Back to the Barracks

It was with much excitement that a group of residents and carers from St Bede’s Residential Aged Care in South Hurstville headed off on Catholic Healthcare's first MyWish outing for 2021.

My Wish is a Catholic Healthcare program which is granting residents, who are living in one of our Aged Care Homes, their special wish. It’s about promoting life to its full at any age, rewarding our residents and giving them the opportunity to enjoy an extraordinary experience.

Catholic Healthcare is delighted to be re-igniting the program in 2021.

“With restrictions easing, residents were very happy to be out again, enjoying the opportunity to visit the Hyde Park Barracks and Art Gallery of NSW on a sunny, autumn day,” says Residential Manager, AJ Ambas.

A shared love of history inspired the MyWish choice.

St Bede’s Pastoral Care Coordinator, Annie, is a descendent of Lady Elizabeth Macquarie, wife of Lachlan Macquarie who was Governor of NSW when the Barracks were built. Annie and resident Gloria often talk about this ancestry and imagine what life might have been like for Lady Macquarie, sitting at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the early 1800s watching the boats come into Sydney Harbour.

When Gloria saw the request for MyWish nominations, she proposed a special outing to Hyde Park Barracks.

“I had heard that the Barracks were renovated so we thought it would be an interesting day out,” says Gloria. “The museum is very impressive. We were all given individual iPods and headphones to listen to an audio tour as we moved through the rooms.

“I particularly liked the painting of colonial Sydney which they brought to life through animation.”

“Everyone really enjoyed themselves,” says AJ.

“It was just so lovely to be out again with the residents. The look on everyone’s faces enjoying the sunshine, taking in some culture and having lunch together was great to see. Seeing our residents happy makes us happy.”

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