The Governor of South Australia and State Patron of Ryder-Cheshire, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, called in to meet residents and view facilities at the Mount Gambier Homes in December.
It was one of only a few stops on the itinerary for her first official visit to SA’s South East after being sworn in as Governor in October.
The Mayor of Mount Gambier, Lynette Martin, accompanied Ms Adamson on her visit to the Homes, where they received a COVID Safe welcome from Matthew Dixon, President of the Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Foundation Board.
Board members Neville Gilbertson, Peter Telford and Stuart Stansfield also welcomed the guests, along with residents of Ryder and Cheshire, and staff from service provider HomeCare+.
Discussions during the visit touched on the goal of securing City Council land for a possible third complex, and the intention to upgrade the kitchen in the Ryder home which opened in 2006.
Cheshire Home resident Kevin (‘KC’) took pride in showing the visitors the raised planting beds used for growing vegetables, while fellow resident David showed them the home’s photo-board.
At the Ryder Home, the Governor met Bernadette, a resident who was celebrating her birthday. Bernadette had baked a chocolate birthday cake that Ms Adamson and the other guests enjoyed sampling.
It was the second time in a matter of weeks that Neville had met Ms Adamson, who presented him with his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) at Government House in early November.
Neville was awarded the Queen’s Birthday Honour for his service to the community of Mount Gambier, and in particular his contribution to Ryder-Cheshire.
Stuart Stansfield