When Jenny drove twin sisters Evelyn and Dian, from their home in Tamworth to a medical appointment in nearby Aberdeen, they didn’t expect to be away for 26 hours. 

Jenny, a Specialised Carer with HammondCare Home Care, had been supporting Dian, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease, for more than two years.  

What began as a routine trip became anything but. 

When police closed the New England Highway during a local incident, the trio were stranded for seven hours in Jenny’s Mazda in freezing conditions with only a few bottles of water, six cold chicken nuggets and Jenny’s packet of chewing gum for sustenance. 

Throughout the ordeal, Jenny remained calm and reassuring. She helped pass the time with stories, cloud-watching and listening to radio updates, and when Dian needed a toilet break, Jenny found a way to protect her privacy and dignity using a walking frame and personal protective equipment as a temporary screen. 

Later that night, Jenny worked with the Home Care team in Scone to arrange accommodation and meals in Murrurundi, so the sisters could rest before attending their rescheduled appointment the next day. 

After Jenny delivered the pair safely back home, Evelyn shared, ‘I can’t say enough about what a lovely caring person Jenny is. Dian is officially Jenny’s client, but I know she was actually caring for me, too.’ 

While this was far from a typical day, it shows the trust that had built between Jenny and the sisters. Across regional communities like Tamworth, HammondCare Home Care helps people maintain their independence while receiving personalised care in the place they know best. 

Jenny received a HammondCare Mission in Action Award, recognising the calm and compassionate way she put the sisters’ needs first during extraordinary circumstances.