Kearney Spring’s Judy Bannerman has been a leading figure for Toowoomba’s Salem Aged Care since 2001, now gearing up to celebrate her 20-year career milestone with not-for-profit organisation Lutheran Services.
Moving from Bundaberg to Toowoomba in 2001, Judy was eager to be part of an industry where her caring and supportive nature, communication skills and natural empathy could flourish. She had been familiar with Lutheran Services most of her life with her family and congregation actively involved with Lutheran Services’ Salem Aged Care community since the early 1960’s.
“I had known of Salem since I was a little girl because my Mum’s Uncle was a resident and I recall visiting, at that time, a very different Salem,” she said. However, it was not until Judy commenced working at the community that she realised she would become part of the broader Lutheran Services’ family.
Judy has worked in many areas at Salem including food services, maintenance and quality and safety systems before taking the position of Service Manager at Lutheran Services’ Tabeel retirement living and aged care in Laidley. Travelling from Toowoomba to Laidley for five years provided Judy a new perspective and insight to embrace an opportunity to return to Salem Aged Care in July 2019 as Service Manager.
“When I was offered the position of Service Manager at Salem, I just knew I had to come back,” she said. Over the last 12 months, Judy has managed the $3.8 million refurbishment at the historic 85- year-old Salem community. Judy said the residents have driven the look and feel of the refurbishment, selecting retro-inspired décor and stylings to hark back to some of their favourite decades.
“It is almost full circle to lead the renovations and walk through the newly refurbished corridors or the updated areas such as a retro café and new hair salon,” Judy said.
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