Dear Resident

On the 15th of May we celebrate Mother’s Day. On this day we pay tribute to and appreciate mothers or mother figures, which include stepmothers, relatives, guardians (eg. foster mothers), and close family friends.

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother's Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

One relationship which is always with us is the one we share with our mothers. They are our guiding force and are responsible for making us who we are. Mothers also shape our lives and our personalities and on May 15 we pause to pay tribute to these amazing women.

For me, the image of a Chinese woman - Lou Xiaoying – who rescued and cared for more than 30 abandoned children found on rubbish dumps embodies the love and care that mothers bestow on their children throughout the world.

The tenderness of the touch between the child and Lou Xiaoying in this image speaks a thousand words about the tenderness and care bestowed by mothers everywhere.

Editor

LOU XIAOYING’S STORY

A woman in China has been hailed a hero after details of her astonishing work with abandoned children has emerged.

Lou Xiaoying, now 88 and suffering from kidney failure, found and raised more than 30 abandoned Chinese babies from the streets of Jinhua, in the eastern Zhejiang province where she managed to make a living by recycling rubbish.

She and her late husband Li Zin, who died 17 years ago, kept four of the children and passed the others onto friends and family to start new lives.

Her youngest son Zhang Qilin - now aged just seven - was found in a dustbin by Lou when she was 82.

'Even though I was already getting old I could not simply ignore the baby and leave him to die in the trash. He looked so sweet and so needy. I had to take him home with me,' she said.

'I took him back to our home, which is a very small modest house in the countryside and nursed him to health. He is now a thriving little boy, who is happy and healthy.

Lou, left, caring for the babies with her husband Li Zin.

She would give them to friends and family after she rescued them

Lou, who has one biological daughter, Zhang Caiying now aged 49, devoted her life to looking after the abandoned babies.

Word of her kind-hearted gestures has now spread in China, where thousands of babies are abandoned on the streets by their poverty stricken parents.

'My older children all help look after Zhang Qilin, he is very special to all of us. I named him after the Chinese word for rare and precious.

'The whole thing started when I found the first baby, a little girl back in 1972 when I was out collecting rubbish. She was just lying amongst the junk on the street, abandoned. She would have died had we not rescued her and taken her in.

'Watching her grow and become stronger gave us such happiness and I realised I had a real love of caring for children.

'I realised if we had strength enough to collect garbage how could we not recycle something as important as human lives,' she explained.

'These children need love and care. They are all precious human lives. I do not understand how people can leave such a vulnerable baby on the streets.

On Mother’s Day 2015 it is timely to remember women such as Lou Xiaoying.

Wishing all residents who have been in hospital, or not enjoying good health, a speedy recovery. We hope to see

you up and about soon.

TRAFFIC MATTERS

Residents have reported that on more than one occasion a car has been seen to be waiting at the traffic lights to exit Lochinvar Place onto Ocean Drive. What makes this situation unusual is that this car is waiting in the lane that is used by cars to come into Lochinvar Place! We are mindful of the fact that this car may not belong to a village resident, however, we would advise residents to take care at this intersection!

We welcome new residents Ella Norrish and Brian Buckett in Unit 121 to our family. We hope you enjoy your time with us in the village.

Sailability commenced in 2012 and is an all volunteer organisation dedicated to providing sailing for people with disabilities, including poor vision and mobility restrictions regardless of age, gender or disability. Clients embrace their sailing

activities and find that sailing is fun and a safe and rewarding activity in which all can participate. Sailability offers individual saling with one of their volunteers in specifically designed sailing dinghies.

Sailability is a non-profit organisation. Clients availing themselves of this service provide a small donation to assist in meeting the running expenses but by no means cover their costs.

Sailability sails at McInherney Park on Wednesdays. If you are interested in finding out more, please phone Sue Jenkins at the Village Office on 6584 3515.

Know Your Representatives of the Residents Committee: Judith Hedges, Kevin O’Connor, Olive Corr, Doreen Grierson, Lorri Peel-Davis, Ann Denyer, Barry Johnson, Glennis Mutton, Bridget Earle, Ellena Andrews, Peter Swan and David Burr.

