Bush Tucker Garden ECH is proud to be an inclusive organisation and is committed to the continued reconciliation, capacity building and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. As part of our Reconciliation Action Plan, a new Bush Tucker Garden was developed at Encore Apartments in Modbury to expand our cultural knowledge while learning about the health benefits of native flora. To mark National Reconciliation Week, the Bush Tucker Garden was formally opened on 1 June with a multisensory tour of its edible natives and bush foods by horticulturalist and Bunganditj woman Leanne. Leanne shared with clients, residents, staff and guests the rich history and cultural significance of the plants as well as the supplementary flavours they can add to culinary dishes. Afterwards, guests enjoyed an Indigenous inspired afternoon tea. All are welcome in the garden and signs placed throughout the garden detail the history and benefits of the plants for visitors. To learn more about the garden and our commitment to reconciliation, visit ech.asn.au/about-us   Mesmerising Masterpieces The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival is a state-wide festival of visual art, which promotes and celebrates the many talented visual artists in South Australia including a few ECH clients. Husband and wife duo, Terry and Virginia, have been creating and sharing several beautiful paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures with SA art lovers in this year’s SALA festival from their outdoor studio. The couple started their art journey after retirement when…

Our Keep Connected magazine has been put together to help clients, residents and volunteers stay connected to ECH and the broader community. It is packed full of useful community stories, information and advice on how people can stay connected, exercise and nutrition tips and much more! If you would like to share your story with us, please email keepconnected@ech.asn.au…

2 – 8 OCTOBER  ACTIVE AGING WEEK Active Aging Week encourages adults over the age of 50 to take advantage of all that life has to offer. During this week ECH has a number of free physical activities on offer for a life of better health and wellbeing. For more information on these activities, visit ech.asn.au/events 16 OCTOBET – 15 DECEMBER  YOUR SPRING INTO SUMMER ADVENTURE Are you ready to make this spring unforgettable? Get ready to learn new skills and create new and meaningful social connections by Summer! Whether you love art, singing, craft, writing, trivia, gardening or are just keen to learn a new skill, our small group ‘Get Connected’ programs offer something for everyone. It’s not just a series of events – it’s a journey to rediscover the joy in every moment, and celebrate the beauty of active aging. We believe that life gets even more vibrant as we age, and this spring, we’re bringing you a line-up of unforgettable activities that will make you feel more alive than ever by Summer! For more information, visit: ech.asn.au/spring-summer-adventure 23 SEPTEMBER SA SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL Nestled between the Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills, the picturesque town of Mt Pleasant will once again host the annual SA Spring Garden Festival. The festival features a full program that includes very special guest speaker Hannah Moloney, a large variety of plant and garden stalls, garden themed workshops, talks, activities and free Nature Craft activities for the kids.

The Adelaide Botanical Gardens says there are over 2,300 plants from 257 species which show the diversity of plants that have helped with healing the body, mind, and soul for thousands of years. Whether you're a home gardener, community gardener, or visitor, a garden can be that wonderful source of exercise, stimulation, and relaxation. With a little planning, garden beds, equipment and tools can be changed to make gardening accessible too. This spring, embark on a gardening adventure with us, as we share valuable tips, tricks, and new skills.   Create new and meaningful social connections by Summer with our small group ‘Get Connected’ programs offering something for everyone - like gardening for your health!   Gardening is widely recognised for its ability to enhance endurance and strength, lower stress levels, and promote relaxation. Simply being in a garden can instil a profound sense of well-being, particularly during the vibrant spring season when nature's beauty is at its peak.  The importance of cultivating vegetable gardens has evolved over time, but what remains constant is the incredible goodness that comes from growing your own produce. Consider, for instance, the diverse health benefits of various vegetables. Peppers have capsaicin, an anti-inflammatory compound that aids in reducing the risk of heart disease. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and potassium. Spinach has the potential to bolster your immune system, while broccoli shields your body's cells from harm.  Use our new…

Today, as we mark Aged Care Employee Day, it presents us with a great opportunity to begin a different discussion about what is aged care and what carers do? Given the extensive media coverage of the Aged Care Royal Commission over the past few years, the average person can be forgiven for thinking that aged care and how we live as we get older comes down to one thing: a nursing home, or residential aged care. This means aged care workers who are registered nurses, chefs, lifestyle advisors, and personal carers, just to name a few, all do an incredible job, however, there is a whole other world beyond residential aged care. Aged Care Employee Day presents us with an opportune moment to look at the people who work to support older Australians as they reach different stages of their lives – not age. This means how we change our lifestyle depending on what we need to help us continue living our best lives. Older people can continue to live fulfilling lives with the aid of the caring efforts of wellness workers and care support workers. We need to shift the mindset of getting older to focus on ‘stage’ rather than ‘age’ in an individual’s journey. We know from feedback received by the Royal Commission that most Australians want to stay living in their own homes as they get older. We aim to ‘think outside the square’ and innovate to support our clients at different stages of their lives.

Our Keep Connected magazine has been put together to help clients, residents and volunteers stay connected to ECH and the broader community. It is packed full of useful community stories, information and advice on how people can stay connected, exercise and nutrition tips and much more!   If you would like to share your story with us, please email keepconnected@ech.asn.au…

Expanding cultural knowledge while learning about the health benefits of native flora has inspired the planting of a new Bush Tucker Garden, at Modbury, by leading South Australian retirement living and home care service provider, ECH. To mark National Reconciliation Week, the garden will be formally opened on 1 June with a tour of its edible natives and bush foods by Bunganditj woman Leanne Williams. This will be followed by an indigenous inspired afternoon tea for ECH residents and clients. ECH Chief Executive Claire Scapinello says the Bush Tucker Garden project is part of the organisation’s ongoing reconciliation and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. “The idea for the Bush Tucker Garden came from our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group, as a way that ECH can engage our clients and team members in our reconciliation journey, and for people to grow their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in a multisensory way. “At ECH, we are a proud and inclusive organisation which encourages residents and clients to embrace cultural diversity and social connections not only through this project at our ECH Encore Apartments, but in all we do. “The garden has a large range of ornamental plants, fruit trees and native plantings, so we encourage residents and clients to take advantage of this opportunity,” Ms Scapinello says. The Bush Tucker Garden plants were selected by ECH Connections Lead and Horticulturist Mel Sanders and ECH Peer Connector Trevor Martin and sourced from Belair State…