
JUDY McClelland has made a difference to countless lives working as an aged care diversional therapist.
“It’s been a real privilege,” she said.
“I just hope I’ve made a difference.”
The endorsement of Kerang District Health district services nurse unit manager, Sue Gray and the applause and some degree of emotion amongst clients at the health service’s W.D. Thomas Activity Centre was confirmation that Mrs McClelland had indeed enhanced the lives of those people she has supported over the past 11 and a half years as activities co-ordinator at the centre.
Mrs McClelland was guest at an afternoon tea on her last day of work before commencing retirement.
She previously worked at the nearby Northaven hostel for the aged, first as a patient care attender and later as a diversional therapist.
“I have loved the clients coming together to have fun, to support each other and to make friends,” she said.
“It’s a mixture of physical and social therapy, to make them positively feel better.”
Mrs Gray said that she had the privilege of working with Mrs McClelland at both Northaven and Kerang District Health.
“You have done a fantastic job helping many people. We will miss you and so will they,” she said.