In reply to the article ‘Call for a ‘clean sweep’ at Shepstone Place’ on page 3, I am horrified by what was said of Mrs Lane.
READ IT HERE: Call for a ‘clean sweep’ at Shepstone Place
Ian Armstrong is upset for not being nominated to the committee or voted in.
The committee is responsible for the fund-raising events and also looking after the Home and its needs, such as:
1. Seeing to the staff, such as seeing they have new uniforms every year.
2. The menus every day.
3. Organising the various functions such as soup evenings, Christmas in July, morning markets, care of the gardens, Flowers through the Home, braais for the residents, Valentine’s dinners, Bible studies and catering for the memorial services that take place at the Home for the late residents.
When Mrs Lane and her late husband came to Shepstone Place, they started fixing up all the jobs that had to be done, such as renovating the cottages and Home, etc, as they hadn’t been maintained ever since they were built and were in an appalling condition.
As a resident in one of the cottages for the past nine years, I have seen what she does, the love and care to all the residents, and she is NOT paid at all. She does NOT handle any of the money; it is left to the finance committee.
We do NOT want her to resign, she is too valuable. So, Mr Armstrong, stay out of the affairs of the Home and we have noticed that not once did you help with any of the fund-raising, cooking, baking or preparing of the dining room or halls.
So, get your own house in order first and stop being a bully, which seems to be your nature, judging by your past history, Mr Armstrong.
Shepstone Place Resident
I have no doubt that Mrs Lane has done a lot for the home in the more than 10 years she has been there. Unfortunately, with time, people become complacent and oversight begins to fail. This is, in my opinion, exactly what has happened at Shepstone Place.
MUST READ: Former Shepstone Place administrator accused of fraud
To say that it was not Mrs Lane’s job to have oversight of the finances is just a poor excuse. Of course it was her job, and the job of the remaining members of the committee who also failed in their duty.
As for me being upset about not being on the committee, nothing could be further from the truth. I am grateful that I was not in any way officially involved with Shepstone Place when the facts came to light about the previous administrator’s misappropriation of funds.
If I had been, I would have admitted my neglect of duty and resigned – something the present leadership refuses to do, to their shame. As for Mrs Lane not being paid for her services, I have a strong suspicion that this is not true. It is my belief that Mrs Lane is living at the home rent-free and so, indirectly, receiving remuneration. If I am wrong, I challenge Mrs Lane to prove me wrong. Until she does, I stand by my assertion.
I know I have many failings, but I have never been called a “bully” before and as for the writer of the letter knowing my past history, I find that extremely doubtful.
The above letter does not represent the views of all the residents at Shepstone Place, many of whom I know personally and who have thanked me. Many of the staff have also thanked me.
They are having to accept the bare minimum in wages, while others steal money or live rent-free. Let the reader judge the fairness of this situation.
Ian Armstrong
NOW READ: UPDATE: On-going negotiations plague Shepstone Place lawsuit
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