Goal Tree Achievements at Calvary Mt Carmel: Ex-Railway Shunter's Sky-High Adventure in a Tiger Moth

Staff at Calvary Mt Carmel, a residential aged care home in Maitland, were determined to fulfill the wish of 84-year-old Stan Shaw when he expressed his desire to take a ride in a Tiger Moth aircraft.

Stan's wish was just one of many aspirations listed on a remarkable "goal tree" adorning a dining room wall at the home. Standing tall at two meters, the goal tree was created and beautifully painted by a talented member of the care team.

Its purpose was to enable residents to set and achieve their personal goals, injecting a sense of excitement and joy back into their lives following the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

“We don’t believe that dreams stop just because you come to live in aged care,” Home Manager, Mel Cromarty, said. “We encourage residents to think about something they would really like to do, and wherever possible we’ll do it. It can be large or small, but we’ll try to make it happen.”

Stan Shaw, a former railway shunter and volunteer community radio presenter, has a deep passion for trains, planes, and automobiles. Soaring through the skies above Newcastle and the picturesque Hunter Valley in a Tiger Moth aircraft was an absolute dream come true for him.

Stan's wish was among the more significant aspirations listed on the goal tree. Others included a day at the football stadium for a resident to cheer on their beloved team, and the arrival of a beauty therapist at the home to grant a resident's wish for a rejuvenating facial and mini-makeover.

Upcoming wishes on the list include a resident indulging in a delectable lobster feast and another resident revisiting the joy of ocean splashes by heading to the beach once again.

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