35 years of serving our elderly community

This October marks 35 years since Gunther Village Opportunity Shop was officially formed as a subcommittee of the home to provide donations and equipment.

VOLUNTEERS: Gunther Village Opportunity Shop celebrates 35 years as a subcommittee supporting Gayndah's aged care home.

EVERY local in Gayndah knows a friend or relative being cared for at Gunther Village Retirement Home.

It's thanks to a subcommittee of the home that those loved ones are able to enjoy a life of recreational clubs, outings and therapy animals and robots.

This October marks 35 years since Gunther Village Opportunity Shop was officially formed as a subcommittee of the home to provide donations and equipment to Gayndah's elderly, and the milestone was celebrated with a party.

"It is obvious that the vision of the original three ladies, to provide for the comfort of our elderly residents, has been supported right from the beginning by a wonderful band of helpers who worked tirelessly for our residents," Gunther Village's Lesley Daniells said.

"Our facility manager Vicki Boyd acknowledged the contribution over all the years from this committee, but also acknowledged the whole community and how they support this organisation."

Past and present volunteers from the shop gathered for the celebration held in the conference centre at the home.

Certificates of appreciation were presented to volunteers for their ongoing contributions to Gunther Village and its supporting opportunity shop, including a certificate to Ms Daniells for her in-depth compilation and presentation of the history of the committees.

The shop was opened in August 1981 but the volunteers became an official subcommittee of Gunther Retirement Village Project Committee in October 1983.

"So recently there was a photo in the paper of the volunteers celebrating the shop's 37th birthday, and now we've celebrated its 35th which is a bit back to front, but that's the reason why," Ms Daniells said.

The shop is the main project that's been undertaken over the years to raise funds for the home, and in it's 37 years of operating it's raised almost $400,000 towards the home.

Ms Daniells has been involved with the aged care home for the majority of the time it's been in operation and, to commemorate the opportunity shop's 35 years, she compiled a document of historic information about its role in the community.

"Forty years ago this year, on January 11, 1978, the first residents moved into the new Hostel operated by The Central and Upper Burnett District Home for the Aged," she said.

"Stan Bassett was the Chairman of the Board when I started working at the home just over five years later, and while he wasn't an original board member, he told me a lot of the history of the facility; and some time later I learned the story of the Village Shop."

Shortly after the original hostel units were opened three community-minded women involved with the facility, Maureen Duncan, Gloria Kreis and Patricia Woodcock, realised that the residents would need a recreation room and decided to raise funds.

"Trading under the name Gunther Retirement Village Project Committee, they opened the 'Village Maide' shop at 39 Capper Street, selling jams, pickles, ceramics, handicrafts and a book exchange," Ms Daniells said.

"This was quickly followed by the addition of second-hand clothing, home-made cakes, pot plants, vegetables & furniture; with the ceramics, cooking and handcrafts being sold on a commission basis."