Bonnie Castle celebrated her 104th birthday this week with a taste of Paris thanks to the team at Bass Coast Health’s Griffiths Point Lodge residential care facility.
The Lifestyle team at Griffiths Point Lodge arranges activities for residents and they’re helping them to fulfill dreams from their ‘bucket lists’.
Bonnie had always wanted to go to Paris but never had the opportunity to do so and that’s why the Lifestyle team brought Paris to Bonnie.
To celebrate Bonnie’s 104th birthday on Saturday 5 August, the team threw her a French-themed birthday party last Wednesday. To create a beautiful Paris setting, the room was decorated with sheer drapes and fairy lights, a chandelier and a table setting of ivy, flowers and more fairy lights.
Bonnie’s friend and co-resident, Betty Pescud, made an incredible papier-mache Eiffel Tower.
Bonnie found it difficult to talk through her tears as she took it all in.
“This is so special. I can’t thank you enough. I can’t believe you went to all this trouble for me,” she said.
Staff cooked French cuisine and during the party everyone played games, learned fun facts about Paris and the year 1919 (Bonnie’s birth year), listened to French singer Edith Piaf, drank Champagne and dined on French cuisine, including a high tea style dessert of Profiteroles, Macaroons, Crème Brulee and birthday cake.
The Lifestyle team of Natasha Stapleton and Donna Dalton have been working with other residents to bring their dreams to fruition – or as close as possible – too.