Meet current affairs expert Dorothy Carlisle, who reads the daily newspaper from end-to-end as enthusiastically as she polishes off the lollies and chocolates she wins at bingo.

“I keep on top of all the news,” says the 95-year-old resident at Uniting AgeWell’s Manor Lakes Community. “I need to know what’s happening not only in Australia but in the world.”

Her laughter is infectious. “Sometimes I combine the two. I store the sweets in a jar in my bedroom and eat them while I read!”

Local news is also very important to Dorothy. Her roots in west Melbourne and beyond run deep.

She grew up in Kensington, lived with her husband, taxi-driver, Herbert in St Leonards before moving to Werribee ten years ago after he passed away. Their only child Julie still lives in Werribee, as do most of their four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

“I love the area,” Dorothy explains. “I simply can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

The retired dressmaker was living in a unit on her own after Herbert passed away until she started experiencing a few falls. “Once I lay on the bedroom floor unable to reach the phone to call for help. I managed to pull a blanket off the bed and cover myself until someone arrived later that day.”

Julie started looking around for aged care homes in the area that would suit Dorothy. She visited quite a few until she found Manor Lakes. “When she brought me here to check it out, I told her ‘you can stop looking now, this is where I want to stay.’ We share a very special bond. Julie said as soon as she stepped into Manor Lakes she knew that I would just love it.”

Apart from current events and bingo, Dorothy enjoys going on bus outings and is knitting a scarf for one of her great granddaughters. Making clothes, for the family is something she has always loved doing.

“The staff are kind, I have made friends and Julie and the family are always visiting. Life is good,” she says. “It’s good not to worry about things anymore.”