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Joan, 109, rolls sleeve up to fight covid

Written by Michael Cummings
on May 04, 2021

When Victoria’s oldest person, Joan Bush, was offered a cup of tea just moments after receiving her COVID-19 vaccination, she didn’t skip a beat.

“Or something stronger,” the 109 year old shot back.

Joan (pictured above) was among more than 75 aged care residents at Ryman Healthcare’s Weary Dunlop Retirement Village to be vaccinated yesterday.

Born in the UK two days before the Titanic sank, she emigrated to Australia in 1946 with her late husband.

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Joan's son, Richard Bush, said his mother volunteered at Meals on Wheels to offer food and compassion to older and vulnerable people while raising a family of her own.

“She was a very generous lady.

“She has looked after her family and loved her children and grandchildren and she is now a great-grandmother to six great-grandchildren.”

Richard said his mother’s “remarkable age is a tribute to good health and good fortune”.

“A sherry every night with her husband no doubt contributed to her good health.”

Ryman Healthcare’s operations quality manager Joanne Wang said more than 95 per cent of Weary Dunlop’s care centre residents had opted to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

“Joan’s family is very supportive of the vaccination program, not just to protect her but also to protect other family members," Joanne said.

“They will be coming to see her at the village so that just provides an extra layer of protection.”

June Potter (Large)Weary Dunlop resident June Potter, 97, had no doubt getting the COVID-19 vaccination was the right thing to do. 

Fellow Weary Dunlop resident June Potter, 97, was at the front of the queue to get vaccinated.

June recalls how polio ravaged much of the world in the 1940s and 1950s, and that her mother kept her home from school to protect her from it.

“I’ve seen what these kinds of diseases can do,” she said.

“When I went [to get vaccinated] I had no doubt. I thought that I might be sorry if I didn’t. It’s about protecting everyone.”

June said she hopes people getting vaccinated will help get life back to normal for everyone.

“Getting the vaccine was nothing. I would say to other people: have it.”

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