By ANEEKA SIMONIS
AS A tribute for 10 years of love and care given to their mother, a family has built a new garden and shelter area at the Holmwood Private Aged Care Facility in Healesville.
Clear that the site was not a memorial for their mother Margurita Myra Nellie Wilkinson, the family of 12 children built the site to thank the staff for their care as well as provide an enjoyable space for the residents.
Kevin Wilkinson, the eldest of her children said making the site which took eight weekends was a labour of love.
“Our main focus was to show our appreciation for the love, support and care shown by the facility over the past 10 years.”
“We hope it can be used as an activities area for residents to use or a place to sit with their familiies,” he said.
Facility manager Emily Rogers said they were thrilled to welcome the new outside area where they would run activities such as painting.
“The residents love to sit outside … it creates another opportunity for them to sit among each other and be social. Providing an outside environment is important for health,” she said.
The new area includes a shelter with in-built seating and a sundeck with a table set in the middle of a garden. Margurita’s children travelled far and wide for the unveiling of the new site, with some coming from Western Australia.
Passing at age 87 in January this year, Margurita was born in Lilydale and spent most of her life in Healesville. She is survived by 12 children, 38 grandchildren and over 60 great grandchildren.
