Cadets connect with retirees

Woodbourne-based cadets recently took time out to deliver roses and chat with retirees at a retirement village in Blenheim. Four of the New Zealand Air Force’s Trade Training Squadron - Aircraftmen Jonathan Felicite, Harry Gibson, Christian Greenway and Kristie Goodsir - visited the residents of Bethsaida Retirement Village for lunch on Saturday May 3.

The cadets came armed with a rose for each of the 57 residents and took the time to speak with each one during a tour through the village. 102-year-old Bethsaida resident Margaret Knowles and Village Manager Kyla Hurley agreed that the visit came as a “lovely surprise from some charming young people”.

“Each of the visiting cadets made everyone in the room feel important giving the roses and having a chat”, said Margaret. “I was a young woman in the 1940s finishing school in Christchurch, having no men around aside from dances for the troops throughout the war and so while it’s a different world now it’s lovely to know there’s lovely men and women being trained out at Woodbourne.

“They were very gallant and charming, giving out the roses and spending some time with us.” Having special guests came as a Saturday surprise to all at the Blenheim retirement village, aside from Kyla. “They contacted me, but I didn’t tell any of the residents or staff they were coming so we arranged it for half past 11, as people come down for lunch, so the majority of our residents were in one place”, she added.

“Afterwards [the cadets] told me they found it very humbling, especially as two of them were just 19-years-of-age, meeting and sharing stories with older people.
“We were very excited and honoured  ... having them turn up with pressed pants and shined shoes on their own time for our residents was fabulous - they’re more than welcome back.”

The cadets also took a lot out of their visit. “We were inspired by social media videos of random acts of kindness, one of which was delivering flowers to rest homes, which I felt was something lovely we could also do”, said organiser Aircraftman Jonathan Felicite. “It was so worthwhile to see all the smiles we put on people’s faces. “Residents told me it was formerly a hospital so there were some people who were born here and are now spending retirement years here, so for me it was interesting to speak to that cycle of life.

“It was really grounding to see the reactions of the residents being so receptive for us to tell our stories, and grateful to tell their stories to us”, said Aircraftman Christian Greenway. “They were so good to us, one of the ladies offered to split her lunch with me and I had to insist I was alright. “It was a positive experience for us to get into our local community with a little ‘hearts and minds’ time ... people of that age might feel forgotten by young people so making the connections we did has left a great impact on each of us,” added Christian.