Four residents at Heyfield’s Laurina Lodge are on top of the world and any wonder … they have just set a new world record for cup stacking.
And supporting them all the way were their young “coaches” – students from Heyfield Primary School.
For the last four weeks, the residents and students have been helping each other learn the skill of cup stacking. The school has an ongoing relationship with the aged care facility with students electing to visit weekly, enjoying activities such as reading to the residents while developing intergenerational friendships.
It was a school volunteer, with some cup stacking experience herself, who introduced young and old to the new skill in a four-week program. Cup stacking not only develops important physical skills such as hand-eye coordination, quickness and focus, it also promotes self-confidence, teamwork and good sportsmanship.
The culmination of the program was the world record attempt on Wednesday, 11 December. As the 75 year and over category has no current world record holder, the team of four residents – Kate Barling, Bev Lehman, Grace Woodward and Roger Bond – is automatically the new champion of the world, subject to verification from the World Speed Stacking Association.
With their young coaches around encouraging them on and cheering as though they were at a sporting grand final, the four residents participated in a relay, setting the combined time of 2.11.590 (minutes) for the 3.6.3 event (groups of three, six and three cups).
Prior to the event, other residents, staff and students competed against the clock to achieve their personal best times. Kate won the award for the fastest resident on the day, Brooke won the staff award and Heath the student award.
Residents, visitors and staff packed out the facility’s dining room to watch the record attempt.
Facility Diversional Therapist, Sue Pearson, said the record attempt would not have been possible without the contribution of the students who encouraged their older friends to have a go.
Sue said residents sometimes lost their connection with young people once they entered an aged care facility.
“This program demonstrates one of the strengths we have as a community in Heyfield,” she said. “Cup stacking is great as it is something the residents and students were initially not good at so it was a level playing field. But they helped each other along the way.”
Caption – Heyfield Primary School student Nate takes Laurina Lodge resident Bev for a final run-through before starting the cup stacking world record attempt.
Caption: Laurina Lodge resident Kate Barling, part of the record setting team and also the fastest resident on the day.
Caption: The new world record holders for over 75 cup stacking (from left) Roger Bond, Grace Woodward, Kate Barling and Bev Lehman.
ENDS
For more information contact Tracy VanderZalm of Wordwise Communications on 0447 491 345.