You’ve Camel a Long Way: Betty's Win A Wish Ride

Once you get to know Betty Borwick, resident at Catholic Healthcare’s Emmaus Village in Kemps Creek, you understand why she chose a camel ride for her Win A Wish.

Betty is turning 90 years old in September and she has always been up for an adventure.

Betty has bungy-jumped, sky-dived and even paddled out to Wedding Cake Island with sports presenter Norman May – but she had never gone on a camel ride!

Her camel ride was part of a Win A Wish Competition, run by Catholic Healthcare to celebrate its 25th anniversary year.

“My middle name is ‘trouble’ don’t you know,” says Betty with a mischevous grin. “I grew up in Coogee and was a member of the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. Norman May was a member too and we used to surf together. The time we paddled out to Wedding Cake Island we were also surrounded by sharks. But that didn’t stop us.”

For her special Win A Wish day, a hire car picked Betty and her carer Debbie up from Emmaus Village and brought them to Birubi Beach at Anna Bay, near Port Stephens. The weather was perfect. Betty was given a helmet and she was ready to get up on the camel and go.

“The camel driver walked us through the sand dunes and down to the beach,” says Debbie. “He even walked us through the water so we went swimming without getting wet. Our camel Daisy was very gentle, but getting up and down was interesting!”

“After the camel ride Catholic Healthcare arranged lunch which was lovely – they even asked a friend of Betty’s to join her which was another surprise. It was a great day and Betty loved the whole experience.”

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