News
Brookland celebrates 40 years!
It’s not every day you get to celebrate a 40th anniversary!
That’s why our Social Club members wanted to make it an extra special occasion.
The group was established on October 5, 1984, shortly after the first residents moved into the village – and 40 years later it’s still going strong.
Chairman David Blake, 82, said it was definitely cause for celebration.
“The Social Club is an important part of village life and as such we thought it was worthwhile celebrating,” he said. “It’s a great excuse to enjoy ourselves and have a party.”
The group spent 18 months planning a week of activities to commemorate the event, starting with regency dancing, followed by an entertainer and then a performance by Robertson State School Choir.
The celebrations ended with a catered lunch on October 5, accompanied by live music and dancing for more than 150 people.
Residents also planted a time capsule in the garden to mark the occasion, which contains photos of Social Club members and a short video. The capsule will be dug up at the 50th anniversary.
David said the Social Club Committee had held fundraising events throughout the year and raised $8,000 which meant the celebratory lunch was free to attend.
He and his wife Jan, 82, have been Brookland residents for three-and-a-half years, since they downsized their house. The couple love the lifestyle and have made lots of friends through regular Social Club gatherings.
“It’s satisfying meeting a lot of people and I find it worthwhile,” said David.
“We pretty much have a set run of events every month, for example a barbecue lunch or dinner depending on the season, a morning tea with an entertainer or guest speakers.
“We always celebrate ‘O’ birthdays – 60, 70, 80 and so forth – and people invite their families to those which is something that everyone appreciates.
“Every second month we have a bus trip away for the day where we’ll go and visit somewhere like the ginger factory and have lunch in a hotel.
“Annually we pair with management to have a Christmas Dinner, which is always nice.”
The anniversary lunch was attended by our village team as well as the senior leadership team, including Co-Founder and CEO Glen Brown, Chief Operating Officer Craig Syphers, Group Sales Manager Jamie Martin, Head of Finance Thanh Nguyen and Head of Contracts & Compliance Christa McCraw.
Glen Brown said the Social Club was an important part of life at Brookland.
“It’s fantastic to come together and celebrate the 40th anniversary of this group with so many residents and staff,” he said.
“These shared moments are what make Brookland feel more like a family than a retirement village, and we look forward to many more special gatherings in the future.”
Thanks to our resident photographer, Stephen Simpson for these amazing shots!