BaptistCare Yallambee grants a heartwarming gift for a resident's 85th birthday

When BaptistCare Yallambee Residential Care in Mundaring WA started a 'Make a Wish' program, they weren’t expecting one of their octogenarians would ask for a tattoo.

But that’s exactly what New Zealand-born Pamela Mohi asked for in celebration of her 85th birthday on Friday (27 September 2024).

It’s no ordinary tattoo either.

Pamela’s ink of choice was a copy of her grandfather Anthony Joseph Vidal’s signature which is immortalised on the labels of his eponymous New Zealand wines.

Known as one of New Zealand’s earliest wine innovators, Anthony converted a racing stable in Hawkes Bay into a cellar and winery back in 1905.

He went on to create Vidal Estate which was family-owned until the seventies. 

While the classic Vidal wines may now be in different hands, the Vidal name and Anthony’s signature on the bottles live on.

Twenty-eight-year-old Kate Leslie from Studio 187 Tattoo travelled to BaptistCare Yallambee to create the autograph tattoo on the right lower forearm of her oldest ever client.

The Mayland’s based tattoo artist said there is a trend in people getting tattoos later in life.

“We are seeing more and more clients receive their first tattoo at an age which is much older,” she said.

“We also don’t usually do mobile tattoo services as you need approvals from the appropriate Local Government Authority but there’s certainly a demand for it,” said Kate.

BaptistCare Yallambee has been granting residents wishes since the start of the year.

Mundaring seniors have been given the opportunity to place their wishes into a wishing well and one-by-one they have been granted.

Yallambee Lifestyle Coordinator Annemarie Kluvers said that they are grateful for Kate for helping them grant Pamela’s wish.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without Studio 187 Tattoo and the Shire of Mundaring helping to making Pamela’s wish a reality,” she said.

“We are so excited to be able to help Pamela honour her heritage,” said Annemarie.

Pamela who moved to Perth in 1978 was a clean skin until three years ago when her husband Peter Mohi passed away.

“I never liked the thought of a tattoo on myself, but after Peter passed away something changed and I just went crazy getting two tattoos – an infinity family symbol and the traditional New Zealand fern,” she said.

“My newest addition matches that of my daughter Beryl who got her autograph ink in Queensland earlier this year.”