Randwick Waverley Community Transport Info Seminar

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Thanks to Daniel for coming to talk to us about the services that Randwick Waverley Community Transport offer. It was an informative seminar in which we discussed how they provide shopping trips, social outings and excursions, individual transport, out of area trips, NDIS support, taxi vouchers, and bus/driver hire. Dan talked us through how to register via My Aged Care and how to make an individual booking. He explained the upcoming Social Trips for Inclusion activities, and about costs and invoices. Tea, coffee and biscuits were available for everyone to enjoy, and there was an opportunity to ask questions throughout. Thanks particularly go to Marie for asking a lot of questions that many of us were thinking! To everyone who attended, we hope you got as much out of it as we did.

Wine Tasting Afternoon

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We were so happy to have Goran from Regional Wines of the World back with us at the Astra for a wine tasting this month. A great guy, with lots of knowledge and a lovely selection of wines. Goran talked us through each wine telling us about the country of origin, grape variety, what it would go with and how it rates on the dry-sweet scale. It was a really fun afternoon - tasting a bit of wine, munching on some cheese and biscuits, chips and popcorn, and having a good chat. Nice to blow some of the cobwebs away, to kick back and enjoy ourselves. A lovely way to start the evening, especially as some of the group finished up the tasting and went straight into playing rummy tiles, keeping the party going. Thanks to Goran for coming out and giving us a good time and to everyone who came to enjoy it. Cheers to all!

Christmas in July

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We came together for a pre-dinner Christmas in July drink on a fairly balmy winter evening, and then moved through to a lovely festive dinner at the Bondi Tratt. Alasdair, Joe and their team did a wonderful job as usual - the meal was beautiful and the service excellent. They even provided an extra special birthday treat for Darryl at the end of the meal! Good food, good wine, and good company got the evening off to a great start. When we came back to the lounge we had another drink and watched as a beautiful spread of desserts was laid on the table. So much to go around, and some lovely sweet contributions from friends this year too. After dessert we drew the lucky door prizes, and Sam and Rob wished everyone a Happy Christmas in July. As the music began to play and the lights were dimmed, we danced until we could dance no more! What a wonderful evening and a special time to spend with friends, neighbours, colleagues and family.

Afternoon Tea

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We welcomed Liz, our lovely new temporary member of staff for some of the days while Flora was away, to our afternoon tea last month, and it was great for her to be able to introduce herself to the residents. We all had a fabulous chat over a cuppa and a biscuit, and there were cakes for the more adventurous among us. A nice opportunity to be able to get together and enjoy each other’s company for a while.

Vivid Bus Trip

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What fantastic fun our residents had on their evening excursion to Vivid, Sydney’s winter light festival. The feedback from those that went was overwhelmingly positive – the lights were beautiful, the bus driver was lovely, and the view out over the harbour from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair was stunning. A particular highlight was the drone show that finished the evening’s entertainment. Out from 6:30pm to around 10pm, it was really an evening to remember. It was the first time we had partnered with Randwick Waverley Community Transport for a trip, and it was very successful. The RWCT guys were helpful every step of the way, and our residents only had to pay $10 for the whole night. What a bargain! Thanks to everyone who came – it was great to have a full bus, and certainly the more the merrier.

Jazz Lunch

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

It was wonderful to have Darryl, John and Mark (aka DC3) to play for us after lunch this month. And what a show they put on! The sound was great in our lounge space, and they all played their hearts out. We so enjoyed it. We had a buffet lunch to start, with meats, salads, fresh bread and cheese…plus fruit and mini ice creams for dessert. There was wine for those who fancied a glass or two, and soft drinks for those who didn’t. We even managed a bit of dancing towards the end when we were warmed up. You just can’t beat live music, and our friendly local jazz band really pulled out all the stops. Thanks to everyone who helped out with the catering and clearing up afterwards, as well as to the band for putting on a great show for us.

