Qld village celebrates Golden Jubilee

The Governor-General joined residents and their families to celebrate 50 years of Iona Village.

Her Excellency Quentin Bryce with Irene, a resident at Iona Village.

The Governor-General Quentin Bryce joined residents, family and friends at Blue Care’s Iona Village in Kenmore in their Golden Jubilee celebrations

Iona Village was one of the first two retirement villages in Queensland when it was built by the Presbyterian Church in 1959.

When it first opened thanks to a generous bequest, Iona consisted of an old Queenslander home which housed five residents.

In 1960 five new cottages were built on the site and the development continued to expand at a rapid rate with more cottages, units and flats constructed in the following decades.

Today there are 61 retirement living units at Iona as well as a community centre and library, an indoor bowls area, a hairdressing salon and craft and computer rooms.

The village became the responsibility of the Uniting Church in 1977 and it is now managed by Blue Care, an agency of UnitingCare Queensland.

“We have reached a significant milestone this year and it is wonderful to remember and acknowledge the support and efforts of all those who have been involved with Iona Village,” said Blue Care’s director of retirement living, Fred Huckerby.

Iona Village is part of a larger Blue Care precinct in Kenmore which is home to a low care facility, a high care facility and a respite centre. 

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