For Immediate Release
One big hearted lady sees a big future for Signing Choir
While ageing brings its own unique set of challenges, 84 year old Veronica Rogers has put hers
aside in a determined quest to afford every opportunity to a group of gifted and determined
youngsters at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC).
In 2003, Veronica was the first resident at Bupa Dural and has enthusiastically used her
organisation skills and long time friendships with residents and staff to raise $2,700 to assist the
RIDBC’s signing choir who are frequent visitors to thehave performed at the facility a number of
times.
The All members of the signing choir are students of RIDBC and are between five and sixteen
years of age. These students are profoundly Deaf and communicate using Australian Sign
Language (Auslan). With the assistance of a Teacher/Choirmaster the choir performs in Auslan
and brings a unique interpretation to each song.
choir performs in Auslan and brings a unique interpretation to each song and are very popular
with the residents. One of the key aims of the The choir group is to gives the students an
opportunity to learn about and experience the enjoyment, team work and techniques needed for
a choirchoir.
Sandra McKenny, General Manager at Bupa Dural says that she thinks Veronica’s efforts have
been inspiring both for staff and the choir members.
“Veronica has very limited mobility these days and yet she has coordinated staff to arrange
raffle prizes and then sat every day in the foyer selling tickets and encouraged residents to get
involved too. She takes a keen interest in their successes and we believe she wonderfully
represents how passionate one generation can be about the opportunities for another. All of us
adore Veronica and are very proud of her fundraising efforts.”
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*Photo attached*
Photo caption: Veronica, a resident from Bupa Care Dural hands over a cheque for $2,700 to
students at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.
For more information please contact
Lynette Dragic
Bupa Dural
1 Stonelea Court
Dural NSW 2158
Phone: 02 9653 9600
About Bupa Care Services
Bupa Care Services is a leading operator of residential aged care facilities in Australia. We are part
of the global health and care company, Bupa, which operates in 195 countries, all of who share
the same commitment to help our customers’ live longer, healthier and happier lives.
As a specialist provider of aged care services, our focus is on treating our residents as individuals
and we offer a mix of low and high care, including specialist dementia and palliative care.
We seek to provide a better life for our residents by truly valuing the individual through a person
centred approach to care. Our extensive experience and comprehensive support ensures peace of
mind for our customers and their families.
Bupa has no shareholders. We reinvest our money to provide better healthcare for our
customers, helping them to live longer, happier, healthier lives.
About RIDBC
Around 90 per cent of children with hearing impairment enrolled on the Royal Institute for Deaf
and Blind Children’s services are learning to communicate through aided hearing and speech.
The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children also provides programs to a much smaller
number of children who communicate through Australian Sign Language (Auslan).One of the
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children’s many services, The RIDBC Thomas Pattison
School provides a specialist educational program for students from Kindergarten to Year 10
who are Deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan)Auslan as their first or preferred
language.
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The School’s educational curriculum is much the same as in mainstream schools – it follows the
NSW Board of Studies Curriculum – but in addition, also places a greater emphasis on
language and literacy development. These are two areas which are the biggest challenge for
children who are Deaf.
Through partnerships with the community and other local schools, the RIDBC Thomas Pattison
School ensures that the students are equipped with the skills they need to achieve success in
the community and workplace post school.
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