Olympic Celebrations Galore at Respect

Pictured above: Residents at Cooinda, Costa House, and St Ann’s celebrating the Olympic Games.

Green and gold has adorned our communities in recent weeks as Olympic fever well and truly hit Respect.

Few events unite the world as much as the Olympic and ongoing Paralympic Games. And just like the 204 countries who came together in Paris to participate in the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, so too did our staff and residents celebrate togetherness, companionship, and unity – as usual, in their own special way!

Kicking off the Olympic celebrations was Cooinda, our home in Lithgow, New South Wales, where residents enjoyed hosting and participating in their very own version of the games. Once each resident was assigned a country to represent (as well as barrack for during the Games), they of course had to take part in an opening ceremony! The Olympic rings were unveiled, our residents-turned-athletes took the Olympic Oath, and there was a grand parade for each country. Finally, to mark the lighting of the flame (courtesy of some creative crafting), staff and residents finished with a well-deserved celebratory cake (like all great athletes!)

Pictured above: Residents at Tongala Memorial and Lyrebird participating in the Respect Olympic Games.

The Games also united two of our homes in some friendly competition! Residents from Derwent Views and Wellington Views – both based in Hobart, Tasmania – had a brilliant time competing in a series of fun-filled events (with winners being celebrated via a traditional medal ceremony). Most importantly, the two homes’ partnership and time together was celebrated through memorable closing ceremony, complete with great food, good music, and plenty of laughs!

Across town, St Ann’s residents also enjoyed drawing on the Olympics for some arts and craft inspiration, as they took the opportunity to decorate the home accordingly – including creating their own rings.

Our Lyrebird Village community in Drouin, Victoria, also enjoyed getting into the spirit of the Games. They opened their fortnight of Olympic-themed activity with a historic ceremony, which featured beloved residents Iris and Alex lighting the flame (complete with costume inspiration directly from Ancient Greece!).  

Across the state, residents at Costa House and Tongala Memorial also enjoyed flexing their competitive muscles, participating in unique sporting events such as: sprinting via the use of soft toys on strings, potato peeling, stacking cups, and egg and spoon racing.

Pictured above: Our DTC clients and Derwent Views embracing the excitement.

Clients of our Day Therapy Centre in Launceston also joined in on the fun. Over a memorable two weeks, our close-knit community held their very own unique games, inviting all ‘participating athletes’ to showcase their skills in table tennis, badminton, bowls, and hoop throwing. Clients then closed out their games with a fitting ceremony – the perfect opportunity to honour their esteemed medallists for 2024!

A big thank you to all our staff who went above and beyond to organise events and activities for our residents, clients, and communities!