Hillston girls honoured in parliament for organising pony visits for aged care residents

Three primary school girls from Hillston have been honoured in NSW Parliament for their work with Lachlan Lodge aged care residents, which includes taking their pony Scruffy to visit them and cheer them up.

Sisters Louella, 10, Eloise, 7, and Hannah Hutchinson, 4, came up with the idea during one of their regular visits to their great-grandmother Edith.

“He is just such a beautiful natured animal and he is the star of everywhere he goes. He thinks he is a puppy dog, not a horse,” mum Belinda says.

“The earliest time I knew he was special is when I walked into the kids’ toy room and I found him inside with the kids watching TV; they’d snuck him in but he was so calm with not a care in the world.

“My girls take Scruffy from room to room to visit everyone at the lodge; he puts his nose under the blanket for people who can’t move that much and he breathes on their hands. The warmth of his breath awakens their faces.”

Louella said she enjoyed the experience as much as residents.

“I love having a conversation to learn about their past and getting to know them … the best thing is to see everyone smile and to brighten their day,” she said.

The trio also take Scruffy to visit elderly residents at the Hillson Multi-Purpose Service (mini hospital), where mum Belinda works as a nurse.

“We go to the lodge and the hospital a few times of year. It’s so important for the kids; they get up there and play piano and the oldies light up,” Belinda said.

“As a child I used to go to a nursing home, Pioneer Lodge, once a week. I loved it. The younger generation don’t know how to talk to the older generations and it’s a real shame. There is so much to learn from them. We also need to teach our children to give back to community.

“If I was in a nursing home and I didn’t have children and animals around me, I would lose purpose.”

The girls’ efforts were noticed by NSW state MP Helen Dalton, who gave a community recognition statement in parliament in August, paying tribute to what they do.

“The girls work hard to prepare Scruffy for her visits. Last December they dressed up as elves, with Louella playing Christmas carols on the piano. The girls sit with the residents while they brush Scruffy, feed her carrots and remember experiences with their own horses,” Ms Dalton told the Assembly.

Belinda said she was slightly embarrassed by the honour.

“There are so many people around here who do a lot more than what we do,” she said.

“But for us, there’s a few things in the pipeline; I really want to get a street library happening at the truckstop here so that caravaners and truckies can stop and pick up a book.

“I’ve also got two new miniature cows that I’d love to take around to the lodge too, though they won’t go inside, just to the back garden.

“We have hospital dogs too, all clean and vaccinated. It’s pretty special. Nothing surprises people here, it a one-of-a-kind hospital. If they see a cow walking a horse, nobody would blink twice.”