We’re preparing to celebrate our 50th birthday

And we are calling out for people and their stories!

Next year, NVC Group will be celebrate 50 years of providing care to our community and we would love to hear your story!

“As part of our celebrations, we are looking for stories and photos – whether you were involved in fundraising fetes and selling raffle tickets for Autumn Lodge or the Riverside Gardens and Autumn Lodge auxiliaries or past or present NVC staff, residents at our aged care facilities or students who have studied at our college … we’d love to hear from you,” said Janine Reed, NVC Group Chairman.

NVC Group Communication Officer, Jacqueline Mohr said: “As we get ready for our 50^th, we’ve dug through our archives. We’ve found some really interesting newspaper clippings, for example, elephants from a circus were once shown at the Macksville Showground to raise funds. Countless students graduated from our colleges. Girl guides and scouts sung at Christmas carols. Diamond wedding anniversaries and even christenings were held at our aged care facilities. It would lovely to see some more photos and display them as part of the celebrations.

“We also discovered Autumn Lodge’s official opening happened this week, in November, 1978.”

At the opening, the then President of the Nambucca Shire Council, Cr George Hicks said: “Autumn Lodge has been the most comprehensive project ever undertaken in the shire. Almost everyone in the community, through service clubs and other organisations or as individuals has been involved in this project.

“We’d really love to see the community celebrate this milestone and be involved,” said Mrs Reed. “NVC Group has been built from the kindness and generosity of our community and volunteers who have worked alongside our dedicated staff for generations.”

It was dedicated community members who saw that an aged care facility was needed in our community. In the early 1970s, if you were in need of age care services in the Nambucca Valley, you would have been forced to leave the area. These fine people were dedicated to the cause. They worked diligently and tirelessly.  They have left an amazing legacy. From a mere 32 hostel rooms, this local charity has grown and now provides quality homes and home care for hundreds.

This group formed a committee and started fundraising. From this, Autumn Lodge Nursing Home was created in 1974 eventually evolving into NVC Group. NVC is still a not-for-profit with a committed voluntary Board. Over the years, all profits earnt have been invested back into the organisation. To provide care for our community and to expand and maintain the facilities.

“Our first Golden Jubilee Community Committee meeting will be occurring soon,” Mrs Reed said.

“We’ve got volunteers from the local area, who will consider how we commemorate and celebrate NVC’s 50th birthday. We’re hoping to organise a program of events, to be held throughout NVC’s golden jubilee. These events will recognise our history and people, celebrating our successes as well as looking forward to the next 50 years of caring for our community.”

Contact us

If you have any stories, photos or are interested in being involved in the Community Committee, please give Jacqueline Mohr a call on 0477 962 080 or email Jacqueline.mohr@nvcl.org.au.

Image © Nambucca Guardian News/Australian Community Media