Hobbies Making Marilyn Feel at Home

Marilyn Darrington is a bright and vibrant person – with a colourful room to match. The creative Carinity Brookfield Green resident has decorated her room at the aged care community in Brisbane with her artwork and craft pieces.

So much so that her room – and its floral-themed bathroom – resembles a mini-art gallery. The walls are covered with vivid diamond art, paintings, jewellery and decorations, the room adorned with knitted and crocheted items.

Marilyn is particularly skilled at diamond art, a time-consuming and thorough craft involving sticking tiny shiny resin pieces on to a canvas, to create intricate mosaic artworks.

Initially quite reserved after moving to Carinity Brookfield Green, Marilyn found new friendship groups with residents who also enjoy art and craft.

“At first I kept very much to myself because I’m shy, I’m a quite private person and I do like my own company, but it’s been good to meet people with similar passions,” Marilyn explains.

She has bonded with a small group of like-minded residents who enjoy hobbies such as knitting and crocheting.

“There’s a couple of very gifted ladies here whose knitting and crochet is magic,” Marilyn says.

“It’s been good for me because I can go to them for advice. We swap stories and help each other out with any mistakes we make.”

Carinity Brookfield Green staff also love visiting and chatting with Marilyn in her room.

“There’s a couple of nurses who call it ‘Aladdin’s Cave’, because each time they come there’s something different and there’s so many little trinkets that they can find,” Marilyn explains.

The youngest of 13 children growing up in rural New South Wales, Marilyn became a creative person from a young age.

“My mother taught me to knit and crochet when I was six and she taught me ballroom dancing,” she recalls.

“I come from the Riverina so living on a farm and being brought up in the country you learned to do hobbies and craft and live off the land.”

Since moving to Carinity Brookfield Green in late-2019, Marilyn has grown to love her new home and her new Carinity “family” who encourage her creative pursuits.

“I didn’t think I’d end up here so early in life. It was extremely daunting coming here, but it’s been good since I settled in. It is nothing like I envisioned,” she says.

“I enjoy walking out in the beautiful gardens, and I couldn’t wish to be in a better place. It’s gorgeous.”

Find out more about Carinity Aged Care.