Meet Helen Young, Gellibrand’s oldest client who doesn’t let age slow her down.
In 2024, Helen Young turned 85 and became Gellibrand’s oldest client. She is also a client with one of the longest associations with Gellibrand, living at Linnet Street since 1982. She’s a fun-loving and independent person who engages in as many community activities as she can, never saying ‘no’ to a Gellibrand event!
Helen was born in the small Victorian town of Avenel and grew up on her parents’ nearby sheep property in Locksley. There was nowhere in the region that could support Helen’s educational needs, so when she was six she moved to Footscray to live with her auntie Tilly.
After her education, Helen worked for 35 years at Highpoint Industries, which became part of Scope. Helen was employed in the kitchen, making cups of tea and coffee for the company’s disability workers. With that kind of work history, it’s not surprising Helen is fiercely independent around her home at Linnet Street, always demanding to do her own chores.
Life isn’t all chores, of course, and Helen loves her social life, especially going to see musicals, which are her favourite form of entertainment. She also loves to get away on holidays. Echuca and Shepparton are two of the places she likes visiting most, along with an annual trip to her hometown of Avenel to enjoy memories of her childhood. Her cousin Mary, to whom she is very close, usually supports Helen to organise these trips and goes with her, as well as taking Helen out for dinner regularly.
Nothing slows Helen down – she goes to Meaningful Activities in Partnership (MAP) three times a week, loves swimming, and keeps her mind active with jigsaw puzzles. Helen is also a member of Gellibrand’s Client Committee, involved with all the fun and work that goes into creating exciting events for clients.
Helen and her family said they couldn’t be happier with the support she receives from Gellibrand and they look forward to many more years to come.
(This article was prepared with the assistance of Helen’s cousin Mary and Gellibrand team member Debra Davies)
