The residents across our villages have the most remarkable life stories to share.
One such extraordinary story is of Barbara. From her early years in a prisoners of war camp in Hong Kong to living a quiet and peaceful retirement life at Keperra Sanctuary, her story is one of resilience, strength and adaptability.
It all began with an inspired idea from Assistant Village Manager, Zahee, who initiated "On the Sofa with Zee." This platform provides residents with the opportunity to share their life stories in a relaxed and intimate setting. Through these 45-minute interview sessions, the village staff connect with residents, honouring their generation’s experiences and bringing the community closer together.
Childhood memories and camp life
As the interview started, Barbara says, “My father was a British doctor at a Chinese hospital and the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in World War II. The Japanese bombed Hong Kong the same day they bombed Pearl Harbour. My mother was heavily pregnant with me when she and my dad were taken as prisoners of war and my mother got special permission to be taken out of the camp to a Chinese doctor to give birth to me."
4 years later, Barbara recalls the poignant moment when a truck took her and her mother to reunite them with her sick father. Life was tough in the camp. They mostly ate rice, but it wasn’t always clean. Barbara says “We kids had to sift through it to remove things like cigarette butts, rat droppings and cockroaches. Sometimes we even caught and ate cockroaches because they were high in protein.” She goes on, “The men in the camp would fish every day, which gave us some variety in our diet. To make sure we got enough calcium, the mums crushed up fish bones and mixed them into the rice.”
Yet, amidst the challenges, Barbara learned enduring lessons of adaptability.
“We kids had to sift through it to remove things like cigarette butts, rat droppings and cockroaches. Sometimes we even caught and ate cockroaches because they were high in protein.”
Journey to Australia
When the War ended, they were made to board the ship, Empress of Australia, to sail from Hong Kong to Singapore. Barbara and her mother were informed that due to her father's tuberculosis (who was in Hong Kong at that time), the doctors had advised her father needed to live in a warmer climate due to health issues derived from war injuries and organ issues. They were redirected to Australia instead of their home country, Great Britain.
When they arrived in Sydney, they were quarantined near Manly, and the Red Cross took them to Mark Foy’s department stores to buy clothes and shoes. Barbara fondly recalls, “That’s where I got my first pair of shoes and pyjamas. After quarantine, we were billeted to a family in Albury. We stayed with them until my father arrived 18 months later, but then he was placed in rehab and after that when he was well enough, we were put in a flat in Bondi, and that's where I started school marking a new chapter in my life.”
She says, “My life in Australia has been wonderful. I worked for the ABC in my younger years and my boss was Charles Buttrose who is the father of Ita Buttrose.” However, she lost her husband when her children were still in primary school, so she raised them on her own, but always had a great attitude and is thankful for her blessings. She has also been to Britain a few times after to reconnect with her family.
“My life in Australia has been wonderful. I worked for the ABC in my younger years and my boss was Charles Buttrose who is the father of Ita Buttrose.”
Benefits of retirement living
Fast forward 64 years later, Barbara’s transition Sydney to the Gap in Brisbane in the tranquil home of Keperra Sanctuary has been filled with hope and opportunity.
Reflecting on her decision to move to a retirement home, she speaks of the convenience and comfort she found here, “I found it hard packing from my unit and coming here and had to downsize and get only limited luggage with me. I felt I had to come because I had a fall at the other place and realised that nobody would have known I had fallen. I looked at many retirement villages that had two or three storey buildings that gave me the feeling of being in a hotel and I didn't fancy walking upstairs and the corridors. Keperra Sanctuary felt more homely rather than a hotel environment.”
The convenience to local shopping and medical, friendly and helpful staff, easy access to exercises and other programs are some of the standout benefits for Barbara ever since her move 6 years ago. Ask her what advice she would give to someone considering retirement living, she says, “Number one, say to yourself, how will I be placed when I can no longer drive? Check proximity to shops and medical. Go through the title deed and see how you are placed when the time comes to leave. Ask lots of questions and understand the fees and rates.”
The convenience to local shopping and medical, friendly and helpful staff, easy access to exercises and other programs are some of the standout benefits for Barbara
Learn more about Keperra Sanctuary.
For more information about the lifestyle and support offered at our retirement villages, call our customer service team on 1800 550 550 or send us an email here.
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