Kensington Park staff room grand opening and kitchen-hand retirement

Kensington Park Director of Nursing Catherine Barlow and Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior cut
the ribbon on the new staff room.

STAFF at Kensington Park Aged Care Home are now able to rest and take their breaks in style after the grand opening of the home’s new staff room.

The purpose-build facility has a kitchen a dining setting, storage cupboards for personal items and comfortable chairs to sit in.

Executive Director Michael Hall said the staff had been very patient regarding the long-awaited new room, which is much larger than the former room and has a built-in kitchenette.

“You all work so hard and it’s so important to have breaks,” Michael said.

“Creating this staff room wouldn’t have been possible without Director of Operations Kraig Hoogland and Director of Physical Resources John Keenan.”

Chief Executive Office Graeme Prior said when Hall & Prior acquired the home in 1996, the residents were given a high quality of care but the structures of the home needed some work.

“The carers have always been wonderful here and there is great team work within the home,” he said.

“There have been many spouses of residents that have spoken very highly of the tender care that comes from the hearts of the people who work here.”

The celebration for the opening of the staff room coincided with the retirement of one of the home’s longest-serving staff members, Lynn Cook.

Michael Hall, Catherine Barlow, Lynn Cook and Graeme Prior.

Lynn worked in Kensington’s kitchen and had been at the home for 29 years.

Kensington Park Director of Nursing Catherine Barlow said Lynn had always been there to support her and the home’s previous Directors of Nursing.

“Lynn never objects to change and we’ve had some very funny times here,” Catherine said.

“We always joked that if there was ever a problem with the kitchen we’d give the residents Weet-Bix.

“Except that one day our wish came true and there was a burst pipe at 4am which flooded the entire kitchen. So out came the Weet-Bix.”

Catherine said Lynn could always be relied on to come in if another staff members was sick and she would be truly missed within the home.

Lynn said she loved working in the home and everyone had always been extremely kind.

“I’ll miss this place very much,” she said.

Graeme Prior also presented the care and hospitality staff with the 2014 Hall & Prior Award for Exceptional Teamwork, as some of them were unable to attend the awards ceremony last year.