One employee at Tall Trees is proving that age is no barrier to getting your hands dirty.
Rochedale groundskeeper Frank Parker.
Frank Parker, 80, has worked at Tall Trees Rochedale for over two years doing grounds keeping, general maintenance and odd jobs for residents.
He says he came to like manual work from a very young age.
“When I was four, I remember watching tradesmen build our family home and being fascinated by it,” Mr Parker says.
“Ever since then, I’ve really enjoyed working outdoors and doing physical jobs.”
Mr Parker obtained a master’s degree in agriculture when he was young and had plans to buy a farm, however, when this fell through he migrated from Berlin to Australia in 1957.
Prior to working at Tall Trees, he worked as a taxi driver throughout Brisbane and the Gold Coast for 25 years.
Out of all the aspects of his job, Mr Parker says he enjoys being able to help people.
“I like lending a hand to anyone that needs it, but I do take particular pleasure in assisting some of the widows we have here at Tall Trees,” he says.
“There is a strong community here where everyone makes their own different contributions, and I consider being an active part of that to be a very important part of my job.”
Pauline Williams, Resident Liaison Officer at Tall Trees Rochedale, says that Mr Parker is a testament to the benefits of physical fitness.
“He really is amazing – there are people half his age who wouldn’t be able to work half as hard as he does,” Ms Williams says.
“You’ll see him around the grounds and he’s always doing something, whether it’s cutting down and mulching tree branches or helping residents with their gardening.
“Frank looks much younger than he is, and I think that is largely due to the fact that he’s very fit and spends plenty of time out in the fresh air.
“He’s always willing to lend a hand to both the staff and residents here – he’s a really valued member of our community.”
