There’s gnome place like home for June

Mercy Health Home Care client, entrepreneur and author June Short has celebrated her 100^th birthday. At the age of 97, June uncovered a passion for painting gnomes and has spent the past three years giving more than 250 gnomes a much-needed face lift.

June discovered her passion for painting gnomes during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was looking for a way to stay entertained during lockdown, painting the ceramic garden creatures for members of the community. June keeps 50 of her favourite gnomes at home, the other 200 have been gifted to loved ones.

June’s passion for her craft has continued to grow, in 2021 June wrote a children’s book called “A Garden of Gnomes”. The profits from the book are all donated to the Cancer Foundation. June, who suffers from a blood condition herself, says the cause is close to her heart.

June has been able to live independently at home in the Melbourne suburb of South Morang with the support of Mercy Health Home Care, which aims to make the lives of clients easier by partnering directly with them and their families to create a care plan that not only nurtures physical health, but supports emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.

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