Group members, including (back from left) Judy Turner, Judy Bowdridge, Seymour Health staff member Melissa Hall; (front) Lorraine Jones, volunteer Kirsty Adamson and Dorothy Sommerville, have formed a lasting connection through Seymour Health's social support group.
Photo by
Billie Davern
“Mad Mondays”, endless laughter and “naughty nannas” — a peek into the inner workings of a local social support group will show you that it is not at all what you would expect.
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Every weekday, Seymour Health staff and volunteers run a social support group, and its clients love nothing more than a laugh.
Despite thinking, “oh, that’s not really for me”, it was laughter that caused Judy Turner, who joined the group four years ago following the passing of her husband, to keep coming back.
“One of our clients, ‘Naughty Nanna’ they call her, she was the reason I came back,” Ms Turner said.
“We were playing Bingo and everybody had to knock when they got to one number.
“I said, ‘gee, there are a lot of knockers in here’. This lady is now 88, so (this was) when she was 84, she says, ‘I’ve only got two’.
“I thought, ‘right, that’s my type of crowd, I’m coming back’.”
For Judy Bowdridge, it’s the experience offered that has kept her returning to the group on Mondays and Wednesdays for about eight years.
“It’s fun, I love coming here. I wanted to come back because I was bored at home,” Ms Bowdridge said.
Dorothy Sommerville said the company was a major drawcard.
“We’re loud and we do a lot of talking,” Ms Sommerville said.
Judy Bowdridge, Melissa Hall and Judy Turner are keen to visit Sexyland on the group's upcoming excursion.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Although it plays a major part, talking isn’t the only thing the group engages in.
Much of the time, members will be found playing games like balloon tennis or hallway bowling, doing quizzes and even heading out for excursions.
Locally, they have recently been to Gnarly Neighbours, but they also spread their wings far and wide, having visited Werribee Zoo and Echuca among other destinations outside of the region.
“We do things that a lot of people can’t do, or won’t do, on their own,” Ms Turner said.
Mellissa Hall, a Seymour Health staff member who has been overseeing the group for four years, said an exciting excursion was planned.
“We’ve got to let people know that it’s not the old cliché of us sitting here doing nothing. We play active games in here,” she said.
“This month, we’re going to Sexyland. (One of the clients) wanted to go before she ‘kicked the bucket’.”
Aside from the jokes, the group meetings have had significant, tangible benefits for attendees.
“It changes your life. It changed mine — it really did change mine,” Ms Turner said.
“I was going downhill, and you could imagine after 50 years of marriage when you lose somebody and then you’re home alone.
“It’s a good place to come to, I believe. It gets you out of your rut.
“If I wasn’t at group, I’d be at home, locked inside my house.”
Ms Hall said she had even noticed a change in herself since facilitating the group.
“I think it provides the ability to connect and open up,” she said.
“Quite a few live alone. It gives them the ability to get out into the community. Some of them wouldn't be able to otherwise.”
The group meets between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, and clients pay a fee of $7.90 to attend, with extra costs for food.
Buses can be arranged to pick up clients.
For more information, phone Seymour Health on 5793 6100.
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