The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERLink to PeopleAndCultureCommittee > FalconerBequest > PeopleAndCultureReport202403 > CouncilAgenda20240307 > CouncilMinutes20240307
Falconer Strathdon update Feb 2024
29th February 2024
In 2022 GWUC received notification of a Bequest from the Estate of Margaret Falconer from Karen Bell Synod Secretariat and request our advice as there were specific ties and action relating to the use of the Funds and our association with Strathdon.
GWUC had been involved over many years as a direct supporter and provider of visitors as several of our congregation were supporters and others had lived at Strathdon as residents. Di Paterson was a regular visitor as part of her role at GWUC in our Seniors Ministry.
We were requested to develop a program to use the funds $12,000 principle over two years for the direct support and engagement of GWUC with and through Strathdon and its residents.
We developed, via the writer and Rev Neil Peters a program where we would use part of the funds for a direct support role through Di Paterson and meeting part of her salary as a formal commitment.
We also agreed to apply $6,000 of the principle sum to Strathdon to be used directly to support a resident’s program over 2 years. The detailed proposal was discussed at length and significantly modified then negotiated with Rev Clare Brockett, who had recently been appointed, Director of Uniting Well which now oversees many seniors’ programs including Strathdon. The Agreement was to enable implementation approximately 12 months ago with a detailed report and summary in March 2024 and again at conclusion of these action in March 2025. Karen Bell confirmed and funds were drawn and allocated. This report is therefore part of that agreement.
GWUC Involvement and Engagement – Di Paterson.
The agreement was concluded to then use GWUC through the visitation and engagement of Di Paterson being involved each fortnight mostly on a Tuesday and Thursday monthly, which has now been changed to 2 services on a Thursday once a month, with a specific time commitment and a proposal to organize and run services for residents in two groups and to visit and support other residents on her agreed days. This was an important working function within her Pastoral Care Duties at GWUC.
This was coordinated through the writer to allow Di to meet her contractual needs at GWUC and Black Rock.
At the time of implementation there was a notable change in structure at Strathdon and through Uniting Well and there was a delay in appointing an in-house Pastor as well as other staffing adjustments.
Consequently, whilst the bones of an agreement were finalized an agreement reached as to Di and GWUC participation, the detail and subsequent changes took some time to initiate at Strathdon and there was a sense of unease and frustration as several staffing changes occurred and each brought its own amendments and pressures and cancellations of prior practices.
These were conveyed to Clare Brocket after Di had spoken to the Chaplain Coordinator at Strathdon and our concerns were based on:
- Whilst there was an agreement to use Di and the Bequest, there were continuing changes, and this created uncertainty because there were other timing issues and pressures for Di and the writer with commitments to GWUC and Black Rock.
- The residents knew the fortnightly timings and appeared to enjoy the services and engagement, but they also indicated frustration as on occasion Di’s times and schedules were amended or dropped at short notice.
- The communications required between GWUC (through Di) and Strathdon management were often haphazard and / or poor with last minute changes which were not advised to either the residents and/or Di.
There were other issues, and we can put these down to changes in staffing, new appointments seeking to amend or modify existing structures and arrangements, often when inexperienced staff had little knowledge of the residents’ physical capabilities to participate of Di’s available and committed timings.
In addition, there were also examples of people “protecting their turf,” without a full understanding of this program and its processes and initiatives.
In summary, this tied Bequest with specific action requirements created tensions on the ground both in terms of time utilization and in terms of the association and relationship with the residents and other employees.
However, 12 months into the program and processes “it has been made to work “, albeit with frustrations. We receive positive feedback from residents, particularly on the use of the two services due to the marked physical abilities and competencies of the residents. Di is seen as a trustworthy friend to the group, who wish to attend and use her.
Di has built solid working associations with Strathdon leadership, is well regarded by the residents, and has managed her diary and schedule to make it work and fit her broader working hours and schedule of GWUC and Black Rock. Similarly, as the team at Strathdon has become more settled it has made a range of issues easier. Therefore, we have moved forward and consider that the program has proven successful, despite round bumps and frustrations.
The Way Forward.
GWUC has just finalized our staffing and we are grateful that Di will continue for at least a further 12 months.
She will continue to meet her obligations under this program, apart from when she has annual leave and any other obligations.
We hope that this program and association can continue to deliver and satisfy the needs of all parties.
We see no need to amend the timelines and service times for Di at Strathdon and this is well factored into her GWUC commitments.
We would be pleased to meet and discuss any issues, although we are confident that this has settled down and will work well going forward.
Ken M Coutts
GWUC Treasurer and People & Culture Convenor
Commentary 10 Mar 2024
Report as above / Update Re Bequest / Estate of Margaret Falconer / GWUC / Strathdon.
I am pleased to submit the Report above covering the implementation Plan and Agreement re the use of The Margaret Falconer Bequest.
Church Council reviewed this document at its last meeting ( last Thursday) and noted the successful implementation of the processes agreed. Church Council requested that we thank all involved over the last 12-15 months in making this happen.
It was noted that there have been challenges over the period through staffing issues and staffing changes, but the response has been practical and has delivered in terms of the Bequest.
We are pleased to convey our recent agreement for Di Paterson to continue her role at GWUC for a further 12 months commencing late February 2024 and expiring early 2025.
This will allow Di to continue her engagement and work with Strathdon as part of this agreement and within the scope of her appointment.
We also note the efforts of a variety of people to keep the processes and actions progressing and sustained and trust that 2024 is a much easier year for all involved.
As a final comment, the challenges associated with “tied Bequests” have again been amplified through this whole process. We realise and appreciate the well-intentioned thoughts of congregation members in creating the Bequest, but this often takes no account of the practical implementation tasks in enacting the wishes.
However, we have made this happen.
We have diarised to submit final report in February / March 2025
Regards