News sheet issue 53 - Wheller on the Park Residents Committee

RESIDENTS COMMITTEE - WHELLER ON THE PARK ISSUE 53 19 DECEMBER 2014
NEWS SHEET
From the Chairman
2015 is only 2 weeks away, and the 5th Annual General Meeting of the
Residents Committee in late March is fast approaching. You’ll be provided
with all the necessary information on that in the first News Sheet for 2015.
We had an interesting discussion at the December Round Table on how
resale units will be advertised and handled now that there are no new units available to
attract enquiries – see Snippets on p.2. Thanks to Manager Chris Haines for showing
me the refurbished villa and 2 units in Jacaranda recently sold. A good job of
refurbishment had been done, even the tiles looked good, and they presented
attractively when I walked in. (No, I didn’t check out the drawers, cupboard corners
and inside the stove to see if they were as-new!)
Volunteers are essential in many ways for WotP to function as it does – without them it
would be a much less attractive place. But we do need to protect them from
unintended consequences of that, which is why we introduced the Public Liability
Insurance for residents enjoying the public facilities here. That allows The Shed to
operate, for example, but within a raft of safety rules. The mobility equipment pool is
the latest thing we need to consider so that the volunteers who operate it are fully
covered by liability insurance. More on that in 2015, but expect some procedural rules
rather than the present free-and-easy system used now.
Thanks personally and on behalf of the Resident Committee for your support and help
during the year – we’ll need more of that in 2015. Have a Happy and Holy Christmas
and an enjoyable time into New Years Eve.
Brian Egan
3359 7294
NB: The first Residents Forum for 2015, and my last one as Chairman, will now be held on
Tuesday February 17, a week earlier than previously scheduled. (Notice below)
DATE CLAIMER
Your
The next
Residents’ Committee
Residents Forum
Tuesday 17 February 2015
10am - 11.30am
in the
Leisure Centre Main Hall
_____________________
All residents are
encouraged to attend
thanks you for your support
and wishes you a
happy and holy Christmas
and a
a
prosperous New Year
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RESIDENTS COMMITTEE - WHELLER ON THE PARK ISSUE 53 19 DECEMBER 2014
Snippets from the Round Table
from the Chairman, Brian Egan
Maintenance matters for the older sections in WotP are now well under
way by the specialist contractors, both externally and internally. It’s good to see
the minor faults,blemishes and lime leaks repaired and the areas painted so they
look like new.
Sales technique for resale units. Manager Chris explained the technique now
used since only resale units will be available in future. The office maintains a list of
persons interested in buying into WotP and the type of unit or villa they require, and
is updated as new enquiries are made. Briefly, when a vacated unit is refurbished,
and an asking price agreed by owners and WMB, all persons in that category are
emailed an invitation to a few nominated “open house” days, and have a few days
to make an offer. (Recent sales of a villa and 2 units were made quickly in this way.)
Village signage hasn’t changed a lot since our last report to you, but the new
and larger type street and directional signs are coming. Think of it as a New Year present!
Mobility equipment pool is operated on behalf of residents by 2 volunteers. We
discussed lending procedures with the WMB reps Chris and John, and what their
insurers would demand in these circumstances. Our broker says that the residents
public liability insurance policy “would respond” to any claims for damage or injury,
but made suggestions on the need to improve borrowing procedures and the type
of equipment to be covered. There will be more ‘red tape’ required in future to ensure
our volunteers are covered adequately by insurance – details are being considered now.
Change in our Internet Domain name - The Woes of Information Technology
!
Unfortunately our ‘domain ‘ name was recently de-registered. Previously it was an
‘org.au’ domain.
!
A recent review of registrations had determined that WotP Residents Committee
was not an eligible organisation for an Australian ‘org’ domain name. This was a
complex ruling and partly related to the WotP Constitution being adopted long after the
registration (and acceptance) of the domain name.
!
Didgeroo Creative Industries, who not only provide support for WotP pro bono but
also meet the cost of our domain registration, explored all possible alternatives, resulting
in their recommendation that a new domain name be registered. This has been done.
!
The registered domain is now whellerresidents.org
!
