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60 years of aged care
Anglican Care celebrates milestone with dinner and tributes .
By Patrick Avenell
Anglican Care celebrated the 60th anniversary of opening its first residential home , in Booragul , 20 kilometres south of Newcastle , in late May .
That first parcel of land was purchased by the Anglican Diocese in 1944 for £ 1100 ( about $ 75,000 in today ’ s money ) and converted over time into the inaugural home for aged care by Charles Arthur Brown and his team . Current chief executive Colin Osborne paid tribute to Brown and the dedicated staff who have worked at Anglican Care since .
“ An organisation is only as strong as its people ,” Osborne said . “ Anglican Care is , and always has been , extremely fortunate to have a staff of caring and nurturing people to facilitate and deliver the services to our aged community . I truly believe it is
milestones like these that say a great deal about Anglican Care and who we are as a provider of care and services to the aged .”
Anglican Care continues to focus on the Hunter and mid-northern regions of New South Wales . It has facilities in Booragul , Carey Bay , Toronto , Merewether , Jesmond , Mount Hutton , Tenambit , Warnervale and Taree , and will soon be expanding into Gloucester .
There was a series of events held to toast the anniversary , including a formal dinner , high teas and church services .
“ There ’ s no real secret to Anglican Care ’ s success ,” Osborne said . ” The reality is that we continually strive for excellence in standards and delivery of care services . We don ’ t just aim to meet the needs of our growing aged population ; we endeavour to surpass them at every opportunity .” ■
ANGLICAN CARE MILESTONES 1944 : Parcel of land purchased at Booragul for £ 1100
1955 : Construction of first living units commenced
1956 : Official opening of first home at Booragul ( May 27 )
1957 : Women ’ s Auxiliary is established ( known as the Booragul Old Folks Women ’ s Auxiliary ) 1969 : First public telephone installed 1970 : New nursing home , therapy and dining rooms constructed
1976 : Nurse call systems installed in nursing home and hostel 1983 : New nursing home ‘ Maria Frith
Lodge ’ opened 1984 : First office computer installed 1989 : Newcastle earthquake – all buildings at Booragul damaged except for chapel
1984 : Purchase of two Intracare villages at Toronto and Carey Bay
2005 : Opening of Warnervale Gardens and acquisition of Scenic Lodge Merewether
2009 : Demolition of existing facility and construction of new Scenic Lodge commences
2010 : Broadband kiosks introduced , first introduction of iPads into lifestyle programs
2013 : Amalgamation with Storm Retirement Village in Taree
2015 : Transfer of Lake Macquarie Services to Anglican Care and acquisition of 60 licences in Gloucester
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12 agedcareinsite . com . au