A letter to Delia...

Welcome back for 2026!
We are refreshed, we are reenergised and we are keen to give you, our readers, a further twelve months of amazing blogging.  But today we are sad, it’s a gloomy day outside, but we are so very grateful.
Our blog this week is solely a love letter, an extended appreciation and heartfelt piece for our lovely volunteer Delia. Delia, we hope you will love our blog on Saturday morning whilst you enjoy your cuppa in bed. You may need tissues. 




Delia is a nice girl, I will miss her. I hope she is happy with her grandchildren because she is beautiful. I love dancing with Delia at the park, where I can show my moves and dance to Michael Jackson and Shrek.
Delia always helped me with my handmade crafts on Mondays, which makes me feel so loved.
Always Delia was happy to be with us.
Thursdays are always fun and when Delia would come she would bring us donuts. Some days it was “no Delia no donuts" but that's ok too.
When I think of Delia I think of three things. I think of Delia always looking happy.
I think of Delia always making me feel happy, and that she is very smart.
Delia I will miss you a lot. 
Claire.


Dear readers, how are you? Today's topic is about Delia and how much she has helped us. Delia worked with us for two years and we will miss her very much now that she has retired.
She has taught me how to knit. She knitted me, my mum and my sister a scarf. She was kind, caring and supportive. I am so grateful to her.
I am turning twenty-one on Tuesday and having a party this Saturday. I am very excited and I am getting my hair coloured and curled this Friday.
I am sad that Delia won't be part of my birthday celebrations but I am happy she is going to spend more time to herself and with her grandkids.
Beth



Dear Delia, our number one fan,
Three years ago, Sofie was telling you all about us and Umbrella Support. I think she chose the right person, an angel in disguise.
Well technically you were both angels in disguise. It takes special people to volunteer their time. We were the lucky ones who got you and Sofie.

I remember pranking Sofie with a drawing of a leak in the toilet, she laughed her head off, I was a bit scared to do a prank on you, but I wish I would have. 

Let’s be real you were the organising boss, you knew where everything was. All we would have to do was ask and you would find it for us within seconds. When you were away, everyone would all be looking for it. 
So yeah you were the organising boss. 

On Thursday we all appreciate your offerings for donuts and other little treats you would bring. We all loved hearing your stories, especially about “free range” and all of your grandkids’ special moments and glory, it really made me feel like we were one big happy family, cheering on and supporting your grandkids along with you. We will miss hearing your stories. 

Even knitting the staff members scarves. You’re a lady of all talents. 

Umbrella Support staff and the participants will dearly miss you and your presence at all of our groups. 
Thank you for keeping your door ajar, to let more beautiful people to volunteer their time. We know you didn’t want a celebration for your send off, but this is our way to show our appreciation to you.  You can’t get out of it that easily Delia!

D - Delightful
E -  Extraordinarily 
L -  Lovely 
I -   Inspiring 
A -  Amazing.

Again thank you so much for taking time out of your life to come and volunteer and support us, we all appreciate you and will also miss you. 

It’s really not a goodbye it’s 
“See you later Alligator 
See you around like a rissole”
Haley.


Dear Delia you are very nice with me and you help me, I miss you from last year. Like that you bring donuts and you make me feel happy.
I would like to tell you about my Christmas break.  On Christmas Day my family and I went out for lunch with my Nana and Poppy, we had chicken, pork, veggies and potato salad, it tasted good.
Guess what, my family and I went away on the holidays, we went to Mt Beauty it was good fun and we went to the river for a swim it was great fun, we do it every year.
Next week I'm very excited for it to be my twentieth birthday, me and my mum are going to see “28 Years Later at the Bone Temple” and we are also having a party.
This is Korey.
Signing off and we will miss you so much thank you.
Korey.


When I started at Umbrella I met Delia for the first time. Delia helped me every Thursday to write my blog, and that makes me feel thankful for Delia.
When I think of three words about Delia, I think of happy, birthday organiser and that I will miss her.
From Ben C 


Our blog today is about our past volunteer, Delia, who retired last year. She didn’t tell anyone in person, but on the Friday before Christmas she sent me a message through Messenger. I was surprised when I read it. I felt neutral, which means I wasn’t super sad or super happy, I was just happy for Delia that she can now do whatever she wants in retirement. I also sent her a happy retirement digital card because it’s convenient. It had a picture of a teddy bear and said, “Best wishes on your retirement.”
Delia has always been very generous. During the Christmas party, she gave everybody a little gift. Inside were a pen, KitKat, and M&M’s. Do you like KitKat and M&M’s? I also remembered back to when Delia started helping us in January 2023. I wrote her a card saying, “Welcome to Umbrella Support,” and she replied with a thank you card to make me feel welcome. Delia even gave me Mickey Mouse serviettes because she knows I love Disney. It’s always nice to share mutual interests with someone. She’s truly a big kid at heart, and her age doesn’t stop her from enjoying things that make her happy.
Delia also loves spending time with her grandkids, who are all younger than us and still in school. I remember Delia bringing one of her granddaughters to the handmade program, and we got to know her. She also enjoys posting photos on Facebook of her grandchildren’s achievements.

