Volunteer Spotlight: Louise Godwin and her cello

Our Baptcare volunteers are amazing and it is always wonderful to have the chance to get to know them and learn a little about why they volunteer with Baptcare.

Louise, a relatively new volunteer at Baptcare Karana Residential Aged Care community, tells us all about her musical talents and why she volunteers her time twice a week to play cello for the residents.

How long have you been volunteering at Baptcare Karana Community? How did you start?

I was preparing for a gig at Hastings and had been practising in my mum’s room. My mother has lived at Karana Community since November 2022.

Helen Rebello (RCSM at Karana) stopped me in the foyer and asked what I was doing with my cello. It had been playing on my mind; the incongruence of playing a gig at another aged care community and not at my mother’s at Karana.

Some months earlier, on a public holiday when things were a bit quiet, I was playing for my mother in one of the communal spaces, and some residents and their families wandered in. We ended up having a lovely time, sharing songs and singing together.

These two small moments drove me to explore volunteering opportunities at Karana. I spoke to Helen and she mentioned that Karana was planning more activities for people who are experiencing social isolation. So, this led to me volunteer at Karana on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Volunteering is linked to the work I do as well. I work as a researcher exploring music as social action. At the time I applied to volunteer at Karana, I had been reading about the work of a team of Norwegian researchers who were using participatory music-making as a way to improve the care and quality of life of people living in hospitals and other care facilities. So, this research provided extra motivation to explore the use of music to initiate activities with people who are experiencing social isolation, whether through choice or other factors.

What does a typical music session look like for you when you go to volunteer at Karana?

On Mondays I play music upstairs and on Tuesday, I am downstairs. When I started volunteering, members of the Lifestyle Team offered me guidance and recommended particular people I should visit. Now, I find that it’s a process of being open: people have a way of letting me know that they would like me to visit and play music with them.

I make music with residents in small groups and also visit people in their rooms. It feels like a very personal thing to step into a person’s room. It is their home, so I am very careful to find ways to make sure that they consent to my visit.

I’m slowly building relationships with residents and now have a beautiful little routine when I visit.

On Mondays, there is a room upstairs at the back, where a small group of residents are always sitting. I have learnt what each person loves to hear. One loves Bach. Another loves to sing hymns. One lady just enjoys listening. And another always appears when she hears the cello, and her face lights up when I play ‘Morning Has Broken.’

I then visit people in their rooms, and usually end up in the upstairs dining room, often singing with both residents and carers!

The Tuesday routine is a little bit different. I start in the back dining room and play songs or hymns that I know each resident loves. ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ brings a look of joy to one person. ‘Frere Jacques’ causes another to sing aloud in French. And for another, we both endeavour to remember the words to ‘Abide with Me’ or another hymn. And then I visit people in their rooms.

My approach to learning what each person likes involves having a small (but growing) repertoire of songs. These are a mix of old popular songs, folk songs, and hymns. As I’m getting to know the person, I will play these songs, and it becomes clear very quickly which songs resonate and bring them joy. I also take suggestions from staff and family members if I have the chance to meet them. I often say that I’m helping individuals to create their own personal playlist!

What do you enjoy most about it?

I really enjoy getting to know the residents and building relationships with them.

Volunteering at Karana with my cello is just the most remarkable and meaningful thing I’ve ever done with music.

Music is a powerful catalyst for connection and communication no matter what your ability to communicate is.

One resident can’t tell me what he likes to hear with words, but I found that when I play low notes on the cello, he will sing along. The expression in his voice when he makes these low sounds along with my cello is so joyful! In talking to members of staff and his wife, I have learned that he loves music and particularly loves hymns, which has guided me further with what I can play for him.

I have a sheer sweet pleasure and appreciation that residents are able to communicate with me through music.

Some residents have a beautiful way of showing this too. For example, whenever I play ‘The Ash Grove,’ an English folk song, one resident gestures and conducts whilst I’m playing.

How did you start playing the cello? Have you always been involved in music?

I started playing the cello when I was eight years old. My father took me to see a famous French cellist called Andre Navarra. After the concert, I said to my dad “I want to play that (the cello).”

I studied music at university and did some freelance work for a time. I eventually moved into arts administration and arts management. I have also worked in disability advocacy.

I used to play with a local Scottish folk music group for a while, The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, which I really enjoyed. I now perform regularly with my duo, Big Fiddle Little Fiddle!

Could you share with us a particularly special memory of your time volunteering at Karana?

Through building relationships, you find out what people like and about their history. It’s a process of discovery – on their terms, always. I’m always guided by the residents.

A resident I visit every week turned 100 recently. Her daughters had shared with me a song that  she loved to sing with her sister when they were young. They sang it all the time and it felt embedded in her everyday life. We sing it together every week when I visit but singing it with her on her 100^th birthday is a very special memory for me.

Any other final thoughts?

I’ve been a part of the Karana community for over two years as my mum is a resident. I find the residents, staff and volunteers to be the most remarkable bunch of people who have created a real community at Karana. The way they‘ve understood and accepted my mother is wonderful. The generosity and understanding that people give to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and safe at Karana is fantastic and so important for residents to remain connected to the world. To be able to give back to this wonderful community by playing for the residents gives me an immense sense of gratitude.

To find out more about Baptcare Karana Residential Aged Care community click below:

Kew – Karana