Category: Key things to help you everyday

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is a day of feasting and festivities that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday – the start of the Lent.

The origins of Shrove Tuesday date back to medieval times, when it was customary to use up all the rich ingredients in your pantry before the start of Lent. Pancakes were a popular choice because they were quick and easy to make, and used up ingredients such as eggs, butter, and sugar. These days, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated all over the world, and many people enjoy cooking up a storm in the kitchen, whipping up as many pancakes as they can eat.

To this day, a good number of retirement villages across the country incorporate Pancake Day into their activities calendar.  It is a day village Chef’s tend to dread with the pressure of making a large numbers of yummy pancakes in a very short period of time.

Anyways, we’ve been lucky enough to get a family recipe from a retirement village in south western Sydney for you to try out on Tuesday 21 February.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Non-stick cooking spray or additional melted butter for greasing the pan

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined (the batter will be lumpy). Don’t overmix, as this will result in tough pancakes.
4. Heat a non-stick pan or griddle over medium heat. Grease the pan with cooking spray or melted butter.
5. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto the hot pan. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface of the pancake, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Flip the pancake and cook until the other side is lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes more.
7. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more cooking spray or butter as needed.
8. Serve the pancakes hot with your favourite toppings, such as butter, syrup, fruit, or whipped cream.

Enjoy your delicious pancakes! If you’re feeling creative, why add all sorts of toppings, from syrup and fruit to chocolate chips and bacon.

After spending 10 years at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Deb Howard (pictured left with Ann Blair) just felt ready for a change in career.

“However, I was unsure what that looked like.  I realised that there were so many transferable skills from hotel management to an over 55’s community and decided quickly that this was the right career path for me,” said Deb, who has been appointed Community Manager of lngenia Lifestyle’s  Natura Port Stephens at Bobs Farm in the NSW Hunter region.    

“The change has been extremely positive, and the onboarding program at Ingenia is incredible.  I have been lucky enough to have visited many communities in the past two months to learn what I can from each Community Manager.”

Natura Port Stephens is expected to welcome its first residents in late May with the first stage of 20 homes due for settlement.

Deb has bonded with Ann Blair, Community Manager at Plantations at Woolgoolga on the NSW Mid-North Coast. Ann was named Land Lease Employee of the Year at the Caravanning and Camping Industry Association NSW Awards for Excellence 2022.   

“Ann has been a great mentor for me since day one. I was lucky enough to spend a week with Ann at Plantations where I witnessed a very well-managed community with engaged residents and staff.  Ann, along with many other Community Managers, has passed on their wisdom and knowledge to allow me the skills and know how to effectively manage Natura Port Stephens,” said Deb.

From the first time Ann spoke with Deb there was a sense of collaboration.

“It been a joy to work with her and assist her to define how she would like her community to develop.

“Managing a community with all the variety of demands can be quite challenging and although everyone has a slightly different approach, consistency and integrity underpin the building of good relationships and communities.”

“Natura will be a boutique community of only 111 homes so Debra will be in a position to know her residents well.  I am confident Deb’s background in hotels and her natural demeanour will set her up very well to have a wonderful experience and give her the opportunity to share her unique skills with her community”.

Ann said If she were to give specific advice to a fellow community manager would be to ‘be yourself – let yourself shine’ as this will build good rapport with others.

Fifteen years ago, Donna Haar worked as a factory supervisor in regional South Australia. 

It was then that she found her calling. 

In 2007, Donna completed her certificate, and applied to Resthaven Paradise Community Services. 

“I thoroughly enjoyed working in clients’ homes. As a Home Support Worker, I met with the same clients each week, and was able to build strong connections, and I loved being able to see their progress.” 

With an interest to have more involvement in developing clients’ care and support plans, Donna moved up to Program Assistant, and then Coordinator at the Not For Profit’s Northern Community Services, where she is now. 

“I have made beautiful friendships over the years, and have even managed to support one client through my entire time with Resthaven,” she added. 

“No matter your circumstances, there is something for everyone here—take it from me, you won’t turn back!” 

Carinity’s Retirement Village Manager, Maddison Jones, knows what most residents seek when deciding to enter a village.

“The common requirement is a place that is safe and secure to give residents confidence about their belongings and their own wellbeing,” Maddison said.

“Additionally, the social side and mental health of residents is important, and we have beautiful communities that genuinely care and check in with one another in this significant life change.”

She added the residents of Carinity’s five retirement communities “come from all different backgrounds and places.”

Maddison was a family lawyer before her change of career.

“My first role in aged care was a combination of retirement village manager, home care coordinator and RAC admissions. It was a great learning experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed the role, before progressing into senior management positions overlooking a significant retirement living, home care and CHSP portfolio,” Maddison said.

“In my current role at Carinity, my focus is purely on retirement living and collaborating with our great home care teams to keep our residents independent and living in their homes for a long as possible. I lead a wonderful team who put the residents of Carinity at the heart of everything they do. My favourite part of the role is getting to know the residents and hearing their life stories.”