New private dining room opens at Annesley

Juniper Annesley has introduced a new private dining room to the home, giving residents a dedicated space to mark special occasions with family and friends. Residential Manager Asha Kayaga said the room had already made a difference.

“The dining room is a great space for everyone to celebrate in their own private area,” she said.

“The private dining room gives residents greater choice and dignity. It creates a welcoming space where special occasions can be celebrated in privacy, supporting residents to maintain strong family connections and a sense of normalcy.”

The room is available for residents to book for private functions including birthdays, anniversaries and celebratory dinners, with the Juniper DINE catering team available to cater for an additional cost.

The room has already hosted its first milestone event. Resident Harry Lucas and his colleague Don Pederick recently gathered with their families to mark 70 years of ordination into ministry within the Methodist (now Uniting) Church.

With Harry’s mobility having declined and getting out to a restaurant proving challenging, the private dining room provided the perfect setting. Harry’s granddaughter travelled from Melbourne to attend, another colleague and their family joined in, and the DINE team prepared lunch for the group. There was a lot of laughter and reminiscing as family and friends reflected on the contributions made by two remarkable men, and for Harry and Don, a rare chance to catch up again.

For Juniper, the room represents something practical and important, the ability for residents to celebrate special occasions without having to go far to do it. “It’s been a great addition on top of the other refurbishments,” Asha said. “We are excited for many more celebrations to come.”