Author: Apollo-Briana

There was something for everyone at our recent Nanyima Show Day – two days full of fabulous fun! This special event involved residents, staff, volunteers and family and truly captured the spirit of our community.

Lifestyle lead, Tanya, says the show is a Nanyima tradition and much looked forward to each year. “We’ve been holding our own version of the local community show for over ten years now and it’s always a roaring success.”

On the first day, music, laughter and shrieks of delight reverberated around the community as residents, families and friends enjoyed a replica side show alley, complete with horseshoe toss and ‘catch the ducks’ game. Residents delighted in throwing water bombs at Tanya who was dressed as a clown!

Show bags added to the authenticity and a variety of show food kept everyone well fed. There were dagwood dogs, popcorn and fairy floss and even decadent coconut ice and fudge made by the residents in their regular cooking class. Resident Mary thought it was delicious. “Just like at the show!” she said, delighted. “Brilliant!” said Val, when asked if she’d had a good time.

Day two was all about showcasing the incredible talent within the community. Our ‘show pavilion’ held marvellous displays of art, crafts, toys, paintings, plants, homegrown fruit and vegetables and even birds. Residents and family members could take their time admiring the work, stopping to refuel and reminisce about their childhood show experiences. Delicious home-made scones with jam and cream, just like they used to have at the local show, completed the moment.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

Nanyima residents have been exploring cultures, stories and traditions across the world with a special series of events.

The idea began when Manager, Bien, returned from a holiday to Morocco and wanted to share her experiences with the residents. At a unique afternoon tea in the courtyard, where they were treated to traditional Moroccan tea and sweet treats, residents were enthralled to hear the stories from her travels abroad. The event sparked plenty of conversation and curiosity, with many eager to learn more about different cultures, so we decided to make cultural tea and coffee experiences a regular monthly feature.

Next stop was Japan. Staff members who have lived and worked in Japan shared their personal stories and insights into Japanese customs and traditions, while residents sampled matcha tea and Japanese-inspired cakes. Staff dressed in traditional attire, helping create an immersive and memorable experience.

In June, the celebrations grew bigger with a vibrant Philippines Independence Day event that brought together residents, family members, staff and volunteers. Filipino team members shared their culture with pride and enthusiasm. Chef Nech and the catering team prepared delicious dishes, like beef chop suey, pork lechon kawali and desserts, biko and puto, and a member of the local Filipino community, Maryanne, sang beautifully. The day was ended with a raucous traditional treat game.  

Manager, Bien, says these cultural days have been a wonderful way to help residents stay connected to the wider world. “They’ve sparked curiosity and created opportunities for residents to learn, share and connect with the diverse backgrounds of the people who live and work around them.”

The journey is far from over. We have more exciting destinations and cultural experiences planned.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

There’s a blur of colour and a buzz of excitement at Nanyima and it’s coming straight from the garden. Residents are enjoying a new gardening project after planter boxes, generously donated by resident, Kate’s sister and friend, were installed in the Memory Support Household’s outdoor space.

Positioned perfectly, the planter boxes are easily accessible and can be admired from the dining room and lounge or enjoyed in the sunny courtyard. Importantly, they’ve created a wonderful opportunity for residents to spend time outside together in the gentle winter sunshine. With the support of staff and family members, they’ve planted a vibrant selection of flowers and herbs that will brighten the space in the weeks ahead. 

The gardening project has already become a favourite activity, with many residents eager to roll up their sleeves and get involved.

Resident Ross said working in the garden brought back so many lovely memories of gardening with his son. 

Ron and Kerrod have also been lending a hand, digging, weeding and tidying the surrounding garden beds to help keep the area looking its best.

Ron, a lifelong gardening enthusiast, said being outdoors always lifts his spirits. “It feels so good to be outdoors in the fresh air. I used to hang out in the garden a lot at home and I grew beautiful orchids. I had lots of people asking me for advice,” he said.   

The new planter boxes are proving to be much more than a beautiful feature. They’re bringing together the community in a therapeutic and purposeful way, resulting in a new energy and community pride.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

Sarah chose aged care because it’s about so much more than providing clinical care.

“I’ve always wanted a career where I could make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” she says. “Nursing gives me that opportunity every day. At Nanyima, it’s about building genuine relationships, listening to resident’s stories, preserving their dignity and helping them feel safe, valued and at home.”

What is the favourite part of your day?

Spending time with the residents. Whether it’s helping them with their care, having a chat or sharing a laugh, it’s those little moments that remind me why I chose nursing.  

Nanyima’s residents have lived through so many experiences, and I’ve learned so much from their resilience, wisdom and kindness. They remind me every day that compassion, patience and simply being present can make a real difference in someone’s life. I truly feel privileged to be part of their journey.

What do you see as the impact of your role?

I hope my role helps residents feel safe, cared for and respected. Through quality nursing care and teamwork, I aim to contribute to a healthier environment while giving residents and their families confidence in the care they receive.

How does technology help you deliver better care?

I use CareKeeper every day to document care, review resident information, communicate with the team and ensure important clinical updates are shared promptly. CareKeeper holds all the updated information about each resident’s care needs and ensures the team has accurate information in real time. It improves communication, supports better clinical decision-making and helps ensure nothing important is missed. Importantly, it enables me to spend more time actually at the resident’s side, and less time at nurse’s stations.

At Nanyima, residents are at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on getting to know and understand individual residents, and supporting them to maintain their interests, routines and connections to the people and places they love. We use innovation to help us deliver personalised, meaningful care.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

And to find out about career opportunities, visit: https://nanyima.org.au/careers/

Nanyima joined Apollo Care’s alliance of not-for-profit communities in 2023, and together, we’re working hard to support our community to evolve and thrive, while preserving what makes it so special to Mirani.

