Balmoral Grove turns into creative hub

CRAFTY residents from Grovedale’s Calvary Balmoral Grove aged care home have pooled their talents and hosted their first-ever art and craft show.

The event on Friday last week featured a gallery display of selected artworks including stencilled wooden home decor items, seasoned salts, knitted items and trinket bowls.

The aged care facility also teamed up with several community stakeholders from the popular Rivertree Traders at Ocean Grove to sell clothes, accessories and other gifts.

Leisure and activities co-ordinator Liz Toffoli said residents loved the inaugural show.

“We’ve not been able to go out and about so much in the colder weather so we started to think about what events or activities we could have here and invite the community in,” she said.

“One of our residents came up with the idea of an art show that could showcase some of the residents’ work and talent and offer people a bargain or two.”

Resident Fay McClure, 85, had attendees impressed with her Himalayan pink salt creations in the show.

A production line of residents helped Ms McClure pour the thyme, rosemary and orange peel and dried lemon peel, cracked pepper and oregano combinations into labelled jars ready for sale.

“I like to give everything a go, but I think that is the one I enjoyed the most, mixing and being able to smell the different combinations with the salts,” she said.

Because of the success of the inaugural event, Calvary Balmoral Grove is considering hosting another show in 2025.