BELLARINE AGED CARE ASSOCIATION, INC. (BACA)

Including "Age Friendly Group" ​

BACA Annual Report, November 2019
​
President’s report to Annual General Meeting

On Behalf of Bellarine Aged Care Association (BACA) Committee, comprising Tim Walsh, Jane Morgan, Lindsay Noss, Kate Jackson, Anne Brackley and myself, the following report is an overview of the programs, activities, services, organisations and key individuals associated with BACA during 2019.
As you are aware, BACA evolved from the North Bellarine Hostel for the Aged – Ann Nichol House Inc. and was formally established on 31 July 2015. The past contributions made by Ann Nichol and Ann’s continuing involvement in seeking appropriate services for the Aged and ageing on the Bellarine are gratefully acknowledged by the BACA membership.

Although BACA’s advocacy and action to redress the issues caused by the loss of Ann Nichol House  continued during the year, 2019 has also been a year of consolidation in relation to the Friendly Ageing programs and the implementation of the new Fabulous Ageing on the Bellarine (FAB) Expo held in Drysdale in October.

BACA Committee members met formally and informally with the Executive and staff of Bellarine Community Health (BCH), and continue to do so via participation on the Community Advisory Group and consultations with the community. BACA was instrumental in BCH discontinuing their Community Health & Wellbeing Fund, where some of the money attained through the sale of Ann Nichol House was being distributed to community organisations. Liaison and collaboration with BCH is continuing, and issues affecting the Aged and ageing on the Bellarine are raised with BCH on a regular basis. Positive working relationships between BACA Committee members and BCH staff have developed further over the year, but our important advocacy role continues to be maintained.

BACA’s Age Friendly Community Group, based at SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre and meeting on a monthly basis has thrived, with input to members including physiotherapy-fitness for the aged; My Aged Care; Heart Foundation; Dementia Australia; Transition Street-Environmental matters; Gardening; Palliative Care & Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine; Community Development & Engagement. Many of these topics were planned and implemented by staff of BCH to whom we are most appreciative.

The development of Age Friendly communities on the Bellarine was expanded during the year, with Jane and myself meeting with interested residents of Leopold as the first step in assisting the Leopold community to understand and work on establishing their own Age Friendly Community Group. Prominent in these early discussions were Maureen and Simon Schooneman, and Maureen Rose. In recent months, BACA has linked Maureen Rose with BCH’s Community Engagement Manager Caroline Jordan who has then coordinated a BCH service during October, November and December focusing on assisting Leopold residents to be registered with My Aged Care. The BCH Health Bus is being utilized for this purpose and responses to date from Leopold residents has been most positive.

The formation of an Aged Friendly Community Steering Committee for the Bellarine was an initiative of BACA in partnership with BCH. Initially, the City of Greater Geelong, Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), Borough of Queenscliff and organisations including Staying in Portarlington (SiP); Bellarine Community Support Register; Elders Rights Advocacy met on a monthly basis to initiate programs in line with the “8 pillars of Aged Friendly Communities”. However the attendance at meetings decreased as many ‘representatives’, particularly those from State and Local Government had increasing difficulties in taking on an active role. Formal meetings ceased and in late October, Caroline Jordan (BCH) and Karen Cameron (DHHS) met with the BACA Committee suggesting we take on a key role in the development of Age Friendly Communities on the Bellarine. At the time of writing, the BACA Committee is considering this matter.

The BACA Website continued to be a popular source of information to those living within and beyond the Bellarine. Many interesting and informative articles were posted on the BACA site. We express our continuing thanks to Dr. Bruce Watson who coordinates the BACA website and does such a professional job on a voluntary basis.

Committee member Kate Jackson continued her interest and efforts in developing Palliative Care on the Bellarine, and was instrumental in establishing the recently-formed “Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine” group in collaboration with Bellarine Community Health, professionals and community members. Kate’s extensive experience as a palliative care physician has enabled this much needed service to develop successfully.

