David and Antonio are thriving at the wonderful Willow Fern respite cottage

Willow Fern Cottage in the Adelaide Hills town of Mount Barker, offers a community respite service that provides a home-like environment for a range of clients, including those living with dementia. 

The cottage has been modified to support up to 12 clients during the day and four overnight, with an office space for a small team of dedicated staff. They provide quality respite care, a range of meaningful activities and vital social interaction in a safe and age-friendly environment.

Antonio Trotta, who spends three to four days and nights a week at Willow Fern, emigrated from Italy in 1955. Over his working life, he had many careers, including hairdresser, tailor and publican of the renowned Royal Oak Hotel in Clarendon, South Australia.

At Willow Fern Cottage, Antonio enjoys wandering through the garden picking lemons and tending to the fresh herbs and veggies. He  is known for making fresh pasta from scratch,  and is encouraged to use his cooking skills to help prepare shared meals in the cottage's kitchen.

Leah Ackland, the Health & Wellbeing Site Leader at Willow Fern, says, "It's important to encourage the interests of the people staying at Willow Fern, and everyone brings something unique". 

There's no shortage of activities, starting with a Coffee Chat Club at 10am, after which there might be brain training exercises, including word puzzles and Bingo or a half-hour strength or balance session in the gym with a personal trainer. Art and sensory pastimes like dancing and sing-alongs are also encouraged to ensure that everyone finds their stay stimulating and enjoyable. 

Each year a different major project is planned, and this year was planning, building and growing tomatoes in a vertical garden. They look pretty nourishing, and we're confident Antonio will have them in the salad when they're ready!

David Dridan is a South Australian artist who enjoys a day a week at Willow Fern Respite Cottage and recently celebrated his 90th birthday there.

David is a celebrated painter who captures the unique colours and textures of Outback South Australia. His paintings feature such detail that you could be standing right where he painted them. 

David’s art career took off after he received a grant from the British Council to study at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He went on to become a professional artist, art advisor, teacher and gallery owner. 

David has been associated with Carrick Hill - a twentieth-century heritage museum and garden in the Adelaide Hills - for a long time. So when he saw the Willow Fern team planning an excursion to Carrick Hill, he immediately joined up to go and revisit some memories and one of his paintings shown there.  

Leah commented that "David named every single painting in Carrick Hill. He was in heaven".

"Willow Fern is excellent. It's good to get out and meet other people. We enjoy activities and games throughout the day, and Bingo is probably my favourite," David says.

To learn more about Willow Fern’s community respite services, call 08 8391 5047.