Millions of Reasons to Care – Grandcarers Lunch 2025
Vitality and energy permeated the Ballina Masonic Hall as grandcarers filed into our regular meeting venue, now transformed by flowers from Hartley’s Fresh Market, and drawings and paintings created by children from the three Blue Sky preschools, which were gifted to the grandcarers as their part of the celebration. Talented solo guitarist Paul Bioletti amplified the energy.
Once welcomed, the grandcarer surprise materialised with dance teacher Yvette Connors, who beckoned all to a Nia dance session. Nia’s inspired choreography incorporates Tai-Chi, Martial Arts, Yoga and Dance. As the wall-length velvet blue curtains were pulled back to reveal a wall of mirrors, all in the room joined in the fun. For 45 minutes, all were reminded how much they loved to dance and move, remembering when dancing was part of their lives. Yvette brilliantly curated a wide range of musical styles, leading to moving, enjoying and constantly smiling dancers.
As the dancers finished, and made their way to their seats, cheering, the irrepressible comedian Mandy Nolan took to the mic and smiles turned to uproarious laughter. Simultaneously, Blue Sky staff served a sumptuous lunch, funded by Carers NSW and prepared by Ballina’s The Kitchen Cafe.
Lunch was a noisy affair, as grandcarers new to the group joined in with conversations already familiar to others. Gifts donated and gift-wrapped by Bunnings were later presented to the grandcarers, who valued this community expression of support for their roles in shaping our future communities. An unexpected gift was a takeaway dinner from The Kitchen Cafe for each of the grandcarers to enjoy at home.
The day was once again brilliantly captured in photos and videos by Kenny McIlwain. We thank all who donated goods and time to create this unique celebration.
The grandcarers’ lunch celebration recognises that grandcarers are professional altruists, who nurture selflessly. Grandcarers do not aspire to become wealthy by raising grandchildren. Grandcarers know that raising grandchildren will change their lives, and that it may even mean they need to uproot their current life. Grandcarers know that this time around they will need to parent differently, so they seek learning, and practise trauma-informed parenting of these precious children. The grandcarers in the room vibrate with the quality of forbearance, and exhibit bravery. We pay homage to these grandcarers who walk among us and stand so tall as they work every day towards their vision of helping their grandchildren reach their potential.
If we are lucky, we may have met one truly altruistic person in our lifetime. Those of us in the room at the grandcarers’ lunch had the privilege of being in a room where the majority group is made up of altruists. This was a truly rare event, forever to be remembered, and we say thank you.