Meet the Neighbours

Every first Friday of the month a group of us gather for morning tea and a catch up at Lee Collins’s house in Pine Avenue.

Now known as Meet the Neighbours, the get togethers have been a staple fixture in the Shoreham Community Association line up of local events for the past 14 years and just get stronger and stronger.

It all started when locals Jean Downing and Verity Saunders suggested the SCA committee formally establish the holding of senior morning teas which had been sporadically taking place in local homes for years.

 In 2011- the year the SCA was incorporated- monthly gatherings started at the Shoreham Community Hall in Byrnes Road. 

Back then there was no automatic heating or disabled access. So, in winter we had to light the open fire to provide adequate warmth. Some would be participants couldn’t come as the steps were too much to handle.

While the hall underwent renovations, the event moved to the meeting room of the Shoreham Rural Fire Brigade which had reverse cycle heating and cooling and easy disabled access for nursing home residents who were bused down.

At that time, Peter Kelly (now deceased) gave wonderful poetry recitals and once we even held a small live jazz concert at the CFA building with a participant dog.

We remained there until the COVID pandemic intervened.

Once restrictions were lifted, we started meeting at Lee Collins’ house in Pine Grove which is one block from the Annie’s Court nursing home in Nelson Street.

We have kept this as our regular spot because nursing home residents are able to walk to Lee’s home.

Over the years there have been lots of conversations that have engaged the whole group, often leading to peals of laughter. Some of these include your first car, getting your licence, favourite meals, school days, careers, hobbies, goods sold door to door, the Kings birthday holiday quiz.

 Along the way there have been many helpers who have been invaluable in facilitating great conversation starters and assisting with the safe movement of nursing home residents. Currently the regular helpers are Kate (Kath) O’Brien, Lisa How, Liz Matthews and Mick and Sue Whelan.

The Lifestyle coordinators from the nursing home have been pivotal to the enduring success of these events. Their intimate knowledge of the residents they accompany, their empathy, genuine warmth and upbeat manner have been a joy to witness. A shout out to Leane who worked at Annie’s Court for more than 20 years in this role and to Gigan who has been there in recent times.

We welcome the new appointment Melanie O’Leary in this position to our monthly events.

 Every time we meet, Lee makes a steaming plate load of mini sausage rolls which go down a treat, especially in winter!

 For years the former high school teacher used her mother’s recipe that she knew by heart. But more recently Lee has discovered the work of Sydney cooking writer Nagi Maehashi who she reckons has an even better recipe for the sausage rolls! Tasty, easy and absolutely failsafe.  

Nagi uses pure pork mince rather than store bought sausage mince, bacon, garlic, onion, celery, fennel seeds, salt pepper, breadcrumbs and Pampas packet puff pastry.

In her blog recipetineats Nagi also explains why she uses the ingredients she does and what the science is behind her methodology. One of her many tips is that adding grated veggies to the mix just makes that pastry bases soggy so are best left out. 

Here is where you can find Nagi’s recipe for pork sausage rolls online: Sausage Rolls - RecipeTin Eats.

We are always keen to see new faces so please come along to our meetings next year!  To find out all you need to know about where and when they are taking place, go to the Events section of the SCA website.

Lee’s much-loved sausage rolls!