IN A year of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, the residents at Mercy Health Bethlehem have kept their spirits high with the annual AFL tipping competition.
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Lifestyle coordinator Christine Curnow said more than 60 residents at the Bendigo aged care facility participated in 2021.
"I am thrilled with the amount of residents who wanted to take part," Mrs Curnow said. "They did a really good job.
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"It definitely lifted spirits, to the point that when you walked into the room, they would be talking about their tips for that week. It created a great atmosphere."
It was a different competition in 2021 after five-time reigning champion Peg Coates passed away earlier this year.
Mrs Coates, a legally blind Collingwood supporter who made headlines by dominating the footy tipping competition, died just weeks out from her 98th birthday.
Mrs Curnow said Mrs Coates was a "phenomenal" woman.
"She was quite elegant about it all," the lifestyle coordinator said. "She would say, I won't do the competition this year so others can give it a go."
Mrs Curnow said Mercy Health Bethlehem was incredibly sad at Mrs Coates' death.
"But some of the residents did make reference to her and say that maybe they had a chance at winning now," she said.
The overall winner of the 2021 competition was resident Kelvin, who tipped 131 winners. Mrs Curnow said Kelvin was "tickled pink" at the accolade.
Fellow Mercy Health residents Brian and Loraine also succeeded this year, with 118 and 127 successful tips respectively.
The winners each received a medallion, while all of the participants were handed a special certificate.
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