Every year, we welcome seniors aged 90 and above to attend the celebration free of charge as an honourable tribute. This year is no different. Sylvia - a Chung Wah Community Care consumer, participated in this year's Chinese New Year Longevity Luncheon. This year is the Year of the Rabbit and Year of the Cat. Interestingly, Sylvia has a ceramic white rabbit that's been through the ups and downs with her for over 40 years.
Other guests at the luncheon raised curiosity: "Were you born in the Year of the Rabbit?" Sylvia replied, "No, I was born in the Year of the Horse, in 1930". "Then, you must really like rabbits". Sylvia responded: "I used to have rabbits as a child, but I've grown to like dogs".
Sylvia was born in England and moved to Argentina with her parents at the age of three. She's a very talented individual speaking seven European languages. In Argentina, she spoke English at home and Spanish in public.
When reminiscing about the good old days, Sylvia enjoyed buying rabbits at the local markets. "You can't believe how affordable those rabbits were back in the day. However, once the rabbits came home, they disappeared quickly, then I bought new ones, they disappeared again, and the cycle continued". At last, Sylvia decided to make a ceramic rabbit in her craft class. That rabbit has remained with her for over 40 years, bringing her many childhood memories from Argentina.
Before retirement, Sylvia worked as a secretary and often did translation part-time. Her life has completely changed since the Falkland War in 1982, a war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Argentina lost in the war, leading to the largest protest against England. With an English descent, Sylvia knew she needed to move forward and move to Western Australia.
When asked about her secret to longevity, she responded: "Never Stop". In fact, Sylvia worked until the age of 76. Unfortunately, her hearing decline comes with age; however, she has unbelievably good hearing and dislikes loud noises.
Sylvia expressed her gratitude to Chung Wah CC for providing such an excellent platform for her. She enjoyed the weekly event for Latin American clients. That's true! We strive to provide the best culturally appropriate care to every consumer to ensure they live to their fullest.
Chung Wah has been servicing the WA community since 1909, dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Moreover, Chung Wah CC has over 35 years of professional care experience helping seniors and people with disability improve their well-being and better integrate into the community. In 2023, we're promoting our theme, Embrace, Elevate & Flourish, and build a better community for all.
