One of the first things you notice about Vince is his easy smile and twinkly eyes. He is obviously a real people-person.
“Vince is a classic,” says Hannah Horsley, Retirement Living Manager at the Orchards. “He brings a lot of fun and joy into the community, joking around with the residents and always making them laugh.
“Nothing is too much trouble with Vince. He has a heart of gold and is a very valuable and treasured member of our team.”
We asked Vince about his eight-year career.
What is your current role and what does it involve day to day?
My current role is bus driver/activities person/maintenance. My day involves lots of things such as taking residents from either the Residential Aged Community (RAC) or Retirement Living (RL) on outings or shopping, playing a game of quoits with the residents in the RAC (which they thoroughly enjoy!) and helping with lunches. Of late I have also been helping out in the RL maintenance space, which has been a great change of scenery for me, and I love working with the RL team.
What do you like about working with Baptcare?
I enjoy seeing the look of happiness on residents faces when we go out on bus trips and knowing that I bring a lot of joy to them, especially when we go out for lunch.
Can you share a particularly special workday/customer interaction you’ve had recently?
Every time I take residents out from the RAC on a bus trip, they have been so thankful and appreciative that they are going out. It’s so rewarding to see their happy faces and how thankful the residents’ families are seeing their loved ones go out.
There’s a saying that if you want to get a teenager to chat, put them in a car and drive! That the movement and the lack of eye contact encourages relaxation. Do you notice anything about the mood of the residents when they get in the bus?
The residents are so happy and reminisce about their childhoods and where they used to live, it encourages a lot of conversation about how much things have changed and talking about the places they used to holiday with their families.
How did you start working in Aged Care/Retirement Living?
One day when I was visiting my mother-in-law, Hannah (Horsley Retirement Living Manager, The Orchards) asked me whether I would like to fill in as a bus driver until Hannah could find someone more permanent. Hannah promised it would only be for a couple of weeks and mind you I already had two other jobs! Somehow it is now nearly eight years later and every time I see Hannah, I ask her “Have you found someone to drive the bus yet?”
How do you find having your mother-in-law in your workplace?
She is pretty easy going, all I have to do is take her to any op shop and I become her favourite son in law!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a plumber and now I help my son who is a plumber which gives me a lot of joy.
Can you tell us two surprising things about yourself?
I came to Australia from Italy at five years old and couldn’t speak a word of English and I am one of nine children.
What do you like to watch in your spare time?
I don’t watch the news or read the paper, to me it is all bad news. I do enjoy a good action film.
What’s your favourite action movie?
The Godfather 1 and 2
Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?
We try to do the best in our lives, however in the end “what will be will be.”
How would your friends describe you?
Funny, never to take me too seriously and very loyal.
If you could sit next to someone at a dinner party, who would it be and why?
I would love to sit next to Mick Jagger and the other members of the Rolling Stones.
What’s your favourite Rolling Stones song and what would you ask them?
Song – ‘Start me up.’ I’d like to ask Mick if Tina Turner taught him how to dance.
Thanks to Vince for ‘starting up’ so much fun and warmth in our community. We’re so grateful Hannah discovered you all those years ago.
If you’d like to learn more about Baptcare’s retirement living communities, please visit https://theorchardsliving.com.au or call 0439 410 207.
To read more about The Orchards Residential Aged Care community please visit https://www.baptcare.org.au/services/aged-care-homes/residential-aged-care-homes/baptcare-the-orchards-community
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