A COMMUNITY celebration was held last week to formally acknowledge the joining of Great Lakes Aged Care and Anglican Care.

The special event was held at Bulahdelah Bowling Club and also provided the opportunity to officially announce the home’s new name, Cedar Wharf Lodge.

Anglican Care Chairman, John Kilpatrick, said the name honours the early history of the area and the community members who made the home a reality.

“This is a nice way to recognise the community, especially in regard to the first manager, Lindsay Ireland,” he said.

Local history shows Cedar Wharf on the Myall River was once used as a collection point for timber logged in the area.

The site was on the property owned by Lindsay Ireland, who was the President of the committee responsible for the nursing home.

Lindsay oversaw the construction of the home and managed it until his death in 1998.

The community celebration was hosted by Anglican Care, who also acknowledged the involvement and support of the Bulahdelah district community over the past 25 years.

“We see taking on the nursing home as a privilege because we know how much blood, sweat and tears from the community went into it,” Mr Kilpatrick said.

“There is so much community ownership, and we want to look after this facility that has looked after the community for so long.”

Great Lakes Aged Care Chairman, John Ireland, paid tribute to the many people who have served on the board.

“They have done a tremendous job over the years and it is only through all of those efforts that we can take this next step forward,” he said.

“I believe joining with Anglican Care will give the nursing home a far more secure future long into the years to come.”

Anglican Care is one of the largest providers of community and aged care services in NSW.

 

By Daniel SAHYOUN