If you could wish for anything, what would it be?
For a group of aged care residents near Mackay, Queensland, their wishes were so modest and simple they moved some carers to tears.
The Nanyima Aged Care home in Mirani has installed a wishing line instead of a washing line, where residents can peg up their wishes and staff try to make them come true.
The wishing line was installed after a COVID-19 lockdown at the facility, with staff deciding to inject a bit of fun into life again by asking each resident to make a wish.
Each wish has been put on a bucket list and staff are asking the community for help to tick each one off.
Simple pleasures
Most of the wishes are simple things, experiences the residents thought they would never get again, such as riding a horse or dining at a restaurant.
"They weren't overly big wishes," said Tanya Tooma, a diversional therapist at the home who came up with the idea.
"A giant bath towel because our towels are too small," she said.
"One of the residents says she wants to ride a horse like she used to, one of the residents would love to go to the movies.
"A couple of residents want to have a big feed of mud crabs and prawns … another wants to see a waterfall."
Just like the old days
Colleen and Ken Walker have been together for more than 65 years.
Mrs Walker said from the time they met at a local church dance, they were infatuated with each other.
Her parents owned a beach house, and she recalled that all the young people went to the beach most weekends.
Now in their 80s, the couple live in aged care 40 minutes away from the beach.
"We're there for good … Ken's not much good and I've got dementia, so we sold our car and our home, it's all gone," Mrs Walker said.
The couple had a nostalgic wish — a trip to the local surf club for some fish and chips, just like in the old days.
Surf club grants wish
To make Mr and Mrs Walker's wish of a beach trip come true, volunteer lifeguards helped with wheelchair access and shade, as well as buggy rides for residents.
Although this beach trip looked different from the gatherings of their youth, the youthful excitement was still there.
For some, it was their first trip to the beach in years.
By the end of the beach trip, Ms Tooma was in tears.
"It's an absolute joy to come to work and see the smiles on their faces," she said.
"To be out here, fresh air and have a meal with everybody else in the community is really good.
"It boosts their confidence and self-esteem."
Making it special
Mackay Harbour restaurant chef Scott Palmer said the aged care facility had contacted him to help out with the beach wish.
"Straight away I said, let's make it bigger," he said.
"They've been here for fish and chips before … why not take them down to the beach and make it a bit special."
Mr Palmer previously worked as a chef in an aged care facility.
"I know how hard it can be to get somebody to help them," he said.
Ms Tooma said she was inspired by the Make a Wish Foundation and multiple COVID-19 lockdowns to ask her charges what they needed or wanted most.
As well as caring for pain and illness, the facility wants to contribute to the joy and quality of their residents' lives.
The project is a reminder that even in the twilight years, dreams can still come true and simple pleasures are the best.
