Banora Point great-grandparents are quite the catch
For Banora Point couple Marion and Desmond, happiness is casting a fishing line off the back jetty with great-grandchildren in tow.
Grandparents Day 2022 is celebrated on 30th October and it’s a special occasion to celebrate older members of the family for all that they do. And they do so much.
The former teachers watch the waves roll in while they catch bream, whiting and flathead from their back yard.
For Desmond, 83, and Marion, 82, fishing is their favourite pastime and one they were determined to continue when they decided to relocate from Mullumbimby.
“We come from a fishing family and that’s how I caught Desmond,” Marion said.
“Fishing is important to us.
“My grandfather was the ferry-master, and I grew up near Bateman’s Bay.
“Desmond has established a special bond with the kids through fishing. He did it with our own son and then grandchildren and great-grandchildren came.
“His great grandson has his own boat; and in fact, they all have boats and there’s about six here.
“We have three grandsons, of which one joined the Navy because we gave him a good dose of salt water, and two great grandsons.”
They moved to a single level waterfront location after several falls in their former home where they can continue to enjoy their lifestyle with at home support from Bolton Clarke.
Marion has also taken the neighbour’s daughter under her wing.
“I’m her honorary grandmother - she’s an extension of the family,” she said.
“I bond with children and love them as much as my own.”
Desmond says their Bolton Clarke Home Care Packages have helped them stay independent and keep doing the things they enjoy.
“The fact we have our own place to eat and go to bed when we like is very important at our age,” he said.
“We have freedom of choice and we enjoy our independence.
“Our Bolton Clarke team has been fantastic - we have had the gutters cleaned, nurses come around, we have an emergency phone system and they also got me podiatry services.
“They also take us shopping and out to functions because we’re not as mobile as we once were, and we’ve had an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist.”
