muriel said.
Both Muriel and Harold believe the centre is just not a place to go to, but it is a place where they are able to give back to others. Centacare thanks both Muriel and Harold for all their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment.
If you would like to discuss how Centacare can help you or any of your family with providing respite as a short-term or time-limited break for older people, families and other voluntary carers, please call us on 07 3255 7755.
