News

Aged care provider Tall Trees Redland Bay has established a feature-packed men’s shed on the neighbourhood’s grounds, filled it with tools, and is ready to open it up for the public to use.

Over 20 men from the local community and Tall Trees wandered through the gates on Thursday 9 February for the first meeting where they signed up and had a look at their shed for the first time.

Men’s sheds are established as places for men to congregate, with the convenience of having all of the facilities of a workshop without requiring the same outlay of cash.

They have been identified as important instruments in the battle against depression and isolation amongst older Australian men, providing a comfortable and familiar environment in which to socialise.

Tall Trees Redland Bay’s networking coordinator Hannah Reed says they are glad to be able to provide a facility that will bring enjoyment to many.

“A major part of the Tall Trees ethos is about being active within the community and providing assistance to seniors broadly—not just those within our neighborhoods,” Ms Reed says.

“Men’s sheds are really gaining prominence as vital locations in our community, and are starting to earn a status that’s nearly akin to going to the pub or going to watch a game of sport.

“Due to our central location to a number of suburbs, we found men were coming from all over to sign up to use the shed.”

While Tall Trees established the men’s shed, the initial drive for members is being looked after by the Redlands Seniors Network.

The men’s shed committee will, however, consist of one Tall Trees staff member who will be able to offer further assistance to those running the facility while ensuring that it benefits both the public and residents.

President of RDCOTA Tony Christinson has been involved in the setup of other men’s sheds. He says the new facility will be a very welcome addition to the area.

“Typically, these kinds of sheds are established by groups of men who identify a need, then look for a venue that will be suitable—in this case, with Tall Trees offering their facility up, it’s almost the other way around,” Mr Christinson says.

“Tall Trees have set up a really fantastic shed on their grounds, and there has already been an excellent uptake from the local community in our first meeting.”

The men’s shed at Tall Trees already has many of the tools you’d expect to see in the garage of someone who’s been a handyman for most of their life.

For more information, contact RDCOTA on (07) 3488 0680.

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/news/local/news/general/shed-a-place-just-for-blokes/2437718.aspx

Widowed in 1995, Mr Harrison set himself the task of meeting new friends when he first arrived at the centre from Western Australia.

"You've got to have a partner," Mr Harrison said. "Preferably, it's a lady."

With around 54 women and six men at the morning tea shortly after his arrival, the odds were in his favour.

"Madge is the type of person who really likes to be with people and I'm proud to be in her company. I hope this goes on for the rest of our lives."

Despite qualifying as one of Queensland's most romantic stories of the year, Mrs Buchanan and Mr Harrison aren't planning anything special for Valentine's Day.

This article appeared in the Courier Mail on 13 February 2012.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/never-too-late-for-romance-to-blossom/story-fn6ck45n-1226269121086

This story appeared on the Today Show on 14 February 2012.

http://today.ninemsn.com.au/?videoid=7a1c26bb-a34c-4a65-9bf5-748a644a9d6f

LNP candidate for Morayfield Darren Grimwade payed a visit to aged care neighbourhood Tall Trees Caboolture Monday 23 and shared morning tea with residents and discussed the issues of the day.

Tall Trees at Caboolture is earning a reputation as a hotspot for local politicians, with the federal member for Longman Wyatt Roy paying a visit to the aged care neighbourhood in November last year.

Sharon Brown, networking co-coordinator at Tall Trees Caboolture, says such visits are a great way for residents to get through to politicians about issues that are relevant to them.

“At Tall Trees, we’re committed not only to providing the best care for our residents, but also to furthering the interests of all seniors in Australia,” Ms Brown says.

“With politicians such as Darren Grimwade and Wyatt Roy paying visits to our neighbourhood, our residents have a fantastic opportunity to be heard by some of the movers and shakers in Queensland.

“Our residents immensely enjoying meeting Mr Grimwade on Monday and enjoyed sitting with him for discussion."

Tall Trees Caboolture is the home of 93-year-old female pioneer Francis Smith, the first ever female to be a licensed taxi driver in Brisbane in the late 1950s.

Francis owned a taxi business in Capalaba with her husband that ran 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 14 years.

During this era women who had held wartime jobs were expected to abandon their careers in order to provide employment for men returning from war.

Francis overcome all opposition to her actions of working in a man’s world and helped pave the way for women to claim their position in the workforce.

Francis says she originally started driving taxis to help her husband out when he was unable to drive, but it wasn’t easy in the beginning.

“My husband owned the business and when he became ill I thought we would lose our livelihood if I didn’t take over,” Francis says.

“When I went to get my taxi license the men at the office would think ‘why give a woman one when there was a waiting room full of men applying?’ but I went there every day for three weeks trying to apply.

“I finally got it in the end – but I think it was only to get rid of me and it was restricted so I could only drive in Capalaba.”

Francis says that she persevered despite the challenges she faced during her taxi-driving career.

“It seemed that even though I had my own license and was legally allowed to drive, it was always going to be strongly opposed,” Francis says.

“Taxi inspectors gave me grief about driving and tried to stop me, but I always stood my ground because our business was providing for seven children.

“We had two children of our own and for five years my husband and I cared for my friend’s five children after his wife passed away giving birth to the fifth child.”

Francis says her husband’s best friend was a policeman from Cleveland and she believed he helped her gain a full taxi license.

“My original license only allowing me to drive in Capalaba was no good, so I eventually got an unrestricted taxi license and I think our friend made it possible,” Francis says.

“I would make many journeys to strawberry growers and pack the car up with the fruit and drop if off at the huge trucks to have the strawberries taken to the markets.

“A lot of our clients had an account with the business and we were often paid by farmers with watermelons, strawberries and even pets.”

Francis says she got used to working around the clock every day of the week.

“I would often get called upon to go to somebody’s house miles away to put the roast on or turn the chook over in the oven,” Francis says.

“Although I faced many obstacles pursuing my license and keeping it, I did what I had to in order to keep our business going.

“After 14 years we decided to move on and so we sold the business and bought a hotel.”

Francis has long since retired and has recently moved to Tall Trees Caboolture.

“Many of my friends living here have also lived in the suburbs of Brisbane most of their lives and we enjoy looking at how much has changed over time,” Francis says.

“Although men laughed at the thought of it originally, I am glad I stuck to it to become the first of female taxi driver, and set an example for women to follow.

“Doing this set a good example for my children, and my daughter was the first female barmaid over in New Zealand.”