Stan’s wish is one of a growing bucket list adorning a two-metre high ‘goal tree’ painted on a wall of one of the dining rooms at the residential aged care home in Maitland.

Created last year and painted by a talented member of the home’s care team, the goal tree is a way for residents to set and realise some goals and to bring some fun back into residents’ lives after the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We don’t believe that dreams stop just because you come to live in aged care,” Home Manager, Mel Cromarty, said. “We encourage residents to think about something they would really like to do, and wherever possible we’ll do it. It can be large or small, but we’ll try to make it happen.”

A former railway shunter and volunteer community radio presenter, Stan loves anything to do with trains, planes and automobiles. Taking to the skies over Newcastle and the Hunter Valley in a Tiger Moth was just the ticket.

His has been one of the bigger ticket items on the goal tree. Others have included a day out at the footy for one resident so he could watch his favourite footy team play, and a beauty therapist who came to the home so a resident got her wish for a facial and mini-makeover.

Coming up on the wish list, one resident will soon be sitting down to a delicious lobster meal and another will be off to the beach so she can splash in the ocean once again.