NEXT year, NVC Group will be celebrating 50 years of care in the local area and are calling for story and photograph submissions from the community.

“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, are 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.

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As the organisation begins preparations for the 50th anniversary celebrations, a range of interesting historical newspaper clippings have been unearthed from the archives.

“For example, one year a couple of elephants from a circus were shown at the Macksville Showground to raise funds for our not-for-profit community organisation,” NVC Group Communication Officer Jacqueline Mohr said.

“There have been countless students graduate from our colleges, girl guides and scouts singing Christmas carols, diamond wedding anniversaries and even christenings at our aged care facilities.

“It would be lovely to see some more photos and display them as part of the celebrations.

“Another interesting thing from looking at old newspaper articles is we’ve 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.”

Mrs Reed said she would love to see the community get involved in celebrating this milestone.

“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 a group of 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.

Dedicated to the cause, the community members worked diligently and tirelessly, leaving an amazing legacy.

From a mere 32 hostel rooms, this local charity has grown and now provides quality homes and home care for hundreds of our elderly.

This group formed a committee and started fundraising.

From this, Autumn Lodge Nursing Home was created in 1974 and has now grown and evolved 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 care for our community and to expand and maintain the facilities.

“Our first Community Committee is this week.

“We’ve got volunteers from the local area, who will consider how we commemorate and celebrate NVC’s 50th.

“We’re hoping to organise a program of events, to be held throughout NVC’s golden jubilee, to recognise our history and people, celebrating our successes as well as looking forward to the next 50 years of caring for our community,” said Mrs Reed.

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.

Photos courtesy of the Nambucca Guardian News – AMC.