After 19 years of providing personalised care for the elderly at the Roseneath Aged Care facility, veteran aged care worker Wendy Thomas celebrated her retirement among colleagues on Thursday, April 17.
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After an association literally spanning a lifetime, Mrs Thomas was born in Dal Housing, later to become an extension of the Roseneath facility, and worked in the area before taking up a career in the support industry.
Now after almost 20 years in the profession, Mrs Thomas said she is bowing out of her successful career to spend more time with her family.
With retirement shaping up to be a travelling affair, Mrs Thomas said her family is scattered between Brisbane and Melbourne and she has plans to visit them beginning with her daughter in Forbes.
Reflecting on her career at Roseneath, Mrs Thomas said there had been good times and bad times, but said through all her time the local staff and community had shown terrific support.
“It has been hard work, but it’s been a very rewarding career,” she said.
A lifelong local, Mrs Thomas said her relationships with the community have meant she has built a valuable insight into each of her residents, allowing her to provide care on a personal level.
“Living here all my life I have been able to build a great insight into the people coming in.” she said.
Respected as much among the staff as the residents, director of clinical care Sybil Mahlangu spoke of Mrs Thomas on Thursday as being an indispensable asset to the facility.
Ms Mahlangu said it will be sad to see the veteran support worker go, but was joined by the staff in wishing her the best in her retirement.
“Wendy has been a great asset to us,” she said.
“She is well-known by everyone and provides a great comfort to them.”
Commending Mrs Thomas particularly on her understanding of different cultures in the workforce, Ms Mahlangu said she has been a very kind-hearted worker throughout her time and will be greatly missed.
