Cockatoo Island in Sydney visit evokes special memories for aged care residents
Residential aged care providers do a lot more for their residents than is often perceived.
Take Not For Profit Uniting, who took residents from Wirreanda Aged Care in West Pennant Hills, 21km northeast of Sydney's CBD, on the ferry to UNESCO World Heritage listed site Cockatoo Island Wareamah.
For most residents, it was a chance to soak up the autumn sunshine and find out about the Island’s history. For a special few from Uniting Wirreanda, the visit to Cockatoo Island Wareamah gave them and their families an opportunity to relive some important memories.
Generations of 96-year-old Alan Bruce’s family found work on the island. First his grandfather worked there as a blacksmith, then his father, Jock Bruce, worked as a boilermaker between 1916-21, when Alan was a small boy. Alan himself was employed as a ships’ engineer in the 1950s.
“All my uncles worked on the Island as fitters and turners, and we all lived in Balmain. So, the island was pretty central to all of our lives. I loved working there,” said Alan (pictured with daughter Janet Long).
It was only the second time Alan has been back to Cockatoo Island since he worked there more than 70 years ago.
“I have really loved coming back here and remembering special times – and not so special, like when my father fell down the hold of a ship and broke his ankle and had to be hoisted by crane out of there to get medical help.”
Reliving old memories
Colin Ellis also greatly enjoyed the visit and the chance to reminisce. He recalled the work his father, Ted Ellis, did as an engineer in the drydock during World War II.
“He had an interesting job setting machinery out in the vessels being built. He told me the pressure was immense during the war, as they had to quickly get the ships built and repaired,” said Colin.
“I took a tour with him in the 1980’s where he pointed everything out to me, he was in his element telling me lots of funny stories about what the workers got up to but he also took pains to explain they were enormously proud of the job they were doing and their contribution to Australia’s war effort.”
During World War II, more than 400 people were employed on the island with Australian, US and British ships visiting for repairs, some of them severely damaged.
Cockatoo Island has a rich history. Originally it was the site of a convict gaol between 1839 to 1869, and then became a major shipbuilding and repair facility from 1857 to 1991.
Uniting Wirreanda Service Manager Ying Zhou said the visit was enjoyed by all the residents, but particularly by those with strong bonds through their own history with the site.
