At Ryman, our founding ethos is to provide care that’s ‘good enough for Mum and Dad,’ and no one exemplifies this more than Keith Park’s Village Manager, Kim Dawson.
At the Auckland village you can find Kim’s parents Zoelien and Brian Foley, not too far from Kim’s office, in an independent apartment which keeps the family close and connected.
Kim joined the Keith Park team soon after the village opened in June 2021. After a varied career this was her introduction to the world of Ryman Healthcare.
She says her favourite thing about working at Keith Park is quite simply the people, as she gets to meet new people and chat with her residents each day. Getting to know the residents personally is a real highlight.
“It’s a really busy job and I probably don’t get to spend as much time with Mum and Dad as I would like, but it’s nice to be able to finish work on a Friday and pop in to see them for a G&T before I head home. So, there is that little treat at the end of the week, where they're right here for me,” Kim says.
Kim has always lived close to her parents which has seen them maintain a close family bond. This relationship dynamic was a contributing factor which saw her parents join the village in early 2023.
While Keith Park Village was clearly a standout, Brian joked that it “certainly helped” that their daughter was the village manager.
“Before moving to the village Mum and Dad lived in the house directly in front of my husband and I, so they were sort of under our wing there and now they're in the village. So, I get to see them most days anyway and they're still under my wing, but just in a different location,” Kim shares.
Kim relaxes in her parents' independent apartment with her dad Brian.
The family has always been close, and have always done the typical Kiwi stuff which saw them regularly spending time together on family camping trips during the school holidays. They enjoyed relaxing at the family beach house, going out boating, and water skiing in the summer.
Kim grew up with her younger brother Wayne and her parents in Te Atatū, a peninsular community, before moving to Hobsonville 40 years ago. Her mum Zoelien, a talented seamstress, worked for a fabric supply business and Brian worked in the motor industry before retiring at 72.
The couple now share a three-bedroom independent apartment at Keith Park. Brian says he loves the atmosphere of village life.
“I enjoy the peace. It's very quiet and there's no maintenance to do, of course. It took a little while to adjust to it. More so for my wife I think, as she's been a keen gardener all her life. To have someone else doing your gardens for you, it’s sort of took a little job away from her but she's very happy here now as well.”
Kim adds with a laugh, “She's replaced the gardening with baking, so now we're all getting fat.”
Brian and Zoelien say they feel very lucky that three couples, who are long-held friends are also in the process of moving into the village. The same close-knit community that helped to raise Kim and her brother are now rebuilding their community within the village.
Kim equates it to a group of friends reconnecting later in life. “It's like my mum and my dad, and all of my pseudo aunties and uncles have come back together.”
For Kim you could say the role of village manager was in her bones. Growing up she was unafraid to take charge in her house. “It's funny because my nickname in our family has always been ‘the Chief’, you know how every family has a manager? Yeah, that's always been me over my brother. So not a lot's changed,” she laughs.
Kim with her mum Zoelien and dad Brian in 1969.
With Father’s Day fast approaching, plans are coming together to ensure that the tight-knit bunch will join in yet another momentous occasion. This year’s celebration will be particularly memorable, as it will bring together four generations, including the recent arrival of a great-granddaughter.
“We've never not done something for Father’s Day. We're always together, there's never been one we've missed as a family. We always make the extra effort to do something now that we're all older.”
“It might mean simply going out for lunch or something like that, but we've always marked those occasions as a family,” Kim shares.
Kim herself has learnt a lot since her parents joined the village. She even gained a new perspective from her parents' village induction. “Because I know them so well, I could see it through their eyes, how they were perceiving the whole move in experience and the information that I was giving them. So, it gave me a whole new perspective on how I deliver it.
“It's quite a good benchmark. Having your mum and dad live here, you know, because you live and breathe that sentiment, that good enough for Mum and Dad message, it holds true meaning to me.”
For Brian the transition to the village has been a breeze, and himself and Zoelien both recognise the need to respect Kim’s position as village manager. It was a family value that was passed down to Kim and her brother.
“That's something that dad's instilled into us kids in terms of our work ethic, to respect professional boundaries and never take liberties. And that's something, you know, that’s echoed in my mind, all through my career and it comes from witnessing Dad’s professionalism in business. We have the same mindset,” Kim says.
Kim’s approach is one that ultimately helps provide care for all 200 residents at Keith Park Village and truly provides care that is good enough for not only her own Mum and Dad but every resident who joins their vibrant community.
