Have you ever been around someone who truly, passionately loves the work that they do?
It’s energising. The excitement and joy radiates off them like perfume.
That’s what it is like being around Sally-Anne Herbert.
Sally-Anne is a Personal Care and Lifestyle & Leisure Attendant at ORH’s aged care facility, Lochiel House, and she provides diversional therapy to residents.
(What’s a Diversional Therapy exactly? Good question. Diversional Therapy is recreational and leisure activities to help people stay happy, healthy and engaged. Fun, but important, stuff.)
By all measures Sally-Anne is terrific at what she does. Here’s just a few comments from some of the residents of Lochiel House.
“Sally-Anne does so much to keep everyone bright. She goes out of her way to make sure new residents feel comfortable, at home, and have activities they enjoy.”
“It’s always such a pleasure to be with Sally-Anne and I love all the craft activities that she spends so much time organising for us.”
“Nothing is too much trouble for her. She keeps us on our toes with games and activities and we look forward to her days with us…”
You get the picture.
Sally-Anne recently celebrated her 10 year anniversary at ORH, during which time she has had a massive impact on the people that call Lochiel House home.
Walking around Lochiel House with Sally-Anne, she beams with pride at the seemingly endless list of grand projects and improvements that have happened at Lochiel House in recent years, from the personal biography books for each resident, to the beautiful landscaping and gardening, the putting green out the back, and the many woodworking and craft displays that give the house the look of a most wonderful gallery.
What drives Sally-Anne is obvious. Community.
“I grew up around here. I know most of the people that are residents here now, I know their families,” she says. “This is more than just a job where I clock in and clock out. We are like one big, happy family in many ways.”
And in many ways, that kind of commitment is what makes communities like this one so great.
Congratulations, Sally-Anne on your anniversary, and on such a wonderful contribution to the families of Orbost.