Carnival time at Ron Smith Care Centre

 

Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre’s Woodlands’ garden and recreation area was transformed into an old-fashioned carnival – complete with food and games stalls and friendly clowns on stilts – for residents to enjoy on 10 December. 

The area was gaily decorated with polka dot balloons and brightly coloured bunting, and residents and staff wore bright colours and joined in on the fun. 

One of the highlights was the funny clown on stilts, who entertained all with his bag of tricks. 

“The food stalls did a roaring trade as residents handed in their tickets to receive hot dogs, popcorn, candy floss and cool drinks. They also tried their hand at the games,” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes. 

“It was good to see, especially the men, winding up to throw a ball into the clown’s mouth!  The fishpond stall was very popular and, just like in the olden days, guaranteed a prize for every ‘fisherman’,” she adds. 

For those residents who found it easier to play from where they were sitting, the games were brought to them. In the end, everyone who participated received a prize just for trying, much to the delight of all. 

“With the care centre and community having recently been put back into lockdown, the happy and carefree carnival experience in a beautiful outdoor setting was much appreciated and enjoyed by all. It also brought back fond memories of the fun and joy of carnivals past,” says Debbie.

What’s going to happen to this money...

Tina Smith.

Sarah Goldberg.

Ria van der Westhuizen.

Rhona Burnham.

The happy clown entertained all!

Chris Badenhorst.

Doreen Woodward & Clem Lilley.

Dorothea Ferri.

Elaine Cohen.

Gail Harmer.

Herman Brosck.

Johanna Jennings.

Kate Phungula & Karen Mitchell.

Marge Trinder & Sylvia Lasarow.

Marie Roberts & Joan Mullan.

Molly Matroos, Grace Ratisani & Ellen Quinn.

Olive Jew.

Paddy Lowe.

Penelope Mthembu, Sihle  Mashai, Christine Maluka & Morongwa Masalesa.

Greek Day Celebration at RSCC

On 12 November, Ron Smith Care Centre’s beautiful garden and recreation area came alive with music, dancing, fun and laughter at the Greek Day celebration for residents and staff on the residential wings of River Lodge 1, 2 and 3. 

Residents from Woodlands, Cedar Park and Lakeside enjoyed the festivities the previous week. 

Once again, sunny blue skies and perfect weather graced the day. The garden was gaily decorated in the blue and white colours of the Greek flag and many residents and staff came dressed in these colours. 

“For many weeks before the event, staff from all three wings practiced some Greek dances and they came dressed in outfits resembling Greek togas. On arrival, each resident and staff member received a gold-leaf crown (made in occupation therapy) to wear. These represented the olive leaf crowns that were awarded to competitors at the ancient Olympic Games,” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes. 

“Everyone enjoyed the morning programme of lively Greek music, a quiz game to test their knowledge of Greece and a language session, in which they all learnt how to speak a few phrases in Greek,” she adds. 

The quiz topics covered the Greek flag, finding Greece on a map and naming the capital city and surrounding countries and seas. It also covered the Parthenon on the Acropolis, the Olympic Games, Greek philosophers, famous Greek personalities and Greek food and drink. 

The staff performed Zorba’s Dance and a lively flag dance, after which it was tea time. Delicious homemade spanakopita (spinach pie) and baklava were enjoyed. 

Resident, Sylvia Kree expressed her gratitude: “Thank you so much for bringing us so much joy today! I had a wonderful time!”  

Another resident, Nana Roberts, especially loved the happy music and dancing and congratulated all the dancers for a lovely performance. 

Vicky Papageorgiou (the wife of one of our residents who supplied us with the spanakopita and baklava) commented: “Thank you for an amazing Greek Day! It was even better than some of the Greek functions I’ve attended. Congratulations, well done!”

We had a full house on 12th November & everyone, residents and staff alike, thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Checking  for clues for the right answer to the Quiz questions!

Chris Badenhorst.

Ethle Cohen.

Francisco Dinis.

Heather Atwood.

Joan Mullan & Marie Roberts.

Johanna Jennings.

Mariana Duvenage.

Mary Johnstone.

Noel Tilney.

Norman Cox.

Quiz time. How much do you know about Greece? Check those clues to get the right answer.

Sarah Richards.

Sylvia Kree.

The “Greek” dancers.

Trudie Thijs.

Vernon Mitchell & Herman Brosck.

Paul Roediger.

Farewell Greece!  We all had a wonderful time celebrating your beautiful country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greek gaiety at Ron Smith Care Centre

 

It was a sunny and bright day, perfect for an outdoor celebration, when Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre residents and staff gathered for some Greek gaiety. 

In attendance at the Woodlands garden and recreational area were residents and staff from the residential wings of Woodlands, Cedar Park and Lakeside. The garden was gaily decorated in the blue and white colours of the Greek flag, and these colours were reflected in people’s dress.

 “Some staff members looked very authentic in their Greek togas, while another looked like a real Greek goddess!” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes.

Everyone enjoyed the morning programme of lively Greek music, a quiz game to test their knowledge of Greece and a language session, in which they all learnt how to speak a few phrases in Greek.

The quiz topics covered the Greek flag, finding Greece on a map and naming the capital city and surrounding countries and seas. It also covered the Parthenon on the Acropolis, the Olympic Games, Greek philosophers, Greek mythology, famous Greek personalities and Greek food and drink. 

The staff performed Zorba’s Dance and a lively flag dance, after which it was tea time. Delicious homemade spanakopita (spinach pie) and baklava were enjoyed.

Many of the residents had travelled to Greece in their younger days and this celebration of the Greek culture brought back fond memories of happy travels.

“It was wonderful to experience the joy, good vibes and uplifting of spirits that was generated by this event, especially as the care centre slowly emerges from the hard restrictions and confinement of lockdown. It was truly a happy occasion,” says Debbie.

The event will be repeated on 12 November for River Lodge 1, 2 and 3 wings.

Greek Flag Dance.

Zorba's Dance.

Debbie Christen & Maria Gogakis.

Gill Holliman and James Wight.

Greek dancers.

Greek dancers.

Greek dancers.

Mike & Vicky Papageorgiou.

Ria Milburn and Brian Russell.

Trish Yardley, Ria Milburn and Brian Russell.

Staff members do the Zorba’s Dance.

 

Anna Veltman.

Ethelwynne van Eck and Henriette Oosthuizen.

Greek Dancers (staff).

Greek Goddess, Flora Tshonisa.

Hazel Kalk.

Jessie Pickard.

Lee Morawitz receiving her golden Olympic crown.

Lusani Mabulele,  Flora Tshonisa and Iketeleng Kunyane.

Margaret Sinnett and Doreen Woodward.

Marge Trinder & Olive Jew.

Megan Weeks.

Mike Papageorgiou, Vicky Papageorgiou and Clem Lilley.

Rhona Burnham, Marge Trinder, Olive Jew.

The staff from Woodlands, Cedar Park and Lakeside practiced hard for the Greek dancing!

Trish Yardley.