Nanyima has stayed proudly local, guided by a Board that reflects the unique needs of this region. 

Our Lifestyle Program includes lots of opportunities for residents to continue to enjoy community connections, from scenic drives in and around Mirani and Mackay to our much-loved community-based festivities, like our annual Cent Sale and visit from the Pioneer River Orchid and Plant Association.

Our guiding principle is locals first, and we value the role local businesses play in regional communities like ours. We use a range of local suppliers for goods and services, including local butchers, bakers, produce stores and contractors.

We continue to foster the close ties Nanyima has with local Catholic and Anglican Churches that offer residents a range of in-community services, one-on-one communion and pastoral support. 

We regularly host children from Wonder Kids Early Learning for fun, activity-filled visits at Nanyima. Both generations build special bonds during these visits, creating wonderful memories. 

At the heart of the Nanyima community are some incredible individuals – a group of around 24 volunteers who dedicate their time, energy and compassion to enhancing the lives of residents.

As a member of the Apollo Care Alliance, Nanyima’s exceptional history of service to the people of Mirani is honoured and protected for generations to come.  

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

We enjoyed a cheerful, colourful morning out in the heart of Mackay recently, sparking some nostalgic reflections about the city’s evolution over time.

First stop was The Coffee Club where residents found themselves reminiscing about the Mackay of their youth. The location sparked the conversation – the café stands where the Oriental Hotel and Batros Store operated before fire destroyed both buildings. Batros played a central role in helping families set up their homes, selling everything from Manchester and haberdashery to menswear.

After coffee, the group strolled through the Mackay Laneway Project’s circuit of murals and art installations. Pausing to admire the stunning artwork and, of course take fun snaps, the conversation about the changes to the city continued.

As one resident put it, “It’s lovely to see how the city has grown, but even better to share the memories of how it once was.”

Manager, Bien, says Nanyima has been an integral part of the region for over three decades, with most residents hailing from the area. “Our team prides itself on planning outings that help residents maintain connection to the people and places they love,” she says.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

Our Lifestyle team is dedicated to ensuring residents continue to live with meaning and connection.

“The Lifestyle Program is thoughtfully designed with input from residents,” says Tanya, Lifestyle team leader. “We make sure we include a wide range of meaningful group activities and individual engagement, considering physical movement, social and community connection and cultural celebration.”

“Our focus is on providing choice, promoting independence and creating a sense of belonging, while ensuring the activities are inclusive and accessible. It’s important to us to see residents happy and enjoying themselves. And we actively seek their feedback on every activity,” she adds.

Marianne, Apollo Care’s National Lifestyle Co-ordinator, says the approach is deeply personal.

“Every person has a story that deserves to be known and honoured. It’s about understanding their journey and helping them continue to shape it. Our teams intentionally design programs that support reablement, wellbeing and meaningful engagement. Each experience is carefully planned to maintain skills, build confidence and encourage independence. Through thoughtful adaptations and inclusive practices, we ensure residents can participate in activities that feel empowering and meaningful so they can thrive!

Marianne runs a forum that brings together Lifestyle Leads from all 14 Apollo Care communities to share fresh ideas and explore solutions. This teamwork ensures programs remain innovative and aligned with best practice in aged care engagement.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

To find out about career opportunities, visit www.nanyima.org.au/careers

It was another lively day out for a group of residents recently who visited the Salvation Army Family Store for a day of op shopping.

Arranged at the request of the residents, the group first enjoyed lunch at Annie’s Nursery, followed by a browse through the gorgeous greenery.

Then the shoppers hit the op shop treasure trove. Packed floor to ceiling with unique goodies, there was a lot to discover. There were oohs, aahs and some giggles as the group explored the vast range of offerings, finding lots of trinkets and pre-loved goodies. There was something for everyone!

“It was an amazing day,” said Meryl. “I bought two pairs of quirky pants that I’m excited to wear.”

“You just don’t find these interesting and different things in the real shops,” agreed Gloria. Yvonne declared, “I’d go op shopping every day if I could – it’s so much fun!”

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

Residents recently warmly welcomed the children from Wonder Kids Early Learning to celebrate Harmony Day and continue to build meaningful intergenerational connections.

Laughter filled the room as residents, staff and students worked side by-side to create a striking orange “Harmony Tree” – a symbol of the strength created with unity and diversity. They supported each other to carefully trace their hands, cut them out and then personalise and decorate them before attaching each ‘leaf’ to the tree.

Lifestyle Lead, Tanya, says the ongoing relationship with Wonder Kids bridges generations, encourages laughter and learning for all and, most of all, builds special bonds.

“It’s lovely to see the animated conversations as the children and residents work and play together,” she says.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.

Managers from Apollo Care’s alliance of communities came together for two days to reflect on our journey so far, and plan for the future.

With the new Aged Care Act now in place, it was an opportune time to share learnings and insights on how we are continuing to meet and exceed the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. Key topics of the retreat focussed on how each community is improving resident care and wellbeing services, as well as building staff engagement through a positive culture.

Apollo Care CEO, Stephen Becsi, said the event “was a special time to celebrate the past six years and discuss how we are working hard to support residents and clients to live their best lives”.

Bien Stirling, Nanyima’s Manager said, “I look forward to applying my learnings from the retreat at Nanyima, especially around supporting staff wellbeing, and continuing to build a positive culture where residents and staff feel valued and supported. We have an amazing team of experts working with us to further enhance the quality of care and the sense of community”.

To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (07) 4848 0000 or email admin@nanyima.org.au.