Residents and staff at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC) traded their everyday gear for Wimbledon whites on July 11, as the REC Centre transformed into a scene straight out of the All England Club.
Staying true to the Wimbledon tradition, each person received a numbered queuing ticket, just like the ones used to line up for tickets at the real event. These numbers were later entered into a lucky draw, and Josephine Kew and Beryl O’Donnell were delighted to win prizes.
Simoné Botha, RSCC’s manager of OT and recreation, set the scene by sharing fun facts about the players’ and spectators’ dress codes, as well as the royal family’s historical involvement with Wimbledon. Residents also learned about Rufus the Hawk, the official pigeon deterrent of Wimbledon, and enjoyed a short video showing him soaring through the stadium each morning to keep the courts bird-free.
The morning sparked fond memories and conversations about past Wimbledon matches and legendary tennis players. To top it off, everyone savoured the classic Wimbledon treat: Strawberries and cream, while watching iconic moments from past tournaments on the big screen.
But the fun didn’t end there. Residents and staff returned in the afternoon to watch the men’s semi-final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. The viewing was made even sweeter by delicious shortbread biscuits generously gifted by Pam and Gerald Mills and their daughter, Tracy.
Occupational therapist Karabo Makgopela and resident Miriam Benjamin.
Resident: Esme Frenkel, recreation team member Lucia Nkuna and resident Esme Joubert.
Some of the residents who joined for the Wimbledon morning all dressed in white.
