“All my Support Workers are like family” – Myrna’s story 

Customer Myrna has been with Avivo since 2022 when she moved from her home in Bindoon just after her husband of 68 years, Les, passed away.  

Les and Myrna met when she was just 16 and married soon after, with child number one coming along not long after that.  

“It was fate that we met,” said Myrna. “I was meant to be studying that evening, but decided to go out dancing instead and met this lovely Welsh man who had come into Fremantle Harbour on a grain boat.” 

Les jumped ship to stay in Fremantle with Myrna, and the couple spent the next 68 years together, raising four children – with lots of adventures along the way. 

When Les passed away, the couple’s Bindoon property became too much for Myrna to take care of herself, so her children suggested she move into a Lifestyle Community South of the River in Perth to be closer to them and to live in a safe environment without the maintenance. 

Supporting a full life 

Myrna has been living alone in her own beautiful modern home now in an immaculate gated community for three years.  

With the support of her family and Avivo, Myrna lives a full and independent life, even though she says her body won’t allow her to do the things she once could and would still like to do. This didn’t deter her team of Support Workers from making her 90^th birthday in February one to remember though!  

While Myrna was away from her home, the team arranged for Gorgeous Ladies on Wheels (GLOW) – a local female-only motorcycle group – to bring a convoy of bikes and a trike to Myrna’s home to surprise her.  

Myrna was in shock when she arrived home to see a group of motorbikes outside her house with her chauffer awaiting – complete with a birthday girl helmet boasting a big white bow.  

Myrna, always a good sport and up for a laugh, climbed onto her carriage and caused quite a stir as she left her village and was taken on the ride of her life while Support Workers, family and friends were dotted along her route with banners and pom poms to celebrate Myrna’s special day.  

It’s this type of celebration of life and this love for customers that proves Avivo Support Workers have that extra bit of magic.  

Nicole Griffiths was the ringleader, getting the bikes and supporters together. She put out a call on Facebook and was met with a wonderful reply from the ladies at GLOW who just wanted to do it out of the goodness of their own hearts and to help make Myrna’s big day extra special. 

Like family

“All of my Support Workers are like family,” said Myrna. 

“I have three sons here in Perth and one daughter in Melbourne, but my Support Workers are each like daughters to me. It gives my family peace of mind to know I’m in such good hands.” 

“It’s really special being welcomed into the homes and lives of our customers,” said Nicole.  

“It’s a real privilege to be trusted by a customer and their family and to be the eyes and ears of family when they can’t be there.” 

Advocating 

Myrna’s Support Workers are also able to advocate on her behalf when she needs certain items. For example, Myrna’s weekly shop was becoming challenging as she often needs a wheelchair to get around. Navigating a wheelchair and a trolley was becoming tricky and increasingly unsafe for Myrna, her Support Workers and the public! 

As Myrna likes to go shopping to the same IGA and is well-known, Nicole approached the store manager, Jack, to see if they could get a specially adapted trolley to help create a better experience for Myrna. 

Within weeks, Jack had sourced a trolley and had it delivered to the store. Now, Myrna’s trips to the IGA are that much easier, and of course, other wheelchair users can also benefit from using ‘Myrna’s trolley’! 

Myrna also made the local newspaper! You can read more about Myrna’s trolley here. 

What’s next?

Forever young at heart, when asked what’s next on her bucket list, Myrna didn’t hesitate to say an emphatic ‘yes’ to skydiving.  

“I just have to get clearance from my doctor,” she said. And if it can’t happen, Nicole is standing by with plenty of adjacent ideas to give Myrna that adrenalin rush, whether it’s for her next birthday or just a random Tuesday – just ‘because’.