Holmwood Aged Care in June 2026: music, a winter escape and a well-earned celebration

June at Holmwood Aged Care in Healesville was a month of warm moments in the middle of a cold Yarra Valley winter. From music filling the lounge to a chocolate-fuelled outing through the hills, there was plenty to smile about and one very deserving team member to celebrate.

A Patsy Cline singalong that stopped everyone in their tracks

Mid-month, Steph brought her guitar and a repertoire of classics that had residents singing along before the first verse was out. A little Patsy Cline has that effect.

Music has a remarkable way of reaching people – stirring up memories, lifting moods, and drawing a crowd without any formal invitation. This session was no exception. The lounge was full, the voices were loud (in the best way), and the afternoon passed in a blur of familiar tunes.

It is the kind of moment that is hard to plan and impossible to replicate, which is exactly what makes it so special.

Winter retail therapy in Yarra Glen

On a crisp June afternoon, a group of ladies swapped the warmth of Holmwood for a road trip through some of the most familiar country in the region – their own backyard.

The destination was The Chocolaterie in Yarra Glen, a fitting choice for a winter outing that called for something indulgent. There was chocolate, there was ice cream, and there was a great deal of contented sighing.

The drive itself became its own kind of entertainment. Passing through Healesville and Yarra Glen, residents reflected on just how much the towns have changed over 40-plus years of calling this part of Victoria home. The conversations that came out of that drive – the landmarks remembered, the businesses that came and went, the way the valley has grown – were as rich as anything on the menu.

And keeping with the spirit of the occasion, Ben from admin (formerly of the lifestyle team) was quietly recruited for the afternoon escape. Old times, as they say.

June Employee of the Month: Gus

At the end of the month, it was time to recognise one of Holmwood’s own.

Gus, a Registered Nurse who has become a familiar and trusted presence at Holmwood Aged Care, was awarded the June Employee of the Month. What made this recognition particularly meaningful was how it came about – nominated by peers, residents and visitors alike, it was a unanimous verdict long before it was official.

The qualities that earn that kind of recognition across such different groups are not easy to define, but everyone at Holmwood knows them when they see them. Congratulations, Gus. It is thoroughly well deserved.

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For over 40 years, Holmwood has supported older Australians with compassionate, 24/7 care in the heart of the Yarra Valley.

To arrange a personal tour or speak with our team about care options, contact us today.