We are celebrating an important milestone at The Forrest Centre. This week in 2004, we officially acquired ownership of Loreto Home of Compassion (Loreto). With its origins starting more than 50 years before our association, there are many people and stories that make up the rich tapestry of Loreto’s history – like Sister Rae Berry, one of the Sisters of Compassion who worked in the residence in the 80s before The Forrest Centre transition, and still lives on-site today.

At 83, Sr Rae understands she may be considered old, but she has dedicated her life to caring for “actual old people” and is not done just yet.

Originally from New Zealand, Sr Rae started her working life as a Nurse at the age of 17. She worked in geriatric wards before joining the Sisters of Compassion to continue nursing within the order. As part of a congregation dedicated to caring for the elderly, Sr Rae has worked in several nursing homes and looked after many individuals. To this day, she still remembers the names of the first four people she cared for. Sr Rae credits the elderly people under her care for having taught her a great deal about life.

“Working with elderly people is like attending the University of Life. You learn some amazing things. You get to know what a successful life is and what isn't. You get to know families that work well and families that don't. There’s hardly anything you can't learn by just observing your work environment. And the elderly tell it to you straight!”

Sr Rae’s time with Loreto began when she was transferred to Wagga in 1982. Back then, Loreto had only 41 beds and it was run almost entirely by the Sisters of Compassion alongside a few lay workers. Although she had no idea about Wagga before arriving, she came to love and truly appreciate her life here.

“I was not certain about the move, but the Lord works in wonderful ways, and I think maybe the Aussies saved my soul more than the other way around. I came to Wagga, and it was a very life-giving experience for me.”

Sr Rae went back to New Zealand and took on administrative roles within the order before returning to Wagga 12 years ago. During the time she was away Loreto became part of The Forrest Centre, but Sr Rae remembers that went smoothly and provided a solution that joined two unique homes (Loreto and Mary Potter Nursing Home) under the one administration and board.

“If you think about it, The Forest Centre is quite unique because I don't know of any other combination of Anglican and Catholic organisations that has worked. It's a unique arrangement and I think it's all because of the people, all the way to the top, that its worked so well.”

Throughout her long association at Loreto, Sr Rae has seen many changes in aged care, and she has great respect for the team running the residence today.

“When I started in nursing, the care was very basic and now it’s very different. Generally, the people admitted into homes in the earlier days could spend up to 10 years in care but today people stay at home longer and when they come into care, they're much more dependent. So, it's much harder for staff today caring for the elderly. They're much more dependent and there are many heavy nursing cases.

“I think people who do the job and run the home here at Loreto are heroic. It is a very challenging job and people today also have very high expectations of care. I really think that staff do the best that they can and there are a lot of people in this work who put their heart and soul into it and do a good job.”

We couldn’t agree more, Sr Rae, and we look forward to many more years of providing compassionate aged care to the people of Wagga at Loreto!

20 Year Anniversary of The Forrest Centre and Loreto Home of Compassion

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