Local Seniors Embrace New Community

The opening of St Luke’s Green, surrounding the beautifully restored St Luke’s Church, heralds a new era in retirement living and aged care in Woolloongabba. 

Greengate’s vibrant new care community already feels like home for many of its residents, with the Village officially opened and blessed on Sunday the 10^th of September 2017.

“We are delighted the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC officially opened St Luke’s Green,” said Greengate CEO, Chris Rigby. He further commented that, “it was a privilege to have Archbishop Mark Coleridge conduct the Solemn Dedication of St Luke’s Church and the blessing of our care community.”

The retirement Village is home to Sr Sonia Wagner a former Congregational leader of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. Sr Wagner reflects that, “Coming to St Luke’s Green is, for me, a coming home in every sense of the word. I grew up in Camp Hill and was educated at St Thomas’ primary school and completed my secondary education at Lourdes Hill College.  After years of serving in various parts of Australia – most recently in Port Pirie in South Australia – I have come back to where my journey began.”

Chris added that, “as people age, we believe that it is important they stay within the community they already know and love, close to family and friends.” Many of the residents are reconnecting with one another years later, from when their children were at the school together, or through the Church where they were married or where their families had sacraments as children.

Among the first couples to secure an apartment at St Luke’s Green were Philomena and Arnold Van Brunschot of Coorparoo. “We heard about St Luke’s Green through our parish church, St James,” Mrs Van Brunschot said. “Arnold and I immediately liked the idea. We thought it would be lovely to have the Church on-site.

The couple, proud grandparents to seven, have been living at St Luke’s Green since April this year. They have continued to enjoy entertaining old friends, whilst making new friends in the Village and participating in all the activities that are available to them.

“We are still in the area where our family is, so we can babysit the grandkids; we enjoy that they’re a part of our new community,” Mrs Van Brunschot said.

Arnold added that, “another significant advantage that St Luke’s Green had for us, as opposed to other retirement communities, was that the Village catered to all levels of care from independent living, to assisted living in our apartment and the 24-hour aged care in a boutique location, should either Phil or I need it in the future. St Luke’s Green gave both us and our family peace of mind that we had planned for the future.”

Cheryl Todd, Sales and Marketing manager, commented that “further celebrations are to be held at the Village until the 15^th of September. Come and join our residents for our Seniors Week activities and celebrations of the mind, body and soul. We have planned lots of activities from cooking demonstrations and lunch, to an afternoon at the movies, as well as a barbecue on our Village Green with live entertainment.”

Find out more about St Luke's Green.