Social Committee: Phil Passmore, James Chissell, Ellena Andrews, Rex Fletcher, Gordon Smith, Judith Hedges and Kevin Sullivan.

Congratulations to those whose entry anniversary it is to the village this month. Also congratulations to those who are celebrating many happy years together.

EXERCISE CLASS

We are very fortunate to have enlisted the services of Karen Roberts a qualified exercise instructor to take classes in the Tenison Woods Centre. The classes are held every Monday at 8:30am for approximately 45 minutes. There is no charge for residents to attend this class. This class is proving to be very popular and it’s wonderful to see so many of our residents improving their health and fitness!

RESIDENT COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS – PLEASE RSVP

St Agnes Resident’s Committee would like to remind residents that it is important to indicate to members of the committee if you wish to attend functions such as the recent Fish and Chips Luncheon. On occasions such as these, where catering is required it is very important that the committee has accurate numbers of those attending so that the required amount of food and drink are ordered and the relevant number of tables can be set up.

DON’T MISS THE BUS!Please call the office between 8.30 and 1.00pm on 6584 3515 to book in for any of the Bus Outings.

BUS OUTINGS FOR MAY

Thursday 7th May

Time:

Harrigan’s Irish Pub HarringtonThis pub is set on the banks of the picturesque Manning River with surrounding mountains as a backdrop.Bus will leave T.W.C and stages 7 & 8 at 9.15am.

Friday 8th May

Time:

Gum Tree Cafe at Roto House for morning tea Feel free to wander over to the Koala Hospitalprior to morning tea at the Café at 10amBus will leave T.W.C and stages 7 & 8 at 9.00am.

Monday 18th May

Time:

Bittersweet Café Patisserie, Lighthouse Beach Shopping Village for afternoon teaBus will leave T.W.C and stages 7 & 8 at 1.15pm.

ADVANCE BUS OUTINGS FOR JUNE

Thursday 4th JuneTime:Cost:

Billabong Koala Wildlife Park Port MacquarieBus will leave T.W.C and stages 7 & 8 at 9.00am.$31:50 which includes entry to the Park, morning tea and sandwiches for lunch. Keeper presentations will be held every half an hour for the duration of your stay.

Friday 12th JuneTime:

Bonny Hills Garden Café for morning teaBus will leave T.W.C and stages 7 & 8 at 9.15am.

Monday 15th June

Time:

The Point Restaurant, overlooking the Hastings River at Settlement Point for afternoon tea.Bus will leave T.W.C and stages 7 & 8 at 1.00pm.

ACTIVITIES IN THE TENISON WOODS CENTRE

DAY TIME ACTIVITYMonday 8.30am Gentle Exercises

10am Coffee Morning1.30pm Craft

Tuesday 10am Tai Chi1.30pm Ladies’ Snooker

Thursday

8.30am Gentle Exercises

1pm Mens’ SnookerFriday 1.30pm Ladies’ Snooker

4pm Happy Hour (Last Friday of the month)Saturday 9.30am Mahjong

2pm Movie Afternoons (2nd Saturday of the month)Sunday 1pm-

5pmMens’ Snooker Afternoon

MENS’ SNOOKER

The Mens’ Snooker Group would like to issue an invitation to any men in the village who would like to join them on Thursday and Sunday afternoons for a friendly game of snooker. The current members of the snooker group would be willing to give instructions in the finer art of snooker playing and would be very pleased to welcome any new members.

RHYTHM REVIEW

Residents are invited to come along to the Tenison Woods Centre on Friday, 29th May at 3pm to be entertained by Rhythm Review. Entry cost will be a donation at the door. This afternoon of entertainment will be followed by Happy Hour at 4pm. Please join us for a wonderful afternoon of fine entertainment followed by a relaxed,

enjoyable afternoon catching up with other residents at Happy Hour from 4pm onwards.

In the Dec/Jan issue of Active Retirees, Mel Austin wrote a poem about the trials and tribulations of the Men’s Probus Club of Booragoon. Here, Kate Gaukroger (Unit 3) from the Port Macquarie Probus Club responds. Kate is now in the running to win the annual Paul Henningham Award for Literary Excellence. Good luck Kate!

