What’s the first rule of Betty Club? Well everyone’s name is “Betty” just for that morning’s set of activities and the second rule is just have fun!

It all started when new IRT Dalmeny staff member Danni Cameron noticed there were four people called Betty in the morning activity group and suggested it would be easier if all the participants be called “Betty”. She even made them a sign and hence the Betty Club was born.

Leading the group, which meets four times a week, is Red Cross visiting services volunteer Lee Barham, who is described as a “ray of sunshine” by all her Betties.

“We absolutely love her,” said resident Vince Wenberg, one of several male Betties who participate each week. “She brightens all of our days up. You’ve just got to laugh”

Lee for her part also has a lot of fun and doesn’t mind at all coming to the aged care facility four times a week. She started out doing one-on-one visits but quickly realised the residents would benefit tremendously from getting together and being engaged in fun activities. 

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be and if we didn’t have so much fun,” she said.

The club starts out each morning with tea, coffee and snacks to “feed the brain” and then the activities begin. The seniors enjoy games of Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit while there are physical games like throwing a ball at a target and even sing-alongs.

Fellow volunteer and dog trainer Yve Robinson is also a regular visitor with her dog Tilly.

More volunteers are always needed. If you can spare a few hours a week to enrich the lives of Narooma's seniors, please phone IRT Dalmeny on 4476 6000.

The Red Cross Narooma office is also always looking for volunteers to visit the vulnerable in the local area and you can find out more by calling 1800 811 700.

Lee said that the main thing about Betty Club was never to be too serious and just laugh and have fun.