Last year, Delia had a 70th birthday party at Umbrella Support. There were lots of finger foods, both savory and sweet, because seventy is a milestone, and Delia enjoys a little fuss  the party made her heart feel warm. I also remember a lady at Balla Balla who went upstairs to our art room to deliver flowers from all of us, then started singing the birthday song. Everyone joined in, and it was such a lovely moment.
Delia is also a party animal who loves dancing at the park. Even though I’m not a fan of dancing, she thoughtfully brought chalk and bubbles for anyone who didn’t like dancing. She’s also great at organising party snacks I remember she brought some for Jeff bear and the Umbrella Support birthday party last year.
She even gave me a Santa Claus squishy toy, saying I could have it. Thank you Delia, I love playing with it, and it now sits in my fidget toy box. Do you like squishy toys too?
I hope Delia finally gets a chance to visit Bali, as she’s never been there but has always wanted to go. Now that she’s retired, she can make that dream come true.
Thank you very much for reading my blog about Delia. I hope she enjoys it maybe even happy tears a little.
This is Jacinda signing off.


Dear Readers,
I will start off by saying happy new year and welcome to 2026 .
This week’s topic is about one of the loveliest people and volunteer of Umbrella Support and her name is Delia. Let me start by saying a thank you for everything you have done for us, especially for me and coming in every single Thursday and always helping me with my blog every week. I also thank you for making me my purple scarf and I really appreciate you for going out of your way and decorating the table for us and bringing us donuts and cookies. I want you to know that I will miss you and I hope that you enjoy your retirement and enjoy spending time with your family. 
Written by Charlotte.


Dear Delia, I would like to say thank you for our donuts on every Thursday and for making delicious food for special occasions, and heating up peoples food for lunch. Delia you are an inspirational person who has the biggest heart and your work goes beyond. 
For Christmas I went to Pakenham to see my grandparents and we had the whole family there inside the retirement hall. We had all different foods like cold meat, salami, chicken loaf and chicken and of course Christmas ham. Then we had different desserts like ice cream, mint slice and cheesecake. On Boxing Day I saw my biological father and then I saw my friend on the 28th of December for dinner then I went home on the 29th of December. Then on my birthday I donated blood for people who need my blood type. I then had a big night, it was a good night with my mum and dad. Delia we will miss you so much.
From Ash.


Dear Delia blog,
For those who aren’t aware Delia was our absolutely selfless Umbrella volunteer who became everyone’s bonus grandma, the love and kindness she gave everyone was far beyond what I have words for. At the end of last year she decided to retire from her Umbrella duties and from the working world. I really feel it’s important for her to know that we are all happy for her and that we wish her the best in her retirement. I know that she will be living her absolute best life like she deserves to.
Now to the letter part of this blog.

Dearest Delia,
I have and always will believe that you were our dear friend Sofie’s gift to us and what a beautiful gift to give us. I’m so incredibly grateful for you, I don’t think I have the words to explain how grateful I am for you and all you do not only for us but for all the Umbrella people and the outside world too. You gave us so much of your beautiful self, your wisdom, your time, your love, your kindness and so much more. You came in and accepted and loved us from the first moment even though you were probably super nervous and we were a bunch of strangers.
You’re definitely an important part of our lives and you will always have a place in the garden of my heart. I hope that you know how much we all love you. There is so much about you that I admire, you are truly a beautiful and magical person who has left us with so much to be grateful for. This blog is never going to do justice for how much you mean to us all, and myself. You have given me so many moments of joy and laughter, like the kind of happiness that you feel in your soul.
Again I’m so grateful for you always and love you endlessly.
Your friend today and forever,
Shan.



Dear my friend, I like to do Christmas all stuff and so much fun, nice time outside with family and friends too. Happy New Year, I didn’t see fireworks and I stay in my room. I was too tired, I was always wake up 3am in the morning oh lord, I couldn’t go back to sleep so my eyes hurt so bad.
So today’s blog is about Grandma I love her so much because she sometimes cheeky.  All I say is Grandma we all miss you too much, but sometimes funny oh dear.  She always call me grandson and we been troublemaker together. We will all miss you Grandma too much.
TJ