Clarence Village has 20 new reasons to celebrate

GALLERY: ‘It also provided a nice excuse to get everyone together to thank them for all the hard work they do here and acknowledge the patrons who have helped build this community’

Win Jefferies tries to sneak a taste of the celebration cake at Dougherty Villa's new extension opening.

WHEN it comes to designing a new residential aged care facility, even the tiniest aspect can make a huge impact.

"It's been designed as a home-like facility," chief executive officer of Clarence Village Duncan McKimm said.

"We've had a local artist create a series of works to trigger pleasant memories, and the garden is designed for people to easily wander around outdoors."

"We believe in the philosophy that we work in their home; they don't live in our work."

Clarence Village's Dougherty Villa officially opened their new 20-bed Waratah Wing on Saturday, though Mr McKimm said a handful of residents had already given it a test-drive.

Waratah Wing Grand Opening

"We moved them in just before Christmas but decided to move the grand opening to the new year," he said.

"It also provided a nice excuse to get everyone together to thank them for all the hard work they do here and acknowledge the patrons who have helped build this community."

With a combined age of 209, Clarence Village residents Win Jefferies and Doreen Sheehan were honoured to cut the ribbon and the cake, with a few cheeky laughs in between formalities.

"They've both been residents here for a combined 50 years," Mr McKimm said.

"When Win first moved into Clarence Village, I was only eight years old!"

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