Military quilts form a new tradition at Mirrabooka Aged Care
4 May 2023 in Residential Aged Care
Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services at MYVISTA’s Mirrabooka Residential Aged Care Facility will now have their own special backdrop thanks to the donation of a set of striking military quilts by a resident’s wife.
Since MYVISTA opened its residential aged care facility in Mirrabooka in 2020, Janet Collins has been bringing in handmade quilts with the words ‘Lest we forget’ on them to use as a backdrop for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services held there. Janet’s husband Brian came into care at MYVISTA Mirrabooka not long after it first opened and as Brian served in the Royal Navy as a young man, services commemorating these days are important to them both.
This year Janet, who owns a quilt shop and is a renowned patchwork and quilting designer and teacher, decided the time had come for MYVISTA Mirrabooka to have its own quilts and so she has made a set of four smaller quilts that depict the three divisions of the Australian Defence Forces - Army, Navy and Airforce - and as well as the Vietnam War.
The quilts were used in the Anzac Day service held by residents there this year. “When I spent Anzac Day with Brian I noticed some residents wipe their eyes and obviously feel quite emotional during the service,” Janet said.
“Anzac Day brings back memories for a lot of people and I’m happy to be able to provide the quilts to help make the ceremonies feel more personal to them”.
Although Janet would be pleased to see displaying the quilts become a tradition at Mirrabooka she also hopes they can be passed around touched and held by the residents there. “They are actually very robust and can be safely washed in the industrial washer and dryer in the laundry there.
“I hope they can also be used for resident reminiscing sessions and as conversation starters as well,” Janet said.
Facility Manager Sarah Saeedi said the quilts would help staff to create an appropriate setting for the ceremonies. “It’s lovely to have these pieces that have been created by someone with a personal connection to us. And as a new facility it’s wonderful to see traditions like this begin to emerge.”
“It’s interesting to see the different services represented in the quilts and it will no doubt help those residents who have an association with the services reflect and remember their own time in the military or that of a loved one. We very much appreciate Janet’s gift to us all,” Sarah said.