Cleo's Milparinka Talk

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It was a pleasure to have our very own Cleo talk to us about the ten days she spent staffing the information centre in Milparinka, a renowned stop off for travelers to the remote Corner Country (bordered by NSW, QLD and SA). And what an interesting story it was. Cleo signed up to volunteer and off she went – it was a trek just to get anywhere near the Corner Country… 1250km from Sydney, and at the final part of the journey Cleo joined Glen driving the Tibooburra Mail to take her across to Milparinka. At the time that Cleo went to the town, it had 4 permanent residents. The Albert Hotel was still in use and several buildings designed by the colonial architect James Barnett in the town had been painstakingly restored. Milparinka has an interesting history - 10km drive from the town is Depot Glen where explorer Charles Sturt and his team were stranded for more than 6 months. Milparinka had been a thriving town in the 1870s, due to gold being discovered nearby, but when the gold ran out in the 1890s people deserted the town. The information centre was opened to explain the town’s mining heritage and agricultural history. Although a popular tourist destination among 4WD travelers and people wanting to visit all three states, Milparinka is a virtual ghost town these days. Cleo spoke about her experiences with the friendly locals, and with the not-so-friendly mice and moths that descended on her accommodation in plague numbers. She talked about traveling through the outback and the characters she met on her journeys. She showed us photos of the town, the heritage buildings, and newspaper clippings about the area. It was such an interesting and inspiring story, and the residents who came really enjoyed it. After the presentation we had a chance for questions over a cuppa and a biscuit. Thanks Cleo for giving us some insight into this fascinating time in your life.

Flora's Wedding Afternoon Tea

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Our lovely residents got together and organised a celebratory afternoon tea for Flora, who was getting married. The teas, coffees, cakes, biscuits and fruit were in plentiful supply, and everyone had the opportunity to indulge a little. We had a great turn out, with many residents coming down to wish Flora well. Rob gave her a card and a bottle of champagne on behalf of the residents and there were congratulations all round. Flora told us a bit about the wedding, what she would be wearing, and where they are going on honeymoon. It was a nice opportunity for the residents to hear more about her plans, and also to catch up themselves over a cuppa. A couple of newer residents attended as well, which gave them the opportunity to meet their new neighbours. It was a really special event and Flora felt very appreciated by everyone. Congratulations!

Fresh fruit, veg and flower market

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We were very excited to welcome Ray and Krissy of Sienna Bloom Floristry for our first flower, fruit and veg market this week. What a treat for us to have a fresh produce market right here in the Astra lounge, direct from the farmers earlier in the morning. Our residents loved being able to buy supplies for the week without having to leave the building. Ray and Krissy brought along a few extra special items for us too – homemade rice pudding, savoury pastries fresh from the oven, and freshly squeezed juices. A lovely way to start the week, and a nice opportunity to also have a catch up and a cuppa after the shopping finished. Thanks to Ray and Krissy for coming over, and we hope to forge a new partnership with them going forward so we can have a fresh food market on an ongoing and regular basis. Just one of many advantages of living at Bondi Beach Astra!

Bingo Afternoon Tea

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Roll up roll up it’s bingo time!! We had so much fun playing bingo, while also having a catch up with friends and enjoying a light afternoon tea. It had been a while since we had a bingo event, and it was a silly and joyful occasion. Flora was our esteemed bingo caller, and she tried out her phrases on us to general amusement. We had first, second and third prizes for our lucky winners - Gillian won our bottle of champagne, Ann won our fragrances set, and Len won our box of delicious chocolates. Afternoon tea was happily received, and any food that was left went to good homes. It all came down to the wire - first place wasn’t called until there were only a few balls left! Exciting!

Fire Drill

/ Bondi Beach Astra/

Three strapping Bondi firemen came to the Astra to observe our annual fire drill! Flora held a short information session before the drill to talk through our procedure, and to answer any questions residents might have. The main things to remember are: 1, in the event of a fire alarm sounding, exit the building as quickly as possible by the fire stairs (do not use the lift). 2, don’t stop to pick up possessions on your way out. 3, meet at the fire assembly points so that village management/the fire response team know you are safely out. The drill went smoothly and our fireies stayed just long enough to make sure everything was under control. Flora got her workout for the day running up and down the fire stairs to check on residents who are less mobile! Stay safe everybody.

Technology Workshop

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We had our first technology workshop of the year this month, and it was a big one: An A-Z of technical terms - what they mean and how to use them! We covered many different terms, from 'address bar' and 'Apple Pay' all the way through to 'Zoom app'. We had useful discussions on the differences between 'the internet', 'a search engine' and 'a web browser' (commonly used interchangeably, but actually performing different functions). We discussed the benefits and practicalities of cloud backup, the importance of using websites that send encrypted data, and different file types, uploads and downloads. There were plenty of questions and anecdotes and useful comments from all who attended, so thank you for making it a very helpful session.

