Women’s Day tea gets RSCC residents jiving!

 

Singer Roy Edwards ensured that Ron Smith Care Centre’s Women’s Day tea was an absolute hit!

This year, the Rand Aid care centre held various activities to celebrate Women’s Month, including a delicious high tea on 11 August, after which Roy Edwards got the party going with a wide selection of hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s, including country rock, rock and roll and even a bit of sakkie-sakkie!

“Residents and staff enjoyed all the catchy golden oldie tunes and were soon up and dancing. Others swayed, moved and kept time to the music, while others were content to sit and listen,” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes.

“By the way our residents responded to the music, it was obvious that the event uplifted spirits and brought happiness, joy and warmth to their hearts,” she adds.

The hall was beautifully decorated with a red, green and white floral theme, and tea and a variety of sweet and savoury treats were enjoyed by all.

“Guests were spoilt for choice as platters with sausage rolls, chicken wings, quiche, vetkoek with mince, lamingtons, milk tarts and cream puffs were offered around,” says Debbie. 

 

Carol Beadle.

Cathy Basterfield, Beauty Buthelezi and Berenice Jawitz.

Eddie Lazar and Tshepo Malatjie.

Ellen Quinn and Johanna Sebata.

Maureen Wollenschlaeger.

Mona Knodell and Tshepo Malatjie.

Nana Roberts and Prudence Mokoena.

Phumudzo Nephiphidi, Doreen Woodward and Mosima Mojela.

Phumudzo Nephiphidi, Lee Morawitz and Mosima Mojela.

Prudence Mokoena, Nana Roberts, David Mtshali and Pascaline Kamela.

Roy Allen, Tshepo Malatjie and Irene Simon.

Selina Shiviri, Mary Johnstone and Pascaline Kamela.

Taffy Thompson and Irvine Sinnett.

Tilly Bryant and Marion Simmonds.

 

Refreshing Women’s Day celebration at RSCC

 

With spring just around the corner, Ron Smith Care Centre’s residents and employees celebrated National Women’s Day with a variety of exciting activities, one of which was a refreshing walk around Elphin Lodge’s beautiful, landscaped gardens.

“It was a lovely sunny day on 10 August, the ideal weather for our residents to enjoy some time outdoors searching for flowers and leaves to make bookmarks for Women’s Day,” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes.

After a lovely walk, everyone went back to the Recreation Centre where they made their own bookmarks.

“Everyone’s creation was unique and the residents were happy that they were able to create something beautiful,” says Debbie.

Thabisile and Lebo: The best RSCC housekeepers for July

 

Congratulations to Thabisile Ndlovu and Lebo Matloga from Ron Smith Care Centre’s Cedar Park wing who won the Best Housekeeping Award for July.

Both Thabisile and Lebo are hard workers who are willing to learn and always improve their skills.

“This positive attitude and willingness to learn has resulted in a very clean and much improved Cedar Park wing and is appreciated by all,” says their supervisor, Portia Ngobeni.

Thabisile Ndlovu, Sister Leanie Bessinger and Lebo Matloga.

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RSCC’s second Golden Games Special Olympics a hit

Ron Smith Care Centre’s second annual Golden Games Special Olympics saw residents and staff enjoy a spectacular week of fun, with each of the care centre’s six residential wings dressing up in their team colour to compete for top honours. 

The teams competed in four events, from 10 to 14 July, namely Noodle Wars, Fingerboard, Beanbag Knockdown and the Skyscraper Building Challenge. 

Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes, said preparation for this year’s games started in mid-June when RSCC’s employees kicked off the team-building process by participating in fun dance practices to build up unity and team spirit. 

 “Staff attended practice sessions to learn a cheer dance to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off. Twelve dance groups, representing all of the wings, then performed the dance at the games, where they were judged and awarded points for their performance. Lakeside residential wing’s A Group won the 2023 Dance Champions title,” says Debbie. 

The four-day Golden Games culminated in a glorious awards ceremony, where the winning team, Cedar Park, was congratulated, and individual members were crowned and presented with medals.

Other special awards were presented to residents for being the Champion Golden Gamer, Best Over 90 Competitor, Champion Skyscraper Builder, Best Sportsman, Most Spirited and Best Effort Made. Awards presented to staff were Best Team Leader, Best Encourager, Most Supportive of Residents, Most Improved Dancer and Best Male Cheer Dancer.

“The team spirit, excitement, singing, dancing, cheering, clapping, determination and friendly competitiveness throughout the event was thrilling to experience. It was particularly heartwarming to see the absolute fun and joy that the events brought, and the wonderful spirit and positive energy that came from supporting, encouraging and applauding others – whether they were on the same team or not,” says Debbie. 

“Most of the residents enjoyed themselves and some, who don’t normally participate in recreational activities, really came alive during the competitions. Others, who thought they wouldn’t be able to manage some of the events, were encouraged to give it a try and were amazed and delighted at the results of their efforts,” she adds. 

Employees also enjoyed the event, saying that it lifted their spirits; while a family member sent a WhatsApp to RSCC that read: “I was fortunate enough to arrive today while everyone was getting ready. The positive energy, enthusiasm and team spirit were great to see. Well done all! I am sure this event will go a long way to brighten up the days for all that stay there.” The games were about much more than winning and losing, says Debbie. 

“The event is about having a positive attitude, trying your best, having fun, making an effort, encouraging your teammates and appreciating other people’s achievements, regardless of which team they are on. In upholding these values, residents and staff honoured the true spirit of the games. It was an exceptional event that brought joy to the entire care centre community.”

RSCC staff doing cheer dance at the Golden Games Awards Ceremony.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

The dance champions! Lakeside Group A.

Golden Games Grand Championship Award: Cedar Park.

Golden Games Grand Championship Award: Cedar Park.

Champion Skyscraper Builders: Carol Murphy and Clem Lilley from Cedar Park.

Dance Champions 2023: Lakeside A Group.

Golden Gamer: Drienie Horlacher, Lakeside. 

Best Team Leader: Esmeralda Rusike, River Lodge 3.

Most Improved Dancer: Germinah Baloyi, River Lodge 1 (second from the left).

Best Effort Made: Irvine Sinnett, Woodlands.

Best Over 90 competitor: Marie Roberts (left) from River Lodge 1.
  

Most Spirited: Maureen Wollenschlaeger, River Lodge 2.
 

Tshepo Malatjie: Best Encourager with Neville Branthwaite: Best Sportsman.

Most Supportive of Residents: Prudence Mokoena (right), River Lodge 3. She is pictured with Mary Johnstone.

Best Male Cheer Dancer: Mzwakhe Mokubung, a student on River Lodge 3.