KITTY Payne was farewelled from Kurrajong Nursing Home in style by a hastily recruited cabaret act who dubbed themselves ‘The Age Care Divas’.
Resplendent in blonde wigs, and pink feather boas, they performed a slew of songs from 99-year-old Mrs Payne’s youth in England. Mrs Payne was transferring to a facility in Kiama due to her daughter and son-in-law moving there.
Activity co-ordinator Sandy Barratt found out some of Mrs Payne’s favourite songs, secured recordings of them, kitted the group out and on the day they sang along with them all in a joyful concert in the dining room watched by staff, families and residents.
Hearty renditions were belted out at the August 19 concert of ‘You Don't Own Me’, ‘Diana’, ‘Close The Door they’re coming In the window’, ‘Oh Carol’, ‘Memories Are Made Of This’, ‘We'll Meet Again’ and the very appropriate ‘Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye’.
“Kitty loved it, and her daughter,” Ms Barratt. “She sang along with all of them and knew every word.”
She said Mrs Payne used to be in a choir.