Annastacia Palaszczuk helps St Vincent’s Care Services Toowoomba 90-year-old resident with bucket list item

A lifelong member of the Labor Party, 90-year-old Reuben Coupe had one big item on his bucket list - he wanted to have a chat to the Premier.

When staff at St Vincent’s Care Services Toowoomba asked resident Reuben Coupe if he would like to meet some of the local National Party members, the 90-year-old bristled at the suggestion.

A member of the Labor Party for 75 years, Mr Coupe had another idea: he wanted to have a chat with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“I’m used to talking to big wigs, I shook hands with Prime Minister Bob Hawke,” Mr Coupe said.

Toowoomba Care Services resident Reuben Coupe with his son-in-law Cole Maybin. Picture: Nev Madsen.

While his request may seem like a tall order, St Vincent’s Care Services Toowoomba facility manager Elzette Lategan said the staff got to work on trying to make Mr Coupe’s bucket list wish request come true.

“We can never replace somebody’s home, so we try and make things here as homelike as possible and give our residents purpose in life, which is why we started a bucket list program,” she said.

“Reuben said he would love to talk to a politician, but not just any politician, he wanted the Premier.”

Toowoomba Care Services resident Reuben Coupe with his son-in-law Cole Maybin. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Ms Lategan said they had got in touch with the Queensland Government’s marketing department, and while Ms Palaszczuk was unable to visit Mr Coupe, she did send through a personal video for him last month.

Ms Lategan said Ms Palaszczuk’s well wishes and message of gratitude made Reuben’s day.

“We all pulled together to get the video to play for Reuben and he got quite emotional, and it reminded us of why we’re in aged care,” Ms Lategan said.

Mr Coupe said he was proud of the work Ms Palaszczuk had done as premier during her tenure and in a return video thanked her for the message.