Celebrating Brenda Lake's 80th Birthday and 15 Years of Outstanding Care

Recently, the Consultus team came together to celebrate a very special milestone as one of our longest-serving carers, Brenda Lake, marked her 80th birthday.

Brenda has been part of the Consultus family since 2011, dedicating the past 15 years to supporting clients across the country with compassion, professionalism and kindness. Even more remarkable is that, at 80 years young, Brenda has no plans to slow down and continues to do the job she loves.

To mark the occasion, we surprised Brenda at our head office with a buffet lunch, birthday cake and plenty of celebrations. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognise not only her birthday, but also the incredible contribution she has made to Consultus and the lives of the people she has cared for over the years.

One of the most moving moments of the celebration came when our CEO, Peter Seldon, shared a few words. Peter has a particularly personal connection to Brenda, as she was one of the carers who looked after his late mother. Speaking to colleagues, Peter reflected on the care, dedication and support Brenda provided to his family during an important time in their lives, as well as the positive impact she has had on Consultus over the years.

It was a heartfelt reminder that care is about so much more than practical support. The relationships carers build with clients and their families can leave a lasting impact that extends far beyond their time together.

A Career Built on Compassion

Following the celebrations, we sat down with Brenda to reflect on her journey in care and what has kept her motivated throughout the years.

When asked about her first day as a carer, Brenda admitted that it was a daunting experience.

"It was scary," she recalled. "You really want the person you're caring for to like you and accept you. The client is often feeling exactly the same way. They're not sure what you're going to be like, and you're not sure how they'll respond to you."

Over the years, however, that uncertainty has been replaced by confidence built through experience.

"It becomes very nice," Brenda explained. "It's not frightening at all because you know you can manage it. You learn how to build trust and understand what each person needs."

Brenda believes that the smallest details can make the biggest difference when building relationships with clients.

"People notice everything," she said. "Something as simple as what you're wearing or a piece of jewellery can become a conversation starter and help people feel comfortable with you."

The Rewards of Caring

Despite more than a decade of caring professionally, Brenda's passion for supporting others remains as strong as ever.

When asked what keeps her motivated, her answer was immediate.

"It gives me a lot. It gives me back a lot," she said. "It makes me feel warm. It gives me joy. It fulfils me."

For Brenda, caring has never simply been a job. It's a vocation that has brought meaning and purpose throughout her life. Long before joining Consultus, she volunteered with the Red Cross in her twenties, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to helping others.

That desire to support people remains unchanged today.

Thank You, Brenda

Everyone at Consultus would like to wish Brenda a very happy 80th birthday and thank her for her incredible service over the past 15 years.

Her dedication, kindness and professionalism embody everything that great care should be, and we are proud to have her as part of the Consultus family.

Here's to many more happy memories, and to continuing the remarkable journey that has already touched so many lives.