Fellow Committee member Anne Brackley enabled the BACA Committee to meet at SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre, and agreeing to host the AGM and monthly Age Friendly Community Group meetings. Anne’s links with individuals, groups, and creative ideas continue to be an asset to BACA.
Lindsay Noss continued to share his knowledge and experience from his position as BACA’s Secretary/Treasurer/Public Officer. In particular, Lindsay’s expertise in all things financial – providing monthly financial statements together with membership information and communiques to members is irreplaceable and much appreciated by all.

BACA made a major decision early in 2019 to the idea of planning and organising an Expo for the Aged and Ageing on the Bellarine. Fully aware that there had been no precedent set for such an event, nevertheless the Committee ventured forward following the enthusiastic initiative of Jane Morgan. Jane’s efforts in coordinating the Expo, named Friendly Ageing on the Bellarine (FAB) Expo, was nothing short of extraordinary. Singlehandedly, Jane made contact with services, programs, organisations and agencies throughout the Bellarine and with additional ones in the Geelong region and Melbourne. The result was a staggering 66 commercial and not-for-profit businesses and organisations accepting our invitation to be exhibitors. The Christian College in Drysdale was chosen as the venue, as it seemed to be the most central location on the Bellarine, and with facilities ideal for Expo purposes.

During the planning period a small number of people volunteered to take on roles to assist Jane and the Committee – amongst this generous group was Jackie Lukacz, a member of our Age Friendly Group at SpringDale. Jackie took on the task of ‘Event Manager’ and her enthusiasm, eye for detail, and organising ability helped to make the Expo such a great success. On the day, between 350 to 400 people attended, participants were entertained by the Coryule Choir and the Ukele Kollective, newly-elected Corangamite M.P. Libby Coker officially opened the event, and the participant evaluation forms and feedback received from exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive. The small band of volunteers, together with some Committee members, met on the Tuesday following the event, scrutinized the evaluations, and recommended that we hold a FAB Expo at Christian College again in October 2020.

I wish to thank all those associated with the planning and implementation of BACA’s FAB Expo – the Committee members-Tim, Kate, Anne, Lindsay, the small band of volunteers including Gaby, Annie, Viv, Belinda, Helen, Renae, Geraldine and Cathy and others who helped out on the day. Special thanks go to Organiser and Initiator Jane Morgan and Event Manager Jackie Lukacz. Incidentally, Jackie and the volunteers have all agreed to be involved again next year, so all augurs well for another successful Expo in 2020.

To outgoing BACA President Tim Walsh we express our appreciation for the role he has played since the establishment of BACA. Tim has been courageous in his challenges to those who need to appreciate and understand the contributions made for the betterment of those residents on the Bellarine who are aged and ageing. Tim continues to advocate on behalf of these residents and promotes the importance of all services – medical, community and commercial being focused on the needs of those served. We thank Tim for his Presidency over 4 plus years.

BACA has some challenges ahead for 2020 – The continuation of the successful Age Friendly Group at SpringDale, the planning and organisation of another FAB Expo, Further development of Palliative care & related services, and Advocacy on behalf of the Aged & ageing on the Bellarine. The BACA Committee also needs to consider our role and function in matters such as the development of more Age Friendly Programs, and the Interim Report on the Royal Commission into Aged Care. We need to be adaptable in order to respond to issues and initiatives which impact on the lives of our target group e.g. A Pool for the North Bellarine. To do this we need more members – those can contribute a little or a lot, and are prepared to volunteer to participate in one way or another.

Finally I wish to thank you the BACA members but in particular, members of the BACA Committee who work as volunteers to advocate and act on your behalf for the aged and ageing on the Bellarine:
Tim Walsh; Jane Morgan; Lindsay Noss; Kate Jackson; Anne Brackley.
​
Many thanks,
Peter Coghlan
Acting President, BACA
November 2019

​​Registration No: A0060884A 
ABN: 39 815 987 461