ANZAC Day, Tuesday 25 April, is a very important and special day for many people in retirement living and aged care, their families and staff.
Behind the scenes making the national day of remembrance for all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations”, special is Sarah Phillips, Lifestyle Manager for Residential Aged Care at RSL LifeCare Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Sarah coordinates RSL LifeCare’s four residential aged care homes on site to ensure that the residents can attend the activities and services.
It’s a big job as Sarah has to work out how many volunteers are needed and what transport is involved (buggy and buses).
RSL LifeCare holds four major events to mark ANZAC Day:
- RSL ANZAC Village, Narrabeen Service on Wednesday 19 April, with speaker General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC(Mil) CVO MC (Retd);
- Field of Remembrance Dedication and Anzac Service, El Alamein Village, Lyneham, ACT, on Friday 21 April, with speaker Matt Anderson, Director of the Australian War Memorial.
- Dawn Service on Anzac Day, 25 April, at RSL ANZAC Village, Narrabeen, with speaker Rear Admiral Lee Goddard RAN CSC (Retd).
Kerry Morris, RSL LifeCare’s Manager of Events and Community Engagement, manages the Narrabeen and Canberra events. The Canberra event is in partnership with the Australian War Widows ACT.
“I work closely with Sarah and the Retirement Living Team at Narrabeen including maintenance, landscaping, transport and catering. It really does take a ‘village’ to pull it all together,” Kerry said.
David Deller, Fundraising & Events Manager RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, is managing the annual BridgeClimb.