Residents enjoy get-together
The Ron Smith care centre held its Christmas Show and Braai on December 18, 2015.
The Ron Smith Care Centre held its Christmas Show and Braai on December 18.
The celebration was attended by 350 residents and staff.
By 7am that day, the centre was a hive of activity as staff from all departments prepared for the celebrations of the day.
Housekeeping and care staff joined together to present a show of traditional and contemporary Christmas carols, interspersed with dance.
The show team also danced with the residents in the audience to a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas song and ended up wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with a lively rendition of Feliz Navidad.
“I’m proud of the show staff,” said Ms Debbie Christen, Manager: Recreational Programmes for Rand Aid, who planned the show with Ms Hilda Mabaso, the housekeeping supervisor at the Ron Smith Care Centre.
“They had less than a month to learn and practice the material, but they all did brilliantly and the residents enjoyed the show so much. We wanted to bring the story, spirit and joy of Christmas, and present it with love. I think that’s what we did,” said Ms Christen.
Cedar Park resident Ms Jill Jones said, “Every item presented was well received and appreciated by the audience. At one stage, members of the dancing team scattered into the audience and danced with the residents. When the melody ‘Vulindela’ was played, everyone was invited to dance, whether to sway in a wheelchair, keep time, or go onto the floor with a carer or member of the Dancing Team. This interaction was enthusiastically received and greatly enjoyed. Memories of our dancing youth were revived and came quickly to the fore. Laughter and smiles were on everyone’s faces.”
Mr Peter Barker, a resident from Lakeside said, “A heartfelt thank you to Rand Aid management for the great effort that was made organising the Christmas lunch. It was a tremendous effort. I am one of the few residents with the means and ability to do so, so I must express my appreciation and admiration for the work done by the staff – from the most senior to junior.”
