Category: Uncategorized

Dear Residents

We want to reassure you that while there is currently a bushfire impacting the Redhead region, our Retirement Village remains safe. We are working closely with the SES and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Due to significant smoke from the fires, we are advising residents to stay inside with the doors closed until the situation improves.

If you have any concerns, you can contact:

• Laurelle Lawson 0412 411 325
• Melanie Lawton 0429 912 017
• Michael Monteleone 0428 494 754

In the event of an emergency, please call the SES on 131 500 or 000.

Please stay safe and continue to monitor alerts in the area. We will be in touch with you directly if the situation changes.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

We are pleased to inform you that the COVID-19/ARI outbreak in Whiddon Belmont (Moonyah level 1 and Block 3 rooms) has been officially declared over.

Normal visiting arrangements will remain in place. If you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms, we ask you to please refrain from visiting the home. The health of our residents and employees is our utmost priority.

Thank you to all who assisted in the management of the outbreak and to our residents and families for their patience and understanding.

Kind Regards,
– Whiddon

Dear Families, Friends and Representatives,

We would like to inform you about a technical issue that has recently been identified regarding the TV/Foxtel outage in our EPU home. Our team is working as quickly as possible to resolve this.

To fix the problem, a technician will need to check all TVs in the home, visiting each room individually. We plan to start these checks as soon as we can arrange for the technician to be on site. A Whiddon team member will accompany the technician during the process.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you or your loved one. Please rest assured that resolving this matter is a priority, and we’re doing everything we can to address it promptly.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Regards,
Cheryl Standring
Residential Services Manager – EPU

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Please be advised that we currently have 3 confirmed cases of Influenza A at our Whiddon Easton Park – Arthur Webb Court home. Two affected residents are located on Level 1, and one resident is located in the Level 2 Pink Area.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents, we respectfully request that all visitors and family members adhere to the facility’s recommendation to wear a mask while inside the premises. This precaution is essential in helping to prevent cross-transmission.

If you are unwell or have any flu-like symptoms, please do not visit the home.  

We thank everyone for their support and commitment to resident and employee safety.

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Please be advised that we currently have confirmed positive Covid and Rhinovirus cases at Whiddon Belmont – Downstairs Moonyah (Level 1) and some residents in Block 3.

To assist in controlling the outbreak, we strongly encourage you to delay your visit where possible to protect your own wellbeing and to avoid any further potential spread.

Please note:

• Visiting may still occur during this period.
• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) required by all employees and visitors prior to entry.
  • N95 Masks are to be worn while in outbreak declared area [Moonyah Downstairs Level 1]
  • Full PPE is required if you are visiting a loved one who has Covid.
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitising stations are available throughout the care home.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible. Visits should be conducted in resident rooms or on balconies.

• All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms. The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our staff manage this outbreak.

Whiddon Belmont Team

Dear Team,

This is the week we’ve all been working towards – a major milestone for our site and for the organisation! On Thursday, 20th November, we officially go live with Clinical Manager.
The Project Team will be onsite all week to provide hands-on support as you begin using the new system in daily practice.

This is an exciting step forward, and your hard work, patience, and commitment throughout the preparation and training phases have been exceptional. Thank you for embracing the change, sharing feedback, and supporting one another.

Let’s celebrate this achievement together! It’s a big moment, and it wouldn’t have been possible without each of you. We’re confident that this transformation will help us deliver even better care and continue making a positive difference for our residents.

Dear consumers, families, and carers,

This Thursday, Whiddon Maclean Mareeba will officially begin using the new Clinical Manager system. This is an exciting milestone that will help us deliver care in a more consistent and efficient way.

You may see staff using the system on tablets or computers, but please be assured that your care will continue as usual. The new system is designed to help our team look after you even better.

Thank you for your patience and support as we move to this new way of working.

Note – Please do not reply to this message, as the inbox is not monitored. If you have any questions, please contact your RSM.

Dear Residents and Families,

We’d like to let you know about some important upgrade works happening at our home this week. These improvements will help ensure comfort and safety for everyone.

1. Air Conditioning Upgrade

Our air conditioning system is being fully upgraded.

• Today: Technicians from MEFP are disconnecting units and removing ductwork in the plant room.
• Wednesday 13/11: Work continues on removing old units. Builders will also install temporary roof anchors and start removing cowlings.
• Thursday 14/11: A large crane will be onsite for most of the day to remove old units and install the new system. The crane will be positioned on the McLachlan Street side of the Home, and there will be a restricted access zone for safety (see picture below).
• Friday 14 – Sunday 16/11: Technicians will complete installation and testing.

2. Nurse Call System Replacement

• We’ve engaged AceTek to replace our Nurse Call Alert system
• This upgrade will take about 4 weeks
• Technicians will run cabling through the western end of the home and access each resident room for installation and testing
• We’ll ensure we keep any disruption to a minimum

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete these important upgrades. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us or visit the front desk.

The Mareeba Team

Note:
The restricted zone indicated below will be managed on site for the duration of the crane lift.

Dear Families, Friends and Representatives,

We would like to inform you that Origin Energy has scheduled a planned power outage on Sunday, 9th November 2025, between 10:30am and 2:00pm.

During this time, our generator will be operating to support essential services only. Please be assured that this will not affect the standard of care provided to our residents. Our team members are well-prepared and will continue to deliver safe and compassionate care throughout the outage.

Please note:

• Lifts will be out of service during the outage period.
• Our main phone line may be harder to reach, as it will be diverted to our emergency phone. We appreciate your patience and understanding if there are any delays in communication.

We want to reassure you that the wellbeing and safety of our residents remains our highest priority. If you have any questions or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us before the scheduled outage.

Warm regards,
Christine Marando
Residential Services Manager