Gladys helps to celebrate BaptistCare's new chapter in the ACT
BaptistCare CEO Charles Moore officially opened Canberra's newest retirement living community, Yarra Rossa, on Friday 22 July, continuing the organisation's long history of providing care for seniors in the ACT.
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24 July 2022
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| Retirement Living, BaptistCare
BaptistCare CEO Charles Moore officially opened Canberra's newest retirement living community, Yarra Rossa, on Friday 22 July, continuing the organisation's long history of providing care for seniors in the ACT.
Located in Red Hill, the $60m development named Yarra Rossa was built on the site of the ACT's first nursing home, Morling Lodge, which BaptistCare opened in 1968.
Morling Lodge and its staff and volunteers provided decades of care in Canberra until closing in 2015, with residents moving to the new BaptistCare Griffith.
The site has now been redeveloped into the organisation’s first retirement living community in the Territory.
Featuring 100 apartments, Yarra Rossa has been designed with sustainability top of mind to minimise its environmental and social impact, including buildings that maximise natural lighting, solar access and natural ventilation. Technology in building services reduces the consumption of water, gas, electricity and waste.
It also features a range of amenities for residents including a pool, gym, café, bocce court, bowling green, and an alfresco dining area with pizza oven and BBQ.
Resident Gladys Bergerson, in her early nineties, has been waiting six years to move into Yarra Rossa, and was the first resident to place her deposit. Gladys was at the opening of Morling Lodge in 1968, and she now she returns to the site as a resident of Canberra's newest retirement community.
Speaking at the official opening, she shared her history and connection to the site saying,”Seven years I waited, and I suppose it’s not very surprising to learn I was one of the first to go over to the sales office at Red Hill.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting other residents down in the club house, having tea and coffee together. I know there’s very keen book club members, so maybe a book club will start, or a Bible study – that would be nice. I have come here with the idea that it will be more company, so hopefully there’s people who are like-minded,” she said.
BaptistCare CEO, Charles Moore opening the new community and was keen to welcome residents who recently moved in.
“Without our residents, Yarra Rossa is just a set of buildings. Don’t get me wrong; they’re beautiful buildings with incredible facilities, including a pizza oven; I can’t wait to try that out! But the residents who make up this community of Yarra Rossa are what brings this village to life,” he said.
The name Yarra Rossa draws inspiration from the nearby Yarralumla community (“Yarra”) and its location in the suburb of Red Hill (known for its rich, red “Rossa” soil).
In the ACT, BaptistCare operates two aged care homes, Griffith Centre (Griffith) and Carey Gardens (Red Hill), home care for more than 500 older Australians, and community services. Yarra Rossa is BaptistCare’s tenth retirement living community.