Zoe Bendeli, a resident of the Elizabeth Lodge, celebrated her 102nd birthday recently.
Zoe was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on July 30, 1919. She grew up with two brothers and a sister, working at the Ford Motor company in Alexandria, where she met her future husband, Eli Bendeli. They married in 1944 and had two children, Alexander and Nicholas. Zoe was very much self-educated, and speaks five languages, but she saw herself firstly as a mother, something she did full time, and described by her children a “wonderful mother.”
Together they emigrated in 1964, arriving in Sydney, where she worked in a factory before joining the NSW Lands Department. Beginning as typist, she soon became proficient in operating a novel typing machine called a Varityper, preparing site names and text for government maps.
In retirement, she became an avid traveler, visiting Europe, and the USA and Canada. Meanwhile her children married, producing three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Husband Eli passed away in 2006.
At age 87, Zoe finally moved into one of out independent living aged care units. Being fiercely independent, she continued to go shopping aboard the community coach, attended the various village activities and events, excelling at crossword and trivia competitions. With the passing of time, some signs of dementia began to show, but fortunately remained stable over the years, such that Zoe was still able to take walks around the facility, enjoy the morning teas and lunches, and carryon conversation, often recalling the many events of her past.
Zoe eventually moved into our higher care residence, where she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends, inundated by mail from local dignitaries including a handwritten note of congratulations from the Queen.
And now she is reached 102 years young; she is the oldest resident in the facility, and always thankful to God for her every day of life. How did she manage it? “Eat well, take a lot of vitamin C, and get to bed early!”
Zoe’s life story is an interesting one, and to make it to 102 is no mean achievement, especially in these times of present danger to the lives of our aged family.
We at Adventist Aged Care have had no fatalities from COVID. For me, as the managing director, I see the hand of God in this. I can only thank Him for His protection of our staff and residents.
Some 85 per cent of our residents are now fully vaccinated, the remainder declining altogether. For staff, 100 per cent have been vaccinated – something that was achieved by September 17, 2021 deadline for all aged care workers in New South Wales. They are a hard-working team—some work as much as 50 hours a week—bearing the brunt of the lockdown and going a second mile to provide for the mental and physical wellbeing of those in their care. I am proud of them. I am also gratified by the large number of messages and letters of appreciation we continue to receive from the families of those we care for.
—Brian Swanepoel, managing director, Adventist Aged Care (Sydney)
