Everyone at Uniting AgeWell Strathdon Community was super excited when the news arrived that ABC Radio’s Trevor Chappell and his Afternoon program would be broadcasting live from their community in Forest Hill.

The big news came off the back of the launch of Maggie Beer’s new ABC TV show Maggie Beer’s Big Mission.

The focus on food in aged care presented an opportunity for the ABC to be part of an afternoon at the frontline, meeting residents and staff as well as enjoying lunch prepared by Senior Chef Sam Akhter.

The ABC’s own celebrity foodie and Afternoon’s co-host for the day, Alice Zaslavsky, raved about the residents’ lunch of silverside with parsley sauce and vegetables, declaring on air the food was delicious.

Maintenance Officers Mark Field and John Pidoto prepared the large function room, which was still glittering with fairy lights and chandeliers from the recent winter ball.  Plasma screens showing videos of Maggie cooking, together with photos of the wonderful lifestyle activities enjoyed by residents at Strathdon, added to the atmosphere.

A stage was set up at the front of the room with theatre style seating that quickly filled with residents and family members before the start of the show at 12.30pm, with nearly everyone staying for the entire three hour broadcast!

One after the other, Uniting AgeWell staff led by CEO Andrew Kinnersly were interviewed by Trevor and Alice.  Keeping nerves at bay, each interviewee stepped up and spoke with pride about their dedication to the people they serve each day. A job well done to Senior Chef Sam Akhter, Hotel Services Manager Janette Anderson and Lifestyle Coordinator Matt Daley.

Food was never far from the conversation and while Uniting AgeWell took the opportunity to be part of Maggie Beer’s Trainer Mentor Program, our long-standing investment and commitment to delivering a high standard of food service each and every day across our sites was clearly evident, with the standard well above the average.

The atmosphere was relaxed as Trevor and Alice interacted with the audience, asking questions spontaneously and clearly enjoying meeting the residents and staff at Strathdon.

For some, this was a first-time experience of being part of a live broadcast and were privy to all the latest news in Melbourne, including a breaking news item – an industrial fire in Truganina!

It was lovely to hear from so many residents and family members.  Front and centre was resident John Williams, aged 96, who was recognised as being instrumental in creating Strathdon community some 45 years earlier, as the Presbytery Chair of the Uniting Church.

John, a staunch advocate of food services at Strathdon declared, “One of the things I’d like to touch on if I may, is the taste of food. As you get older, your taste buds start to fade. It is often not the food but our taste buds that need attending to. We put glasses on when our eyes fail, we put hearing aids in our ears when our hearing fades, what do we do about our taste buds?”

John encourages other residents to request garnishes or other accompaniments to their meals to help their taste buds wake up! A strong supporter of Sam and the team he praised their willingness to respond to requests at mealtime.

One of the more popular segments and a regular guest on Trevor’s show, was jewellery expert Adrian Dickens. Both family and residents had their jewellery ready to be valued.  They told listeners the history of their special pieces, with the stories just as precious as their valuables.

As the broadcast drew to a close, the audience was treated to a Maggie Beer gluten-free orange cake prepared by Alice and Sam in the Strathdon kitchen.

The show ended with the news on the hour.  Everyone continued to chat and enjoy the afternoon while Trevor and Alice made their way around to meet residents.

Special thanks to the entire Strathdon team, particularly RSM Calton Ngwenya, Hotel Services Coordinator Ray Hiskins, Matt Daley and the lifestyle team for hosting a successful event.

If you would like to listen to the full program at Strathdon Community, click on the link.

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