About Us

EDITORIAL COMMITMENT

The Hub exists to support its members in maintaining a happy, healthy and long life in their own home. The Hub's communication channels (including eNews & Facebook) are designed to support members by keeping them informed of relevant activities that can assist members to fulfil these objectives. Contributions from members or non-members intended for publishing via the Hub are welcome and will be reviewed for alignment with this policy. Communication not aligning will not be printed / published.

The story so far ... as at May 2015

The Waverton Hub is mutual organisation of residents of Waverton, Wollstonecraft and neighbouring areas in Sydney.  As we grow older, we members of the Hub are helping each other to enjoy our lives, stay in our own homes for as long as we can, to be as healthy as we can, and achieve all this for as little cost as possible.  We are ageing meaningfully in our own community.

• Neighbours, doing activities together, enjoying each other’s company and giving and receiving help when we need it.
• Strengthening our community by being active contributors to the wellbeing of ourselves and of the community.
• stimulated by learning new skills, including through participating in building the Hub
• saving money when getting useful services (eg trades people, transport)
• convenience of easy access to help; local services and activities at our doorstep
• Pioneers – creating Australia’s first Hub and helping to build a replicable model

Two years ago, Moira (88) was living in a nursing home and was told she had just weeks to live.

Her friend Jean had been visiting Moira every day and feeding her.

Moira wanted to go home and die peacefully in her own home in Waverton,

Jean installed equipment including a lifter and brought Moira home.

She put a notice for help on the Waverton Notice Board.

Local women including Vera Yee (a member of the Hub Establishment Group), and other neighbours, Debra and Nobuko helped Jean care for Moira. They and other women went 3 times a day to help.

In May 2013, 2 weeks after her 90th birthday and two years after her expected demise, Moira died as she had wished- peacefully in her own home.

Jean is over 80 herself.

The story of Moira and Jean is the story of community at work.

It illustrates one way we want the Hub to work.

March- April 2013 – Needs Survey conducted

From the 240 responses to the Survey conducted in March April The Hub Establishment Group has a good picture of what residents need and want. Two thirds of the responses came from women; one third from men. Responses were from 90 people aged under 65 yrs; from 125 aged 65-79 yrs; and from 25 aged 80 yrs and older.

We built the Hub’s initial programs and activities from the Survey results and from six information sessions (140 participants) in late June 2013.

The Hub Board and activity leaders continuously adapt and add to Hub activities.

Taster Activities commenced in July 2013 and were followed by the Spring Program. The Autumn Program (2015) has about 20 different courses and events. Activities and programs  include: local and out of area walks( every Monday); TaiChi (every Tuesday) ; pilates; Iyengar yoga; stretch  petanque/boules ;wine  appreciation; games afternoon; program of speakers; investment  group; transport to shops, social /cultural events ( Sculpture by the Sea, Ensemble Theatre, Cremorne Theatre) ; Computer training and Computing Q and A  sessions in local cafe; art classes( at Coal Loader ); morning and afternoon  teas  and neighbourhood gatherings  in our own homes and at local cafes; zumba.

A garage sale was held at Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability as part of the Australia Wide Garage Sale Trail 26 October 2013. Waverton Hub singers busked at Waverton and Wollstonecraft Railway stations before Christmas; all member events are planned for every three months. In February 2015 about 50 members talked with Board members about the Hub and what else we should aim to do.

Calendar on the Website has details. www.wavertonhub.com.au

On Sunday 22 September 2013 The Hub was launched officially by North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson with a picnic in Brennan Park. Geriatrician and Hub Board member Dr Terence Finnegan planted a commemorative Wollemi Pine. Three hundred residents of all ages enjoyed the day.

Advised by Marg Cooney (Chief Business Director TMS); Neil Lawrence (CEO Lawrence Creative Strategy); Anna Howard (cinematographer) and Jenny Hicks (editor)

Feb 2013 wavertonhub@gmail.com  set up

Quarterly Hubbub newsletters emailed to members and distributed in local cafes

June 2013 six Information Sessions held

July 2013 Logo “I belong”- pro bono Neil Lawrence (CEO Lawrence Creative Strategy)

Waverton Hub webpage North Sydney Council website

http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Community_Services/Aged_Access/The_Waverton_Hub

Waverton Hub website

Membership posters

Local businesses – IGA, Pharmacy, local cafes, butcher distributed Hub material surveys, newsletters and information session registrations, Hub activities programs, brochures

Mail out to GPs Geriatricians and Rehab providers

Sept Media Briefing Material and Media Directory

April 2013 onwards: Coverage of Hub in Mosman Daily (including regular correspondent’s column)   Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian ,Money magazine ,and on radio.

October 2013 Hub website www.wavertonhub.com.au – built by 2 members

January 2014 Short documentary and 30 second cinema community service announcement – can be viewed on Hub website

2014 Weekly enews to all members

The Hub is executing well against its strategic priorities:

• A well managed, sustainable, lean, accountable organisation, strong governance
• Membership growth – exceeding expectations -300 paid up members in eighteen months ;70 members are contributing to  establishing the Hub
• Sense of community (I belong) for members and age friendliness of broader community
• Wide range of activities and services for members locally- some thing on almost every day. See events calendar on website https://wavertonhub.com.au
• Promotion and marketing to members and externally – strong reputation; excellent website; feature articles in major newspapers; appears in both NSW Government and North Sydney Council policy documents
• Interest from NSW communities and other states including:

Port Macquarie, Goulburn, Dapto, Port Stephens, Greenwich, Manly, Summer Hill, Granville, Parramatta, Willoughby, Artarmon, Northbridge  Lane Cove, Woollahra, Haberfield, Winston Hills, Oatley, Leichhardt  Lugarno, Greenwich, Byron, Glebe, NSW Chinese Community leaders, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Buderim, Noosa, Hervey Bay.

