Around 130 residents from 19 Regis homes across Victoria headed to the MCG in the lead-up to the AFL Grand Final for a special lunch and a behind-the-scenes preview of the weekend’s action.
The visit brought residents together at the iconic ground, where they heard from former Melbourne premiership player and Melbourne Football Club Director Brad Green, got up close with two premiership cups and watched preparations for the Grand Final entertainment.
With rehearsals underway on the field, residents were treated to super-secret preview performances from G Flip and Kylie Minogue ahead of their Grand Final performances.
For some, the visit was a chance to return to a familiar place after many years. For others, it was their first time at the MCG.
Michael, a resident at Regis Capel Sound, was an MCC member for decades but had not been back to the ground for years.
“I haven’t been here for years because I’m too old to get here,” he said.
The day gave Michael the opportunity to return with the support of his care team and once again experience a place that had been an important part of his life.
For Tess, it was a completely new experience.
“It’s beautiful, it’s overwhelming, it takes my breath away,” she said of her first visit to the MCG.
Bruce, from Inala Village, has lived in Australia for 40 years and said the visit gave him the chance to experience a major Australian sporting occasion for the first time.
“It’s amazing … this is an experience I will never forget,” he said.
Football history up close
The lunch also included a Q&A with Brad Green, who spoke with residents about his football career and experiences at the Melbourne Football Club.
Thanks to the Club, residents also received a special visit from the 2021 AFL premiership cup and the 2022 AFLW premiership cup.
But the day was about more than football. Bringing together residents from 19 homes provided an opportunity to get out, meet new people and share an experience at one of Australia’s best-known sporting venues.
At Regis, creating experiences like these is part of our commitment to supporting residents to continue doing the things they enjoy, reconnect with important parts of their lives and having the chance to try something new.