Hi Mel, I like your discourseOf the male gender, of course

But I want to have a goFor the women folk, you know!

We always like to look our bestWrinkles and curves a real pest.

What to wear, think hard, it’s doneSally forth time for fun.

Morning teas, lunches, too many sipsA taste on the lips, an inch on the hips

Why worry? – soft – good to cuddleNever too old to snuggle.

Sometimes a trip – overnight stayNo, shower – a bath? Danger, we say

The legs don’t work too well nowGetting in OK – out, we ponder how.

Photos of club members from far and wideOften more women without blokes beside

We all know grief, but need to striveAlways something to inspire.

So many changes over the years

Technology’s gone wild, it can bring tearsTo master some, we can but try

And keep on – with heads held high.I live in Port Macquarie,A time of old and new.

My time is now and why I knowThe port, a town on the go.

Lighthouse bound to a vastness of blueStretch of beaches, foaming rocks in view

A whale carousing, a ship passing byMajesty of nature – we can but try.

Traffic lights, roundabouts, cars going throughA sprawl of houses, parks and schools too.

Shops aplenty, coffee and greetThe Glasshouse, built at a price we hope to meet.

Sun and sand, the lure of the seaFlags for safety, lifeguards will see.

Surfers watching for the swell,Time to go – they can tell.

River flowing, shady trees on greenSquawking gulls, Edmund Barton seen.

Walking the breakwater, reading the rocksKids on skateboards, taking the knocks.

Koalas roam free – hospital on callRainbow hues, galahs pink and greyFlora and fauna – to colour our day.

Nature’s gifts to all.

As the years roll by and our time has passedWill this time be remembered with such fervour and dash?

As was old Port Macquarie of convict and lash.

CHURCH SERVICES

CATHOLIC MASS TIMES St Francis of Assisi Chapel9:30am Monday to Friday9:30am Sunday

Christ the King ChapelWeekday Mass: See Notice on Chapel DoorSaturday Vigil: 4:30pm

Emmaus11am Tuesday

ANGLICAN SERVICES St Agnes HostelSecond Tuesday of the month at 11am

Mary Knoll HostelSecond Monday of the month at 10:30am

EmmausFirst Friday of the month at 11am

DIOCESAN INVESTMENT FUND

For the convenience of Diocesan Investment Fund customers only the Parish is providing some short term parking. This will be two spaces adjacent to St Agnes Parish Administration Centre building and can be accessed via the driveway between Parish Administration and the Church.

Would your family like to receive our monthly newsletter? If so please contact the Village Office and we will be more than happy to email them a copy.

LETTER FROM A MOTHER TO A DAUGHTER

“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.

If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”...Just listen please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way...remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day...the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all try to understand what I’m going through.

If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked.

When those days come, don’t feel sad...just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love.

I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you...my darling daughter.”

Unknown

CALENDAR FOR MAY

DATE ACTIVITY TIME

MAY 6 Social Committee MeetingHall Booked Hall Booked

8:30am1:00pm -2:30pm6:45pm – 9:00pm

MAY 7 Bus Outing Harrigan’s Irish Pub Harrington

9:15am

MAY 8 Bus Outing Gum Tree Cafe Roto HouseHall Booked

9:00am9:30am – 12:30pm

MAY 9 Movie Afternoon ‘Casablanca’ 2:00pm

MAY 11 Residents Committee Meeting 8:30am

MAY 13 Hall BookedHall Booked

9:30am – 11:00am1:00pm – 2:30pm

MAY 14 Hall Booked 9:30 – 11:00am

MAY 15 Hall Booked 9:30 - Midday

MAY 18 Bus Outing Bittersweet Cafe 1:15pm

MAY 20 Hall BookedHall Booked

1:00pm – 2:30pm6:45pm – 9:00pm

MAY 23 Hastings Ladies Probus Fashion Parade

1:00pm – 4:00pm

MAY 27 Hall Booked 1:00pm – 2:30pm

MAY 29 Rhythm ReviewHappy Hour

3:00pm4:00pm