Margaret’s feeling fortunate at Providence

30 March 2021

30 Mar 2021

Margaret loves being able to wake up and look out at the trees and the birds, from her second-story room at Providence Aged Care Residence, in Bacchus Marsh.

“It’s great, the birds wake me up in the morning. Sometimes I also hear the train, so I know it’s 7am!”

Margaret has been living at Providence for nearly two years, and says that the staff look after her very well.

Before coming to Providence, she was living at home alone.

“I was living in Deer Park for 60 years, but when my husband died I decided to move house. I then unfortunately had a fall, and then the arthritis set in.

“After a year or so I moved in here. I needed some more help. I have two nieces, but no children to help look after me, so it was the best thing to do.”

Margaret still goes out and about, with her nieces picking her up and dropping her off for lunch with her old friend, and neighbours. She then picks up some things she needs from the shops, before coming back home.

Margaret keeps herself busy; she goes to bingo two or three times a week, or she relaxes in her room with a few plays she picks up from the mobile library, while listening to Scottish music, to remind her of home.

“I came to Australia from Scotland in 1952. I wanted to see the world.

“I was in my 20s and I planned to only stay for two years, but I loved it so much that I stayed much longer!”

After leaving school during the war, Margaret had a career in machining, making dresses, pyjamas, and children’s wear. This was a career she kept up when she moved to Melbourne, when she went to work for Flinders Lane Clothing.

She also met her husband in Australia, who was a marine engineer with the navy.

“We met through a friend. We started writing to each other and that was it. He also had a lovely hobby, he was a painter. I have his paintings here in my room with me.”

Margaret, who is now 91 says she is very fortunate.

“I might not be able to move around very well, but I am very fortunate because I still have very good hearing and sight. Overall, I have no complaints!”

Want to find out more?

For more information about Providence Aged Care Residence, Bacchus Marsh, visit our website or call us on 1300 698 624.

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We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.