St Patrick's Day Lunch

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Our St Patrick’s Day ploughman’s lunch was a bright and fun-filled affair. The decorations were up, and green hair/hats/glasses/clothes were out in full force. Anna put on a lovely buffet, with plenty of savoury and sweet treats, as well as her now (in)famous soda bread. Guinness and Magners brought an extra Irish touch to the occasion. The atmosphere was happy and light, with Irish tunes in the background, lots of compliments of the day, and jokes and storytelling around the tables. We all had a great time, and the festivities continued well into the afternoon. Special thanks to the residents who helped with setting up and clearing up afterwards – we really couldn’t do this without you.

Chair Yoga and Meditation

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

The lovely Nicola came out to Bondi Beach Astra to run a chair yoga and meditation event for us this month. Residents and outside friends gathered in the lounge for a catch up (or a get to know you), before Nicola called the session to order. What a relaxing and restorative way to start the day! A focus on breathing, on stretching, on meditation, and the hour went by so fast that we couldn’t believe it was over. Thanks to Nicola for her expertise and instruction, and to everyone who came to enjoy this calming and happy event.

Pancake Day Crepes

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

It’s that time of year again - Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day for the ex-pat Brits) came around again and we had our customary pancakes to mark the occasion. Anna cooked crepes in the kitchen for 3 hours, while residents enjoyed chatting and catching up with friends over a warm pancake with all the toppings. We had fresh fruit, cream, ice cream, jam, Nutella, maple syrup, and lemon and sugar for the purists. There really was something for everyone - even gluten-free pancakes for a couple of residents, which we made for the first time and were, happily, a success. We had new residents and old residents, and prospective residents attend, which was a lovely mix and gave the newer residents an opportunity to meet their neighbours. It was a truly joyful occasion, and thanks to everyone who came and helped to make it such a great success. We love pancakes!!

Wenatex Seminar

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Brett from Wenatex The Sleep System came to Bondi Beach Astra to talk to us about healthy sleep and what we can do to improve our sleep. Lots of residents were interested in the subject matter, and they enjoyed having the opportunity to come and listen and to ask questions. Brett brought tea, coffee, cakes and goodie bags with him, so we had plenty of things to keep us going all afternoon! He spoke to us about sleep hygiene practices, posture, circadian rhythms and sleep’s role in good brain health. He also showed us some of the company’s products and told us how they can help. A few residents bought items from him at the end of the presentation, and I’m sure we will be seeing Brett again in the future. Thanks to everyone who came and helped to make it a fun and informative session.

Berry Bus Trip

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Our first bus trip of the year was to the lovely town of Berry. A gaggle of keen day trippers gathered at 9am to get on the bus, and then they were away... A great opportunity while on the bus to catch up with friends, to sing silly songs, and to have a good laugh! In Berry some went to have lunch, some to do shopping, still others to have a wander around. The showery weather did nothing to dampen their spirits, and it was a lovely time away from home.

Australia Day Dinner

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

A good number of residents gathered in the lounge, bedecked with Aussie flags, for our Australia Day bring and share dinner. There was a wonderful spread, from meats to cheeses to dips to fruit, and many more lovely offerings in between. It was a bright and happy occasion for friends to get together and catch up. Thanks go to Rob, our wonderful Residents’ Representative, for organising and cooking extra food, and for hosting so well on the night. A great way to start the year, with positive vibes moving forward…

Magic Show Afternoon Tea

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We had an afternoon tea with a difference when local magician Julian Bull put on a show for us at the Astra. In addition to the snacks and beverages, we enjoyed a visual feast of card manipulation, rope tricks, ball slight of hand and all sorts of other delights. Julian was a skilled performer and engaged his audience from the outset. We even had some younger family members watching the show, which contributed to the lovely community occasion. Cards found their way everywhere – behind ears, in beards, coming out of mouths… Ropes that were long were suddenly split into smaller pieces, and those that were smaller were joined together into one continuous rope. Rubik’s cubes were solved in the blink of an eye. Suffice it to say we were mesmerised and thoroughly enjoyed our magical tea!

Waverley Council and the Astra Building Futures

/ Bondi Beach Astra/

We are incredibly proud that the Astra has been a Round Three participant building in Waverley Council’s award-winning Building Futures program. Our project involved the upgrade of all the lighting in the building to achieve energy savings, lowering our greenhouse gas emissions. To see more about the program visit Waverley Council’s website.

And energy efficiency is just the start of it! When she visited us, Mayor Paula Masselos was also impressed by the recycling projects that Bondi Beach Astra and the residents have adopted. In addition to the mixed recycling that we already had, last year we joined a council scheme to install textiles recycling bins in the building. Little by little we are trying to do our bit for sustainability and the environment into 2023 and beyond…