Gina celebrates 45 years working at Resthaven
Dedication, trust and care – three words that capture the 45-year career of Resthaven’s Housekeeping Services Assistant, Gina Pedoulias.
The second-only employee in Resthaven history to have completed 45 years of service, Gina says that many things have changed since she first joined Resthaven at the age of 15, but that the one constant has been the connections she has made with residents and colleagues.
‘I enjoy speaking with and caring for residents,’ Gina says. ‘I always put in the extra effort – and I know they appreciate it.’
Gina began working for Resthaven in 1974. She was a ‘Dining Room girl’ at Resthaven Malvern, working Saturdays and Sundays to serve breakfast and then help prepare the dining room for lunch. Gina worked a split-shift and was allowed to go home before returning for the dinner shift at 4pm, but most days she would stay and interact with the residents.
‘I would often stay and talk with Mrs Dall,’ Gina says. ‘She taught me how to crochet during these breaks, and I still have the doll she helped me make. I look at it now and it is absolutely gorgeous – I don’t know how I made it!’
Gina stopped paid work when her boys were young, but when they went to school in the mid-1980s she came back to work at Resthaven, this time at Mitcham.
‘It was a very homely place to work and had a great family feel,’ Gina says. ‘The matron wore her white cap, and we were all very close.’
Gina remembers several functions that were held at Mitcham, including grand dinners and community fetes held on the grounds of the home.
‘At the fete, I was in charge of the Devonshire teas,’ Gina says. ‘We also made jams and potted up plants for sale. For Christmas dinner, the residents would dress in their best clothes – suits for the men with bow ties and formal dresses with fur coats for the ladies. We were all dressed smartly in black skirts with white shirts,’ Gina says. ‘None of us ever looked at the clock – we were always happy working and would keep going until the job was done.’
Gina carries these same standards with her today.
Thank you, Gina, for your years of dedicated service. The residents and staff at Mitcham appreciate your hard work.