Also our webpage is up and running again at www.whellerresidents.org
!
The new email address is info@whellerresidents.org
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RESIDENTS COMMITTEE - WHELLER ON THE PARK ISSUE 53 19 DECEMBER 2014
Computerised Records
from the Editor, Wendy Skitch
Residents will be aware that your Committee was successful early this year in its
application for two grants (Brisbane City Council and Kedron Wavell) to enable it to
purchase a portable computer and software together with a high quality printer/scanner.
This is part of the Committee’s overall ‘succession planning’ that has evolved progressively
since the Residents Committee was established on 11 February 2010.
!
!
This portable computer will be used by the incumbent secretary and be available
when, from time to time, another resident is elected to that position.
!
The Men’s Shed have been approached to design and construct a mobile cabinet so
that this equipment may be stored in a readily accessible common area within the Leisure
Centre
. !
!
The task of
scanning records and all correspondence is underway.
It is hoped that this will be completed by the end of March.
The data will then be placed on the computer. Thus all records of the Residents Forum
and its Residents Committee will be held in the one readily accessible
repository in a common area of the Leisure Centre.
!
Much of this information is formatted so that it can be easily adapted for use on
repeated occasions. eg. The complicated layout of the Residents Voting Register that is
required for Residents to sign whenever there is a need for Voting on a Special Resolution
as required under the Retirement Village Act; for the Annual General Elections; and for
voting on a material change within the Village.
!
Most of us give little thought to these matters and, if we do,probably imagine that it
all ‘just happens”. Not so.The required Notices to Residents, together with associated
forms and paperwork are both extensive and complex.
!
And what does all this mean? Having pursued the adage of ‘do it once, do it well ‘
past Officer Bearers have ensured that the workload of any Residents Committee Office
Bearer elected hereafter is minimised. Hopefully this will encourage residents to come
forward , at the next Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday 24th March - and in all
future years - to serve a term on the Committee.
Throughout Christmas many of our Residents will
visit those Wheller on the Park ‘Graduate’ Residents
who now reside in Wheller Gardens.
bringing to them joy and fond memories.
Note change in domain name:
New address for all emails
info@whellerresidents.org
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RESIDENTS COMMITTEE - WHELLER ON THE PARK ISSUE 53 19 DECEMBER 2014
A Resident : A Confusing Nomenclature
article by Wendy Skitch
How often do we , as residents of Wheller on the Park Retirement Village -when out and
about in the community - hear the statement “but you are in an old person’s home” ? It
would seem that confusion reigns amongst the general public. Not only is a Retirement
Village different from an Aged Care Facility but each functions and is regulated by
different Statutory Acts of Parliament.
Retirement Villages are premises where a community of seniors live in independent
living units and share common facilities and amenities.
Retirement villages are regulated by the Retirement Villages Act 1999.
Retirement villages may be owned by commercial operators for profit or by
charitable, religious or ethnic not-for-profit organisations.
They do not receive government funding. The WotP Village operation is fully
funded by retirees who have occupancy under a loan/lease agreement.
They cater for retirees and older members of the community who are able to live
independently.
There are age limitations under PID Section 2.10 and 2.5 of the Lease document
NB. 2.5 (2) of the Lease “Be a person for who the Scheme Operator considers that
the unit is suitable as a principal place of residence”.
In some villages, personal care and support services can be purchased for a fee.
Residential Aged Care facilities (formerly known as nursing homes) provide various
levels of supportive care.
Residential Aged Care facilities are regulated by the Commonwealth Aged Care Act
1997.
Residential Aged Care Facilities may be owned by commercial operators for profit or
by charitable, religious or ethnic not-for-profit organisations and by Government
although Queensland Government Nursing Homes are being phased out.
They are part-subsidised by the Commonwealth Government.
An Aged Care Assessment is required for entry to these facilities.
Aged Care Homes may provide complex care and services according to your care
needs, in addition to accommodation services and personal care assistance.
Wesley Mission Brisbane has been bold enough to undertake construction of
Parkview and other new Aged Care facilities (nursing homes) in Brisbane and is one
of only a few not-for-profit organisations to do so.
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