Aged Care celebrates 20 years' service

Woy Woy Community Aged Care celebrated 20 years service to the community at its annual meeting on October 1.

More than 50 staff, residents and community members took part in the celebration including Member for Robertson Ms Belinda Neale, Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews and Gosford mayor Cr Chris Holstein.

Foundation board member Ms Joan Fenton addressed the meeting and told of the aged care facility's efforts to obtain building approval of the original centre in Kathleen St, Woy Woy, in the 1970s.

"The company became a registered charity in 1981 with 300 members; by 1982 there were more than 1000 members," Ms Fenton said.

"Approval was granted, delayed, withdrawn, promised, and reapplied over the next six years. "There were phone calls, disillusionment, disappointment and some high points.

"The community did not give up and finally the first 40 beds were built.

"The first resident was admitted on March 15, 1989."

Woy Woy Community Aged Care chief executive officer Ms Jennifer Eddy said the facility had grown to a 94-bed nursing home and hostel facility providing high care, low care, respite and dementia care to the Peninsula community over the past 20 years.

"We have been able to provide residential aged care and accommodation to so many of our local aged residents who would have otherwise been sent off the Peninsula and possibly as far away as Sydney or Newcastle," Ms Eddy said.

"I am enormously proud of staff, past and present, and the significant contribution made by the board of directors and the many volunteers.

"It is wonderful to still have such strong community support after 20 years.

"This 20-year milestone is a celebration of what can be achieved when a community works together and does not give up on what it truly believes in."

Chairman Mr Charles Brock acknowledged the efforts made by "so many people" to make the facility what it is today.

Mr Brock presented Recognition of 20 Years Service Awards to registered nurse Ms Diana Villa-Landa and Ms Eddy who have both been with the organisation since its opening.

Rotary Club of Woy Woy member Mr Ross Pearse presented Woy Woy Aged Care with a Rotary wheel to celebrate the support provided by the club, while Community Care Services Central Coast chief executive officer Ms Carol Cutler presented a framed sketch drawn by one of its residents in recognition of the close relationship between the two organisations.

An honour board listing the chairmen over the 20 years was also unveiled by Ms Ellen McDonnell, wife of past chairman Dennis McDonnellm who died earlier this year.

Press release, 15 Oct 2009 Jennifer Eddy, Woy Woy Community Aged Care