Anglicare Southern Queensland has just celebrated two significant anniversaries with St Martin’s Aged Care Home in Taigum celebrating 40 years of service and St John’s Home for Men celebrating 90 years of service.
St John’s Home for Men was first established in Brookfield in 1932 as home to 33 fellows. Set on 25 acres, the home was to be self-supporting with the men cultivating the land and paying a small portion from their pension in living expenses.
By 1960 St John’s was rebuilt at Toowong. The home housed 60 men and was organised by the Home Mission Committee.
At a time when aged care hostels required residents to have total mobility, make their own beds and keep their rooms clean, the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane often discussed the need for a Nursing Home to care for the ‘sick aged’ and purchased an additional 18.5 acres of land in Brisbane’s north in 1967 in order to expand the residential care services.
After the closure of the St Martin’s Hospital in Ann St in 1971, plans began to build a nursing home under the name of St Martin’s. St Martin’s in Taigum was officially open in May 1982 by the Most Reverend John Grinrod M.A., Archbishop of Brisbane.
Since it opened 40 years ago, St Martin’s has cared for 1,876 residents.
St Martin’s Customer Service Coordinator Kerri Godden has recently celebrated her 36th year of employment with Anglicare’s St Martin’s home and said it was great to see the new generation of residents coming through.
“It’s amusing when new residents arrive and they look at me and say ‘are you still here? Yes I am and it’s lovely to welcome you to your new home,” Mrs Godden said.
“It’s not the buildings and furnishings that make a lovely caring home. They provide the shell and tools for the staff to work with. St Martin’s has provided 40 years of quality care and continues to do so to this day and no matter what the future may bring, it will always hold a special place in the hearts of those of us who have been privileged to work here.”
Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Executive Director Sue Cooke attended both celebrations and said our staff epitomise the values of love, care, hope and humility to our most vulnerable residents every day.
“Thank you to our staff for their care and for their compassion every day,” Ms Cooke said.
“To the leadership that are here on-site and a very big thank you of course to the elders that we do care for here.
“Because without them, we wouldn’t be enjoying the lifestyle that we enjoy today, for the struggles they have been through over the decades.
Congratulations to all staff at St Martin’s and St John’s for your recent anniversaries.
Inside Ageing welcomes announcements about key achievements and those individuals who contribute to the lives of older Australians. Submissions can be sent to our news desk: news@insideageing.com.au
