STAN Gafney of Modbury is a tinkerer, in his element when he's working on a project in his shed, which he built himself.
But the independent 85-year-old admits he couldn't keep up with all his hobbies without the help of his home support worker Wendy Lord.
He said he feels "very lucky" to have Wendy, a home care worker with Resthaven Services, around to help with household tasks.
"Having Wendy come and help frees me up to do what I want to do," he said. "I'm a shed person you see."
The retired mechanical engineer started his apprenticeship when he was 16. "I'm 85 now, so it's very difficult to shake!
"At the moment, one of my projects is restoring a 1926 Austin Seven. It's slow, but I'm getting there."
Another of his projects is maintaining his 1968 Rover 2000TC, which needs lots of tender loving care.
Stan and his wife Bobbie moved to Australia from England in 1974, and one of his first projects was to build the shed. "This house was new then," he said.
"I'd come from England where everything was wood and brick. Here, everything was galvanised iron. I needed a wooden shed! So I built one myself using timber scavenged from demolition sites."
The shed still stands solidly, and is a place where he spends as much time as he can, after doing his regular chores such as the laundry, paying bills, shopping, cooking, and entertaining family and friends.
Stan and Bobbie, who now lives in an aged care home, have a son and a daughter, five grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
His other interests include using his computer and listening to music.
"I like quite a variety of music," he said, "from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to Pink Floyd, and everything in between".
He also visits Bobbie every day at Resthaven Leabrook.
With all these interests, it's no wonder that Stan appreciates Wendy's support.
"This is a big four-bedroom house," he said. "I shop and cook and try to keep the garden under control, but I need help with the larger tasks."
Wendy and Stan both do the ironing. "I can't do the shirts myself. Pillowcases and handkerchiefs I can do!"
Wendy said Stan is very organised. "Stan makes it so easy for me. We do all this together so Stan can stay independent.
"I don't do anything that Stan can do for himself."
