There was no mistaking the colours at Abbey Gardens Residential Aged Care Community in Warragul this week – brown and gold as far as the eye could see. Residents and staff donned their finest Hawthorn Football Club gear as players and support staff arrived for a visit, chatting with residents, signing autographs and bringing plenty of footy fun.
The bingo table quickly became the centre of attention. Betty, one of Abbey Gardens’ star residents, had the room in stitches as she coached Hawks key defender TB (Tom Barrass) through a few competitive rounds. She was thrilled to see her elite coaching pay off when TB scored a quick win and shared some of his prize-winning chocolates with her.
Residential Care and Services Manager, Lauren Robinson, said the visit reflected the values Abbey Gardens strives to bring to life each day.
“We want people to feel connected to the wider community and supported to live a fuller life on their terms. Seeing residents and players all engaging so openly was a wonderful example of that,” she said.
The club’s warmth also left a lasting impression.
“The Hawthorn players were incredibly generous. They didn’t rush a single conversation and you could see how much it meant to our residents. The smiles said everything!”
The fun continued in the garden, where residents and players enjoyed friendly handball games in the sunshine. Some visiting children – family and friends of our staff – also joined in and were thrilled to meet the Hawthorn players. Watching residents, players, and children connect across generations created a wonderful sense of community.
“We want to say a big thank you to the Hawthorn Football Club for visiting us at Abbey Gardens,” said Lauren. “The players jumped into everything: from playing bingo to sharing stories about footy. It’s been an amazing experience and they are welcome back anytime!”
Rumour has it that Betty is planning her next bingo coaching session with TB. That’s the thing about coaching AFL players – it’s a 24/7 job!
If you’d like to learn more about life at our Abbey Gardens community, click here. Or call us on 13 22 78 for a friendly chat with our team.
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