November 2002

Move brings joy to five happy house residents

Every day for the past few weeks Betty Joy Hickford has been ticking off the long days of waiting for the move to her new home in the community.

In her handbag she kept photographs of the house in East Doncaster where, for the first time, the 52-year-old would have her own bedroom and live with four other residents in a quiet home in the suburbs.

New bed linen to blend with the colours in her bedroom was bought and stored away with matching gold scatter cushions, plush new towels and a new suitcase packed and waiting.

Betty Joy had visited her new home with her sister and her case manager Paul Simpson and been on a trial run in the house’s bus to make sure that her wheelchair—needed for longer excursions—could be manoeuvred in and out comfortably.

Paul was busy planning for all the details that would make the move as smooth as possible, including negotiation for Betty Joy to be picked up from a nearby community house for transport to her day placement, saving around 90 minutes of tedious travelling time.

With the help of KRS physiotherapist Pat Paterson, a new wheelchair was ordered as well as a two-handled cup, specialised crockery and cutlery and a stable table so Betty Joy could do her crayon work.

Accompanying Betty Joy from KRS were treasured possessions—the lounge chair made for her 50th birthday, some of her own art work and an attractive gold mirror.

The weeks before the big move were a bit of a social whirl for Betty Joy as her friends among the staff and residents helped her celebrate her 52nd birthday and bid her farewell at a spit roast party.

At KRS Betty Joy shared her bedroom with five other residents, all of whom suffered epilepsy and needed attention at night.

The chance to have her own restful bedroom—where she is not be disturbed by the lights going on to tend to others—was one of the main things that made Betty Joy beam with delight when she thought about her new home.

She also mentioned that getting away from her friends’ snoring would be good!

Betty Joy is known for her impish humour.

So it is in character when she answered ‘nobody’ to a question about what she was going to miss at KRS.

She will eventually concede, though, that Deputy Unit Manager Wayne Hargreaves’ famous loud music on weekends will be missed and that some of the energy and bustle of the unit might occasionally be fondly remembered.

Libby Guy, Betty Joy’s key worker at KRS recalls her fondly.

‘She is so cheeky—such a fun loving character.’

Libby, who has worked at KRS for 22 years, recalls a younger Betty Joy as a ‘scallywag’ prone to the great escape.

‘She used to hide under Unit 24,’ Libby remembers with a smile.

‘We all used to have to do zone searches for her wearing pink helmets.’