Most Tuesday mornings at St Agnes’ House, the aroma of freshly baked scones signals more than just morning tea—it brings moments of joy, tradition, and togetherness, thanks to long-time resident Lil Simpson.

Lil has called St Agnes’ House home for over 25 years, moving there to be with her husband, Clem who passed away 15 years ago.

Since then, Lil’s scone-making has become a beloved weekly ritual for residents and staff alike. “It’s my favourite day of the week,” says one, while another simply chimes in, “We love you!”

Helping Lil as she prepares the scones is her dear friend Edith Milne, who only moved into St Agnes’ House a few years ago. “We are great friends; we feel like we’ve known each other for years,” Lil says. Edith enjoys helping and fondly recalls making pavlovas for her family at Christmas.

There’s lots of camaraderie, banter and fun during the making of the scones.

Staff like Cheryl Winbank from the Lifestyle team ensure Lil and Edith have everything they need, while others pop in for a chat or a cheeky request—like Steve Powell, the bus driver, who jokingly asks for pumpkin scones. Lil’s quick reply? “If you bring a pumpkin along, I’ll do anything for you love!”

There is something very relaxing, soothing, about watching Lil make her scones. Her steady hands know just what to do.

Asked how she makes them, Lil says, ‘flour, a pinch of salt, lemonade and cream; the lazy way, but it’s a good way to make scones.’

“The secret to good scones is not to fiddle with them too much…. make a little well in the flour, add the liquid and folded it all in. Just mix them lightly, if you go pressing down on them and all that you don’t get a scone – you get a rock!”

Lil spreads the scone mixture gently on the board and then deftly uses the scone cutter to shape each scone, quickly transferring the sticky mixture from the cutter to the baking tray… her lightness of touch and smooth action is a thing to behold. She doesn’t muck around.

The scones are then lightly brushed with cream (or you can use milk, says Lil) and in a jiffy they are ready to go in the oven (190-200 degrees celsius) for about 15-20 minutes.

‘It’s the little bit of cream Lil brushes them with that makes them really yummy!’ says Lifestyle Coordinator, Cheryl.

Lil’s journey into cooking began not with her mother, but with her first employer, Mrs Jones. “Mum never allowed us in the kitchen,” Lil recalls. “But Mrs Jones taught me by watching — ‘just sit there, Lil, and I will show you.’ She was absolutely wonderful.”

Once cooked the warm buttered scones are shared. Edith delivers one to Amber in the office and with a smile, tells Lil, “I told her it was with love from us!”

Lil may modestly say, “I don’t know if I do a good job or a bad job,” but to those around her, she does something truly special—she brings people together.

Lil says her life is blessed

Lil says God has always looked after her and she feels blessed to call St Agnes’ House home.

At 87, Lil is thrilled to have 16 great grandchildren living in Moree, Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane. She, herself, was born in Moree and started her working life there doing housework with Mrs Jones. Later, Lil worked at a children’s hostel in Moree cooking, cleaning and caring for the 40 children who lived there.

At 21, Lil married her first husband, Roy White, and they went to live at Werris Creek, about half an hour’s drive from Tamworth. After 10 years of marriage, tragedy struck, when Roy suffered a fatal heart attack. Lil, then only 30, was left on her own with four small children (three girls and a boy) aged between 4 and 9. Lil says her mother, May, gave her courage and great support at this difficult time.

Lil bought a house in Tamworth to be closer to town and schools, which was a big thing for a woman to do on her own at that time. It was tough and Lil took in three boarders while raising and educating her children.

Seven years after Roy’s passing, Lil married Clem Simpson, an old friend of Roy’s; a real gentleman, who showed great respect for Lil and her family.

Lil’s eldest daughter was asthmatic and when her condition worsened the family moved from Tamworth to Ballina in the hope that a move to the coast would improve it. They stayed six years and, once the children had finished their schooling, Lil and Clem moved to Kempsey where they enjoyed living for the next 24 years.

After Clem moved into care at St Agnes’ House, Lil was often travelling to and from Kempsey to see him. Lil was delighted when a couple’s room became available, and she was able to move in to spend quality time with Clem before his passing.