30 Sept 2012 Initial meeting eight residents of Waverton and Willoughby. Steering Group formed.

April 2013 Waverton Hub Establishment Group (WHEG) (10 Member ) formed ; seven Working Groups operating Program Development and Membership Fee; Events; Communications; Transport Working Group; Evaluation Working Group; Finance; Training ;

May 2013 Waverton Hub Incorporated as an Association – advised by Bruce Donald AM Pro bono

July 2013 The Waverton Hub Office Coordinators Group formed (The WHO)

July 2013 Activity Groups formed

August 2013 Membership form Guiding Principles and Code of Conduct Privacy Policy finalised- advised by DLA Piper pro bono

      August 2013 Risk Assessment and Management Policy adopted

October 2013 Member Orientation Group (MOG) formed

October 2013 Compliance Calendar developed

Board Orientation and Development – ongoing

November 2013-  Strategic Planning sessions

January 2014 – Governance arrangements  with 3 Committees

30July 2014 – First AGM and election of Board held

February 2015 – all member meeting held

February 2015 Neigbourhood gatherings in members’ homes

Feb 2013 – Business Plan and budget developed

17 May 2013 Bank account established 

23 May 2013 ABN issued

August  2013 -Reckon Accounting system set up; Membership system set up

Revenue

Membership fees  

$66 p.a. standard membership. This has now been rduced to $40 p.a.

$10p.a. Commonwealth full pension recipients

$10 p.a “Friend” members join to help but do not participate in Hub events

Grants

June 2014 NSW Department of Dept of Family and Community Services | Office for Ageing $5,000

June 2014 North Sydney Council $2,100 grant

June 2013 North Sydney Council $2,000 grant

January 2013 North Sydney Council $2,200 grant

Feb 2013 -Application for Age-Friendly Community Local Government Grants Scheme for Hub -unsuccessful

May 2013 Application for DoHA Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund – Funding Round 2 –unsuccessful

Donors and sponsors.

Donations to date Sunrise Rotary $1,000(for First Aid training for walks leaders); Luna Park $500

2 laptops North Sydney Rotary; local business donation $1,000 (anonymous)

Budget

Budget Estimate $20,000 per annum

Insurance. Public Liability policy ($20m) in place from 1 June2013

Association Liability policy ($1m) in place from 17 September2013

Office – premises, phone, meeting room Don Bank Cottage 6 Napier St North Sydney Council rent free

Main activities venues- Waverton Uniting Church Community Hall – user agreement signed; North Sydney Waverton Club; Coal Loader: Wollstonecraft Bowling Club

16 July 2013 Orientation session held – 30 participants

30 July 2013 First aid training held – 20 participants

12 August 2013 Recruitment training held – 25 participants

A manual to help other Hubs form is being prepared- grant funds being sought for this.

The Hub ticks a lot of boxes:

• Social inclusion/community development/strengthening social capital (Community, solidarity, care and friendship networks) and building civil society (an active participatory citizenry)

• Effective means for gaining appropriate and accessible community services for disadvantaged people
• Countering some of the adverse effects of poverty and unemployment, the latter, for example, through the promotion of domestic and community economies and the building of people’s skills and employability
• Links locality based work with broader ideas and values.  E.g. ‘strategies reflecting the intersections between economic and social justice values – inclusion, co-operation, respect for difference, equality in relationships, sharing of resources, social isolation
• Founded on public health principles – health promotion, which emphasises participation and involvement and can be linked to saving the public purse through prevention of the chronic illnesses that beset older age.
• Social enterprise
• Operating as a mutual

Evaluation will cover

• Characteristics of Australian  model as implemented  by The Waverton Hub including identifying critical success factors
• Impact of  Waverton Hub on elders’ ability to age in place –health outcomes
• Long term sustainability and replicability

Members, prospective  members and their families; Precinct Committees; Crows Nest Centre  Board through Denise Ward ;North Sydney Council; Northern Sydney Local Health District ; Uniting Church; Lower North Shore Community Transport .

Presentations – a sample

Waverton and Wollstonecraft Precinct Committees

28 May 2013 North Sydney Council Wollstonecraft Ward Forum

30May 2013 North Sydney Council Focus Group – Older Persons Plan.

18 June 2013 North Sydney Sunrise Rotary

23 October 2013 Australian Public Service Forum Canberra -Access All Areas- how to reach your older stakeholders

11 April 2014 Social Entrepreneurship Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) in North Ryde.

2-3 May 2014 Greenwich Community Association is starting a Hub .Information sessions for residents

Several organisations thinking of setting up a Hub  

Waverton Hub is included in NSW Government’s Northern Sydney Ageing Strategy and North Sydney Council’s Older Persons Strategy. The Hub is supported by North Sydney Council and staff; Precinct Committees, The Crows Nest Centre, The Crows Nest Uniting Church, The Northern Sydney Local Health District, Lower North Shore Community Transport, NSW Council on the Ageing,  local members Jillian Skinner and Joe Hockey, Older Women’s Network, Wollstonecraft Men’s Shed, North Sydney Sunrise Rotary, North Sydney Rotary, Luna Park, Waverton IGA, Royal Rehab,  and Lane Cove & Northside Community Services (LCNCS) Maintenance Service,  NRMA’s Living Well Navigator, Mosman Daily, Waverton North Sydney Club, Wollstonecraft Bowling Club, Village to Village movement USA, Dr Andrew Scharlach, Centre for the Advanced Study of Ageing Services and Health Research for  Action, University of California Berkeley,