A retirement village in Highfields set on a former daily farm is celebrating a milestone.
Carinity Brownesholme is marking a quarter of a century of providing retirement living for seniors from Toowoomba and surrounding districts, after opening on this day 25 years ago.
The first resident Gloria Phillips moved into the purpose-built residential lifestyle community for retirees on 3 July 1995.
Carinity Brownesholme was originally envisioned by local resident Molly Browne, who in her will requested that her family’s 120-acre dairy farm be developed into a retirement village.
Joyce Larkens has lived at Carinity Brownesholme, one of six retirement lifestyle villages around Queensland operated Carinity, for 20 years.
“We decided we would move down to Toowoomba and we looked all over and didn’t like it, and then we saw Brownesholme,” Joyce says.
“I’ve stayed here and I’ve never regretted it. I like everything about it – we’ve got the best units, the most beautiful place to live, lovely gardens to walk in, and I love my neighbours.”
Kay Clements has lived at Carinity Brownesholme for 10 years and enjoys the lifestyle in rural Highfields.
“Because I come from the country – I’m a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s wife – I have never wanted to live in a city,” says Kay, who was raised in the Murray Valley and lived in Goondiwindi.
Bill and Bev Kippen have called Carinity Brownesholme their home for “five of the best years”.
“We love the country atmosphere of the village and the wonderful family feeling we have with our fellow villagers and the awesome staff members,” Bill says.
A 96-suite aged care building is being built adjacent to the Carinity Brownesholme retirement village, stage one of a $67 million expansion of the seniors’ community.
It is part of Carinity’s vision for co-located retirement and aged care communities for older people who want to stay connected to their loved ones, families and friends.
“Our approach is to integrate aged care and support services into our retirement lifestyle communities through in-home care and eventually more supportive accommodation and care services,” Carinity Aged Care Regional Manager Kathy Nicholls says.
“When it is time for the additional support of aged care living, residents don’t have to move away from established relationships and can maintain their close networks.
“Having retirement villages and residential aged care centres co-located also enables couples to remain connected if one partner requires a higher level of care.”
Joyce finds comfort knowing a new Carinity aged care community is being built next to her current home.
“I love living at Brownesholme and I don’t ever want to leave. The new aged care is going to be wonderful but I hope I can keep on living here for a while longer,” she says.
